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Working with the community for the rehabilitation of legacy mines: Approaches and lessons learned from the literature

Resource Key: K52RKBJX

Document Type: Journal Article

Creator:

Date: November 2024

Language: en

The extraction of natural resources is inevitable in a globalised and modern society. The mining sector has significantly contributed to the advancement of people’s lives and boosted the economies of many countries. The life cycle of a mine starts with exploration and prospecting, followed by the approval process, mine development and production, and eventually, mine closure and rehabilitation. However, with improper enactment of policies and guidelines, especially in low-income and developing countries, improper reclamation programs, or a lack thereof, mining companies may leave their sites without rehabilitation, creating legacy mines. “Thousands of mines sit in an idle state of ‘care and maintenance’ partly because of the difficulties involved in closing a mine and concerns about transfer of residual liability for sites” (Measham et al., 2024, p.1). Legacy mines are also known as derelict or abandoned mines whose rehabilitation strategies or management are typically implemented by the government (Tabelin et al., 2021).
The abandonment of mines exacerbates people’s negative views and perceptions about mining (Alonzo et al., 2023; Promentilla et al., 2021). Even if they have ceased operations, some legacy mine sites continue to cause environmental and human health hazards (Coelho et al., 2011). Aside from environmental and social risks (Bank of Ghana, 2003; Boon et al., 2013), health and safety issues (Brenner and Pruent, 2006), the closure of mines may significantly impact local and national economies, especially if workers lose their jobs, creating immense psychological effects on individuals and entire communities (Pini et al., 2010). In other words, legacy mines come with many issues that, when not resolved, may continue to pose risks. Also, given that the demand for ores will continue to increase in the next decades to achieve a clean energy transition (WBC, 2021), issues on mine closure rehabilitation are critical.
With these issues related to legacy mines, government agencies around the world are pushing for their rehabilitation to return them to safe and stable conditions. Rehabilitation initiatives aim to sustainably make the mined-out land productive to support the economic activity of the host community and their future generations. In the context of this paper, we used the word sustainability to mean minimising the negative environmental and social impacts while increasing the economic and natural capital of the site (Adam et al., 2021; Deveci et al., 2022). One of the key approaches to legacy mine rehabilitation, particularly in economic and environmental development, is working with the host community, the local community made up of people living in the mining area. There are competing conceptualisations on how to work with them. For example, community engagement is an attempt to develop good relations through genuine conversations, developing mutual respect and trust by including all those who are key players of a broad section of the community in the discussion (Australian Government, 2016). Meanwhile, community participation occurs when the community mobilises its resources, takes responsibility for its own development activities, and shares in decision-making for and implementation of all other developmental programs for the overall improvement of the community’s status (Boon et al., 2013; Hasan, 2022). Finally, community involvement happens when community members actively participate in the planning, implementation, management, monitoring, and evaluation (Palanisami et al., 2007; Hasan, 2022).
These different ways of working with host communities are all encompassed by the term community development. Community development promotes self-reliance, critical awareness, and problem-solving skills among community members. The community, likewise, becomes empowered to begin recommended programs or programs they have conceptualised as they see them as essential for their development. Community development, which should be the goal of mining companies, scientists, and engineers, is about contributing to the host community by building their capacity and agency to meet their needs and aspirations themselves, both now and into the future, and not do the development for them (Isacowitz et al., 2022).
Although the concepts of community engagement, participation, involvement, and empowerment have been widely used, there are multiple knowledge bases regarding their conceptualisation, implementation, and evaluation of impacts within mince closure and rehabilitation. There are also diverse approaches used with conflicting evidence for their effectiveness. This paper investigates how community engagement, participation, involvement, and empowerment are studied, viewed, and reported in the literature.

