World Bank Environmental and Social Framework workshop opens in Accra

A workshop to support the implementation of the new World Bank Environmental and Social Framework, ESF opens in Accra this afternoon.

The four-day workshop brings together government and Non-Governmental representatives and Project Implementation Units from Ghana, Sierra Leone and Liberia. 

The ESF is replacing the Bank's existing safeguard policies for new investment lending. The aim of the workshop is to provide a comprehensive understanding of new Environmental and Social requirements applicable to the investment projects it finances, starting October this year. 

In a statement, the World Bank Director for Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, Henry Kerali, said investment projects are more sustainable and have a greater development impact when the Environment is protected and when communities and people are engaged.

He noted that the ESF is a great opportunity to work together with the governments to strengthen their Environmental and Social systems, and help build the capacity to implement programmes in a sustainable way and to achieve stronger results. 

Mr. Kerali said the ESF is the result of the most extensive consultations ever conducted by the World Bank, with nearly four years of analysis and engagement around the world with governments, Development Experts, and Civil Society groups, reaching nearly eight thousand stakeholders in 63 countries. 

The new framework provides a broad coverage of Environmental and Social issues, including important advances on transparency, non-discrimination, social inclusion, public participation and accountability. 

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