In October 2016, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim established an indepen dent Task Force of external experts to provide guidance on how to strength en Bank systems, tools and processes to prevent and mitigate against risk of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), as well as other forms of gender-based violence (GBV), in World Bank-supported infrastructure and other area-based investment projects. The Task Force was created in response to findings emerg ing from an Inspection Panel investigation of the Uganda Transport Sector De velopment Project, which found evidence of a range of severe impacts related to sexual misconduct, including with minors, exploitation and abuse and other forms of gender-based violence. The resulting impacts reflected a profound abrogation of responsibility by all parties involved, including by the Bank, to protect the safe ty, dignity and well-being of affected communities. Preventing or mitigating against project-related risk of sexual exploitation and abuse requires interaction and collaboration between five key groups of actors. These include: (i) women and children at risk, as well as other vulnerable popula tions, in communities where Bank-financed projects take place; (ii) communities that can play a role as dynamic risk management actors in expanding the circle of protection; (iii) contractors and consultants responsible for following contrac tually mandated social and labor practices that prevent abuse and violence; (iv) government partners at central and local levels who are critical to ensuring that SEA prevention and accountability mechanisms are in place; (v) and finally, the World Bank, which can put in place the policies and systems to prevent such incidents and play a convening role to facilitate partnerships that allow each of these actors, including the World Bank itself, to take on their respective roles and accountabilities to protect women and children from grievous harm