The impact of conflicts in the mining industry: A case study of a gold mining dispute in Greece

Resource Key: H82PZU8R

Document Type: Journal Article

Creator:

Date: October 2024

Language: en

The Skouries gold mining dispute in Greece has been a significant contention for several years. This study explores how individuals, either supportive or critical of mining, have strategically positioned themselves in discourse to safeguard their influence and control over potential risks. These strategic actions have included visible measures, such as campaigns carried out by institutions and grassroots organizations, and plans that have been expressed but not yet implemented. These tactics have given rise to divergent perspectives within each group. Whenever the mining operation faced a potential threat, the miners would take charge of the tunnels to demonstrate their indispensable connection to their work and its importance within a broader context. On the other hand, local activists, in stark contrast to the miners who relied on the mining company, developed their skills and capabilities, showcasing their resilience in the face of adversity. Despite adhering to a post-Fordist work and labor conditions model, these activists have a strong attachment to their location but were compelled to consider relocating. The research illustrates how opposing parties collaboratively generate disputes over natural resources through their strategic use of language and communication.

Critical Mineral Supply in the European Energy Transition: Towards Just Institutional Approaches

Resource Key: 6J5M6MIX

Document Type: Book Section

Creator:

Place: Cham

Date: September 2024

The European Green Deal’s (EGD) transformative policies around the clean energy transition (CET) will affect communities and industries globally. The European Union (EU) cannot source all of its critical mineral supply domestically, and thus, the shift towards renewable energy requires obtaining these minerals from other places, potentially externalising the socioenvironmental risks that accompany mining. This may contribute to conflicts over resource extraction that stem from European decision-making but have impacts that are felt beyond its borders. The EGD recognises the need for careful attention to potential trade-offs between economic, environmental and social objectives by emphasising a just transition. However, this raises important questions about how policymakers will strike the appropriate balance, and whether such considerations will include impacts upon individuals and communities beyond EU borders. What are the imperatives of a just institutional approach? This chapter explores these questions from an interdisciplinary perspective, by including insights from the social sciences, law and environmental sciences. The example of mining in the Lithium Triangle is highlighted to contextualise the justice implications of the ever-increasing demand for critical minerals and to argue that the principles of a just transition should be operationalised throughout the critical mineral supply chain to include all impacted communities.

Towards glint and glare impact assessment best practice

Resource Key: G3684SCM

Document Type: Journal Article

Creator:

Date: November 2024

Language: en

Developing photovoltaic (PV) powerplants close to airports, major roads and residential areas could pose potential challenges related to glint and glare. Glint and glare impact assessment (GGIA) has subsequently become an important tool for assessing potential impacts. This study analyses of a range of GGIAs, standards, and guidance to recognise and make recommendations for best practice. Twenty GGIAs are conducted by various consultants from diverse countries, and seven standards and guidance are critically reviewed with respect to practice for: methods; impact significance determination; mitigation; and stakeholder engagement. Key recommendations for best practice are made, albeit recognising that they reflect the best of existing practice which is not necessarily the best practice that might be aspired to. This study serves as a first step toward improving GGIA practice, with the ultimate objective of supporting the safe and sustainable development of solar PV projects.

Toward a common categorization for valued components: using a review of valued components and indicators in the lower James Bay Region of Ontario and Quebec, Canada, to support cumulative impact science in Canada

Resource Key: 62J8B4CK

Document Type: Journal Article

Creator:

Date: August 2024

Language: en

Cumulative impacts and regional assessments (RA) require the integration and analysis of large quantities of interdisciplinary scientific information. Yet, the information available is not often readily accessible nor standardized across impact assessments. We proposed here a categorization of valued components that have been derived from projects in the James Bay Lowlands and that is aligned with the IAAC’s Tailored Impact Statement Guidelines (TISG) template, a key document to support project and regional impact assessment deliverables. We compiled valued components and indicators from previous and ongoing environmental impact assessments in the James Bay Lowlands. We identified trends associated with valued components and indicators and combined these trends with the TISG. We then derived a categorization of valued components nested under seven systems. From the reviewed work, we identified 197 valued components (23% valued components were common for two or more projects) and 313 indicators. Our categorization is composed of seven systems and 34 potential valued components allowing for easy connections between future project-level impact assessments and RAs. Our categorization is a valuable communication tool across all stakeholders and rightsholders involved in impact assessments, including communities, Indigenous leaders, IA practitioners, industry, and government.

