Review and Update of the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Safeguard Policies Phase 2 Consultations Feedback Summary – Date: October 30, 2014 Location: Beirut, Lebanon Audience: Lebanese, Jordanian and Iraqi Government Representatives Overview: Bank representatives welcomed the Lebanese, Jordanian and participants present in Beirut, consisting of Government Officials, from the various Ministries. Following welcoming remarks, Bank representatives provided an overview of the process undertaken to date on the review and update of the policies and presented the draft and Social “Environmental Framework: Setting Standards for Sustainable Development.” Participants were then invited to ask questions and to express their views. Specific Feedback from Stakeholders General Comments Comments: A participant commended the Bank for the transparent consultation process undertaken worldwide. A participant expressed concern that the Bank be interfering in matters that should be handled by specialized agencies such as the issue of rights” which should be “children’s tackled by UNICEF and not the World Bank. Issue was raised of discrimination/inequity created when Bank standards differ from national law. Clarifications: Economic development is one of the pillars of Sustainable Development. Participants asked to what extent the Bank could cover capacity building that promotes economic development of societies. Participants for clarifications on the budget and financial implications required to comply with the standards. Clarification is sought on whether the new policies would apply to existing projects as well as those under negotiations. Recommendations: Arabic translation of the framework should be revised. A participant recommended that the proposed framework be reviewed and adapted to the SDGs once they get adopted in 2015. The new framework does not fulfill the objective of reducing poverty. Additional poverty reduction measures should therefore be introduced in the framework. Participants stressed that the Bank should take into account and respect the human rights of sexually discriminated individuals. The Inspection Panel (IPN) is an important tool for people to raise their concerns. Therefore the IPN should also revise its mandate to be in line with the new proposed framework. A Vision for Sustainable Development World Bank Environmental and Social Policy
Review and Update of the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Safeguard Policies Phase 2 Consultations – Feedback Summary Date: October 30, 2014 Location: Beirut, Lebanon Audience: Lebanese, Jordanian and Iraqi Government Representatives Overview: Bank representatives welcomed the Lebanese, Jordanian and participants present in Beirut, consisting of Government Officials, from the various Ministries. Following welcoming remarks, Bank representatives provided an overview of the process undertaken to date on the review and update of the policies and presented the draft “Environmental and Social Framework: Setting Standards for Sustainable Development.” Participants were then invited to ask questions and to express their views. Specific Feedback from Stakeholders General Comments Comments: A participant commended the Bank for the transparent consultation process undertaken worldwide. A participant expressed concern that the Bank be interfering in matters that should be handled by specialized agencies such as the issue of “children’s rights” which should be tackled by UNICEF and not the World Bank. Issue was raised of discrimination/inequity created when Bank standards differ from national law. Clarifications: Economic development is one of the pillars of Sustainable Development. Participants asked to what extent the Bank could cover capacity building that promotes economic development of societies. Participants for clarifications on the budget and financial implications required to comply with the standards. Clarification is sought on whether the new policies would apply to existing projects as well as those under negotiations. Recommendations: Arabic translation of the framework should be revised. A participant recommended that the proposed framework be reviewed and adapted to the SDGs once they get adopted in 2015. The new framework does not fulfill the objective of reducing poverty. Additional poverty reduction measures should therefore be introduced in the framework. Participants stressed that the Bank should take into account and respect the human rights of sexually discriminated individuals. The Inspection Panel (IPN) is an important tool for people to raise their concerns. Therefore the IPN should also revise its mandate to be in line with the new proposed framework. A Vision for Sustainable Development World Bank Environmental and Social Policy
safeguard_review_phase_2_consultations_2014_-_feedback_summary_lebanon_government_meeting_october_30.docx