Impact assessment of the governance principles in the implementation of dam-induced involuntary resettlement on host communities: the case of the Bui Dam in Ghana

Resource Key: 4Y8E2QRG

Document Type: Journal Article

Creator:

Date: September 2024

Language: en

Any form of resettlement of people requires applying some governance processes to guide its implementation processes. Resettlement and governance – are entangled because acceptability and ownership of a resettlement programme by community members are associated with the manner of application of good governance principles. Several studies have focused on the impact of resettlements on affected people and communities, however, little is known about the impact of the governance principles being applied in the implementation of resettlements on the hosts. This study seeks to investigate the impact of governance principles applied in the implementation of dam-induced involuntary resettlement on host communities. A good governance principles framework was used, using the case of the Bui Dam resettlement in Ghana. Findings of the paper, obtained via a mixed-methods approach, indicate that in the Bui Dam resettlement, the governance processes failed to protect the hosts’ interests as they perceived public participation and transparency to be low and no fair compensation received. The study demonstrates that governance processes of resettlements in the Global South appear feeble to protect host communities’ interests.

The role of social capital in community development: Insights from behavioral game theory and social network analysis

Resource Key: CEGBIQQS

Document Type: Journal Article

Creator:

Date: March 2024

Language: en

This study examined the multifaceted nature of Social Capital (SC) in community development projects by using Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) interventions in three urban Bangladeshi slums as a case study. Despite its recognized importance, the ambiguity surrounding SC has led to mixed outcomes, necessitating a more theorized approach to quantitatively assess SC. To address this, a comprehensive methodology was developed, specifically crafted for a community development context and incorporating standard SC questions, social network analysis indices, and an adherence to social norms through behavioral game theory. The analysis revealed varied SC profiles, with one slum achieving successful community toilet management through strong reciprocal ties. The other slums faced challenges due to community division and weakened SC among key individuals. These findings underscore the necessity of tailoring interventions to community-specific SC characteristics. The streamlined approach derived from the study provides guidance for both enhancing the effectiveness of community interventions and advancing sustainable development.

Environmental and Social Framework

Resource Key: VKFS7UEV

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: Mandaluyong City, Philippines

Institution: Asian Development Bank

Date: October 2024

Language: en

Environment and social (E&S) sustainability through the protection of people and the environment from potential adverse impacts of Asian Development Bank (ADB) projects, is a cornerstone of ADB’s support for inclusive green economic growth and poverty reduction in Asia and the Pacific. In July 2009, ADB’s Board of Directors approved the Safeguard Policy Statement (2009) (SPS). It has applied to all ADB-financed and/or administered sovereign and nonsovereign operations since January 2010. The SPS was widely considered to be a progressive policy when first approved in 2009. The core elements of the policy and the assessment processes and requirements for the environment, involuntary resettlement, and Indigenous Peoples remain relevant, functioning, and largely aligned with the practices of other multilateral development banks (MDBs). However, over the past 14 years of implementation, certain limitations within the policy have been observed. In May 2020, ADB’s Independent Evaluation Department (IED) completed a corporate evaluation of the SPS and recommended revisions to the policy and associated business processes and implementation requirements. Following the IED evaluation, ADB commenced a comprehensive SPS review and update (SPRU) process, considering the changing development context and evolving challenges and capacities of ADB’s developing member countries (DMCs) and clients. The main objectives of the SPRU are to (i) modernize the policy and apply good practices; (ii) harmonize with other MDBs; (iii) adapt to regional needs and financing modalities; and (iv) enhance business processes and efficiency. These objectives are aimed at improving the implementation and outcomes for project-affected persons and the environment. ADB recognizes that harmonization of E&S requirements with ADB’s peer institutions will reinforce the collective efforts of MDBs in supporting better E&S performance and strengthen borrowers’ E&S systems, while reducing transaction costs. The proposed environmental and social framework (ESF) builds on the findings and recommendations of IED and culminates almost 4 years of detailed analytical studies and extensive engagement with diverse stakeholders. It attempts to reconcile sometimes competing and conflicting views and recommendations. The ESF seeks to strike the right balance with aligned E&S approach with peer MDBs, while following good international practice, integrating emerging issues, and enhancing implementation effectiveness and efficiency. Throughout policy preparation, ADB consulted extensively with DMCs, civil society organizations, private sector clients, project-affected persons, and international organizations, including MDBs. These discussions highlighted implementation challenges and lessons from the SPS and yielded recommendations to strengthen the content and scope of the new policy. This included recommendations in areas including gender equality, sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment; disadvantaged or vulnerable groups; labor and working conditions; biodiversity; climate change; digital risks; Indigenous Peoples; and stakeholder engagement. In addition, stakeholders, particularly DMCs and private sector clients, underscored the need to provide more support for strengthening and using borrowers’ E&S systems; greater harmonization with peer institutions; recognition of regional and country-specific contexts and needs, including fragile and conflict affected situations and small island developing states; and improved clarity, guidance, and capacity support. The ESF sets forth E&S objectives and requirements aimed at fostering sustainable development outcomes. The proposed ESF provides broader coverage in terms of E&S areas and promotes more integrated risk-based and adaptive management approach that aims to focus E&S assessment and management on key risks, with several elements to improve efficiency, without compromising on final outcomes and compliance. The ESF has five parts: (i) the vision, (ii) the E&S Policy, (iii) 10 environmental and social standards (ESSs), (iv) requirements for financing modalities and products, and (v) a prohibited investment activities list. The E&S Policy will be supported by an Operations Manual section and Staff Instructions for ADB Staff to provide detailed business process requirements. Each ESS will be accompanied by nonmandatory guidance notes, which will be finalized after the adoption of the ESF. A distinctive feature of the ESF is the delineation of ADB’s responsibilities (as detailed in the E&S Policy), and the borrower and client requirements (as detailed in the ESSs). Further, the ESF separates ADB’s long-term aspirational commitments to E&S sustainability (as captured in the vision) from the project-level mandatory requirements of ADB (as set out in the E&S Policy, and of the borrowers and clients, as set out in the ESSs and requirements for financing modalities and products). The ESF will become effective 1 January 2026, or a later date as determined by Management after confirming the readiness to implement the ESF and following Board consultations on the same. It will supersede the SPS, subject to the following transitional arrangements: (i) (ii) for projects that have been approved or have a concept note approved by ADB prior to the effective date of the ESF, the SPS will continue to apply; and for new projects for which a concept note is approved by ADB on or after the effective date of the ESF, the E&S Policy, ESSs, and the prohibited investment activities list will apply. ADB will allocate responsibilities and appropriate resources to support the effective implementation of the ESF. The ESF rollout across ADB, DMCs and private sector clients will commence immediately following ADB’s Board approval of the ESF and will span 3 years. The main objective is to help borrowers and clients transition effectively to the new policy and implement the ESSs, while continuing to apply the existing SPS requirements for ongoing projects. It will focus on (i) supporting and strengthening the capacity of ADB Staff, borrowers, and clients; and (ii) training implementing agencies and other stakeholders, including contractors, on the implementation of the ESS requirements.

Developing international guidance to make impact assessment follow-up happen – reflections on an interactive design process

Resource Key: R3NEVIW3

Document Type: Journal Article

Creator:

Date: November 2024

Language: en

To advance impact assessment (IA) practice worldwide the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) has long promoted and published a series of international best practice principles, including the recently revised best practice principles for IA follow-up. IA follow-up refers to any kind of undertaking that seeks to ‘understand the outcomes of projects or plans’ that have been subject to IA. To support the implementation of these principles worldwide, a global guidance document has been developed (published by IAIA in 2024). The aims of this paper are to report on the approach undertaken to this guidance, applying a Delphi method, and to reflect on the utility and learnings derived from the process. To this end, the method of reflexivity was utilised as well as consideration of the broader literature. Overall, applying the Delphi approach in combination with international workshops helped calibrate international guidance that will be meaningful to a broad audience and relevant for unlocking worldwide experience. A key learning was that establishing and communicating international guidance generates tension between detailed explanations relevant to specific contexts versus generalization and overview.

Arc of avoidance: An analytical framework for analysing mining companies’ actions in the global South

Resource Key: JBEA7QZN

Document Type: Journal Article

Creator:

Date: 2024

Language: en

Given the relationship between mineral extraction and conflict, human rights violations, and environmental degradation, there is an urgent need to examine how to mitigate harm in a more mineral intensive future. Thus far the literature has focused on two areas, the governance gaps present in the global governance of multinationals and the private governance scholarship which examines the rule-making power of mining firms. This paper argues that this story of mining firms’ power is incomplete. Mining MNCs not only make rules, they also actively avoid regulations put in place to temper their impact on communities. To address this, the paper develops a chronological ‘arc of avoidance’, detailing the methods by which mining firms evade their fiscal and legal obligations to host communities. These methods include negotiation of tax concessions, tax avoidance, closing avenues of redress, and abandonment of mines without recourse. Using the case study of Paladin Energy, the paper confirms the power of large MNCs over governments and citizens of the Global South. It demonstrates that mining MNCs engage in avoidance tactics throughout the life of a mine, and that their power over host states does not weaken once investment has been made. Such tactics lead to entrenched negative outcomes for mining communities in the Global South. The findings reveal the full extent to which firms accrue the benefits and avoid the consequences of mineral extraction throughout the production process, and are of particular significance as we shift to extracting the resources required for the uptake of renewable energy.

“All we have left is to defend our reserve”: Social structures and community resistance to large-scale gold mining in the Manuripi Wildlife Reserve in northern Bolivia

Resource Key: NUPU5V4R

Document Type: Journal Article

Creator:

Date: December 2024

Language: en

This article presents a case of community resistance against industrial large-scale gold mining (LSM) in the Manuripi National Amazonian Wildlife Reserve in northern Bolivia. Most of the reserve’s population depends on collecting Brazil nuts and other non-timber forest products. Recent plans to start LSM on land pose an existential threat to the forest-based livelihoods and environment of the reserve. Hence, the communities are resisting LSM. As previous studies have stressed the importance of social relations, networks and institutions to organize resistance, the article investigates how communities living in the Manuripi Reserve draw on social structures to resist the planned LSM. To address this question, we develop a framework that combines insights from the literature on political ecology and resistance in order to analyze context conditions, the threat of LSM, and the responses to it. Based on fieldwork conducted in 2022 and 2023, our analysis shows that the communities are strengthening their existing forest-based livelihoods as a form of everyday resistance and utilizing the reserve’s management committee for organized resistance against LSM.

Critical minerals mining and Native American sovereignty: Comparing case studies of lithium, copper, antimony, nickel and graphite mining in the United States

Resource Key: RU49P8I7

Document Type: Journal Article

Creator:

Date: December 2024

Language: en

Owing to the historical patterns of colonialism and settlement, many of the remaining undeveloped mineral resources needed for a low-carbon energy transition are located on lands that have historic, ancestral, or cultural significance to Native American Tribes and Indigenous communities, as well as are near environmental-sensitive areas. While some mining projects occur on private land, the majority of mining projects are proposed for lands owned by the United States Federal Government and managed by multiple agencies (United States Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management etc.) with goals across the spectra from natural resource development to cultural resource conservation. Through a comparative case study approach, this study analyzes mining projects seeking to develop these resources. The cases represent a mix of project types from greenfield development to historic mines sites. Mineral resource projects have faced varying degrees of social resistance, continue to face challenges with securing permitting approvals or face litigation, and this can be a source of development uncertainty. These frictions are also important moments for Native American Tribes and environmental conservation groups to lessen impacts on natural resources. Resolving the uncertainties on both sides is crucial for nation building. One of the primary reasons for frequent and sustained litigation among all these projects is establishing a common ground from various competing interests, which is still possible. While current legislations on mining have provisions concerning Tribal engagement, recent legislative proposals contain further action which is needed as part of a more inclusive approach that emphasizes early negotiation, pathways to consent and even various forms of partnerships. This will help resolve some of the nation’s critical minerals challenges domestically in a way that protects the environment and preserve Tribal societal values.

Sociocultural risks of resource extraction for the low-carbon energy transition: Evidence from the Global South

Resource Key: XPJH6IRR

Document Type: Journal Article

Creator:

Date: June 2024

Language: en

The ongoing global transition to low-carbon energy relies on access to energy transition minerals (ETMs), bringing to life new mining projects. This shift is particularly impacting the Global South, due to high levels of interaction of mineral deposits with territories of Indigenous peoples and peasants, weak governance and remoteness. Focusing on the sustainability and justice of energy transitions, previous research has identified a range of environmental and social impacts of ETM mining across Global South countries. We argue that current research overlooks impacts of energy transition-related mining on tangible and intangible cultural heritage of land-connected people. This paper seeks to address this gap by examining the intersection of ETM mining and sociocultural practices in the Global South from spatial, governance and justice perspectives. Based on an extensive literature review, this article critically addresses key themes in the literature on the social aspects of energy transitions and uses cases from Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Chile, and Papua New Guinea (PNG) to demonstrate the immediate and long-term sociocultural impacts associated with ETM mining. It is important to foster an all-encompassing approach to planetary just energy transitions that places equal weight on ensuring cultural alongside environmental, economic and social sustainability.

Documenting Respect for Human Rights: A 2024 Benchmark of Large Danish Companies

Resource Key: WNZB79V5

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: Copenhagen, Denmark

Institution: Danish Institute for Human Rights

Date: 2024

This report provides a benchmark of the human rights policies and self-reported human rights due diligence (HRDD) practices of 30 of the largest Danish companies for the 2023 reporting period. The companies represent ten different sectors, are headquartered in Denmark and all have global operations and value chains. The benchmark repeats similar studies by the Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR) published in 20201 and 20222 and the first one on financial institutions from 2023. As is the case for all other businesses, the covered companies have a responsibility to respect human rights. This entails maintaining an awareness of their negative impacts on human rights and publicly demonstrating what they are doing to avoid and address them. The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), the global authoritative standard on business and human rights, define this as the concept of a “corporate responsibility to respect human rights” which includes undertaking HRDD. This benchmark takes a closer look at the degree to which some of the largest Danish companies are able to demonstrate that they meet this standard. To enable comparison with similar benchmarks at the global level and those done in other countries the benchmark relies on the Corporate Human Rights Benchmark’s (CHRB) Core UNGP Indicator methodology. The study aims to contribute to an ongoing debate on how businesses can improve their respect human rights and publicly document their efforts. In recent years the European Union (EU) has introduced a range of regulatory initiatives which, in different ways, seek to address the impacts that businesses have on the enjoyment of human rights. Two of the main developments in this area relevant to the benchmark are the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), which includes a mandatory due diligence obligation with respect to human rights and environmental impacts; and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which concerns disclosures on a range of sustainability matters and their management including human rights and due diligence. Although these regulations are yet to be legally binding on the companies covered in this analysis, their adoption is already impacting the companies’ behaviour. CSRD applies to the first set of companies in 2025 and CSDDD in 2027. Nonetheless, over half of the companies covered in the study refer to the CSRD in their 2024 annual report and note how the incoming regulation has influenced their sustainability reporting. This report facilitates an early consideration of the future impacts of these and related regulatory developments on benchmarks such as these. In a separate section, the report includes a short analysis of early effects of the CSRD and the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) on the companies’ reporting as it relates to social sustainability including human rights (page 44). The CHRB Core UNGP Indicator methodology does not mirror the CSDDD articles and thereby incoming legal requirements on HRDD 1:1, but as both draw heavily on the UNGPs as the underlying normative reference point, the companies’ results in this study offer some insight into the companies’ CSDDD preparedness and highlight key areas for improvement. By applying the CHRB Core UNGP Indicator methodology, the benchmark measures the degree to which the largest Danish companies currently document alignment with the UNGPs, rather than whether their performance or impact management processes are in fact aligned with the UNGPs. The methodology, which was updated in 2021, includes 12 indicators covering three thematic areas: three indicators relating to Governance and Policy Commitments (Governance Indicators), six indicators relating to Embedding Respect and Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD Indicators), and three indicators on Remedies and Grievance Mechanisms (Remedy Indicators). For a list of the indicators see page 17. The CHRB Core UNGP Indicator methodology relies on information publicly disclosed by companies themselves – including formal policy documents, information from annual reports, as well as information on corporate websites. Looking at information provided by companies themselves – and not information made available in the media, by civil society organisations, affected stakeholders or their representatives, or through independent data collection and field work – has a number of limitations which should be kept in mind when assessing the results (for more on methodology and limitations see Annex 1). After the first benchmark of Danish companies in 2020, the World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA) did a revision of the CHRB methodology based on lessons learnt and stakeholder feedback. The 2021 methodology update has made it possible to shed light on some of the most central areas of concern by requiring additional disclosure on human rights impacts and how they are addressed, including through stakeholder engagement. Since then, the methodology has remained unchanged. This means that any comparisons between the Danish 2020 results and those of 2022 and 2024 must be made with caution. One of the reasons for repeating the benchmark every other year has indeed been to track whether the exercise can drive companies to develop stronger commitments and report more transparently on their procedures, and in addition, determine if laggards are catching up with their peers. As the CHRB methodology has not changed again since the last benchmark, this provides the opportunity to compare this years’ findings more closely to findings from 2022. While some improvements can be noticed in several important areas, such as remedy, the issues that have emerged from this year’s analysis, however, underline that the most significant areas of gaps remain the same.

Fractured perceptions: Unconventional oil and gas development and the social construction of perceptions of risk in South Africa

Resource Key: EJA8EUE6

Document Type: Journal Article

Creator:

Date: September 2024

Language: en

To address energy shortages, the South African government includes the development and extraction of local natural gas as part of its future energy plan. Insights into risk perception are crucial for determining realistic and likely risks relevant to future energy developments in the face of the country’s future energy planning. Studies on the social construction of the risk perceptions of unconventional oil and gas (UOG) development are lacking since risk perceptions of UOG development in South Africa are not underpinned by tangible, lived experiences. This study, therefore, offers novel insights into the social construction of risk perceptions. We identified the risk objects, objects at risk, and factors influencing risk perceptions, and found that UOG development risk perceptions in South Africa are socially constructed through group membership and participation. The perceived rivalry between opposition and proposition groups prompts stakeholders to deliberately formulate ideas, opinions, and viewpoints to counter those of oppositional groups. We propose a risk communication strategy that considers the media’s influence on stakeholders’ risk perceptions, aims to understand the different stakeholder groups’ views, intentions and expected behaviour, and tailors communication that acknowledges groups’ different goals and intentions. The proposed strategy considers the diverging opinions of the opposing groups in a collaborative effort to build trust in and between groups.

Health service impacts and extractive industries: Experiences from health service leaders operating in a resource-dependent region

Resource Key: YVUIRMFE

Document Type: Journal Article

Creator:

Date: September 2024

Language: en

Resource extraction and development projects alter community health and well-being in complex and diverse ways. The extractive industry’s impacts on local infrastructure and services are commonly recognized social externalities, yet little detail is available on how these manifest across the healthcare system. This study offers a better understanding of the health service impacts of resource extraction and development. It does this by capturing the observations and experiences of leaders from a rural, regional health authority who have worked with industry to manage impacts on health services during a period of rapid economic development and amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The study found that impacts from resource extraction and development were experienced first and foremost in emergency departments but were also felt across the entire healthcare system. These pressures were primarily driven by the size of the temporary workforce but also influenced by factors such as the relative size of the workforce to the local community, the local context, and how well impacts were managed at the project level, including the competency of a project’s medical service provider.

The Strategic Value of Community Benefits in Offshore Wind Development

Resource Key: DI7I6Y37

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: Washington D.C.

Institution: IFC

Date: 2024

Language: en

This report highlights the growing importance for offshore wind proponents to build strong relationships with host communities and secure a social license to operate. This social license, although intangible, is an important asset, rooted in community trust and acceptance of a company and its activities. The paper is intended to facilitate discussion between developers, communities, public sector decision-makers, regulators, and businesses throughout all phases of offshore wind projects.

Testing the Social Framework for Projects: the social impacts of the Tesla Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg

Resource Key: FAQ2MKYB

Document Type: Journal Article

Creator:

Date: November 2024

Language: en

We test the usefulness of the ‘Social Framework for Projects’ and its eight categories (people, community, culture, livelihoods, infrastructure, housing, environment, and land) by examining the social impacts arising from siting the Tesla Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg in the village of Grünheide, Germany. By creating thousands of jobs, this electric automobile manufacturing plant has brought economic development to a previously disadvantaged region. New roads, cycle paths, and improved train and bus connections have increased accessibility between Grünheide and Berlin, and within the region. However, construction of the Tesla Gigafactory has also had many negative impacts, including destruction of forests and loss of wildlife habitat, concerns about pollution and loss of groundwater, construction nuisance and annoyance, and anger about how the project was approved. Although many potential negative social impacts – e.g. project-induced in-migration (influx) and increased demand on services – have been minimised by facilitating commuting from Berlin, many protest actions against the project have occurred. Overall, we found that the Social Framework for Projects was an effective tool for considering the social impacts of projects. Although the Social Framework was originally designed for use in a developing country context, it can also be used in advanced industrial nations.

Trauma-Informed Community Change: An Exploration of Community-Led, Trauma-Informed, Prevention-Oriented, Resilience-Building & Healing-Centered Considerations for Strengthening Communities

Resource Key: UXM48AXU

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: Washington D.C.

Institution: Campaign for Trauma Informed Policy & Practice (CTIPP)

Date: August 2024

Language: en

There is little doubt that our nation’s systems and institutions are simultaneously experiencing trauma themselves while also perpetuating trauma in ways that powerfully shape our individual and collective lived experiences. As the movement to create a more trauma-informed and -responsive world grows and makes meaningful impacts, it becomes increasingly clear that there is transformative power in unlocking the potential held within the communities where we live, learn, work, play, and connect. While enshrining trauma-informed policies and practices in law is a significant component of building and sustaining the resilient and flourishing world we hope for, it is also critical that we notice the fertile ground within our communities for true healing and growth to take root and that community members have what they need to sow the necessary seeds to support well-being now and in the future. Indeed, it is within our communities, where stories, lived experiences, and culture intertwine, that we find the seeds of transformation waiting to sprout. By fostering community-led capacity- and coalition building efforts, we can remove barriers and dismantle dynamics that limit potential while nurturing the collective spirit and mobilizing resiliency factors to create the context and conditions where all may stand empowered to thrive together. Through such actions, CTIPP envisions a future defined by rich, connected community life where compassion reigns, institutions act in alignment with localized needs and priorities, and the radiance of true community stewardship and citizenry among residents illuminates a clear path ahead.

Bilions in the bush: Renewable energy for regional prosperity

Resource Key: MGEG6U5Y

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: Australia

Institution: Clean Energy Council & Farmers for Climate Action

Date: 2024

Language: en

From Gladstone to Gippsland, regional Australia has a tradition of powering our cities and towns. This proud tradition continues today, with farmers partnering with the renewables industry to harness clean energy from the sun and the wind and make farms more productive. Renewable energy is already powering Australian industry and manufacturing both in the regions and in the cities. The share of renewable energy across the National Electricity Market (NEM) is now more than 40%. Australian farmers are skilled business owners, experienced at harnessing new opportunities, and thousands of them are already embracing the shift to renewable energy. The deployment of renewable energy is a once in a generation economic opportunity for regional Australia. Analysis by the Clean Energy Council and Farmers for Climate Action shows that large-scale wind and solar projects across the NEM are expected to deliver between $9.7 – 11.7 billion in landholder payments and contributions to regional communities and councils over the coming decades. This includes $7.7 billion – 9.7 billion in direct payments to landholders, and $1.9 billion in contributions to regional communities and councils, between 2024 and 2050. These payments are part of a broader pattern of regional communities receiving the economic benefits of renewable energy projects. Modelling by the Regional Australia Institute finds that large scale wind and solar projects (not including pumped hydro or standalone battery storage) could generate up to $68 billion in economic activity across Australia by 2030. The economic benefits of hosting these projects will continue for decades to come

Human Rights Due Diligence and the Environment: A Practical Tool for Business

Resource Key: 5FPLX8HQ

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: New York

Institution: United Nations Development Programme

Date: November 2024

Language: en

The Practical Tool offers businesses practical advice, experiences, and insights on how to integrate environmental dimensions into their human rights due diligence to identify, prevent, mitigate, and account for how they address adverse impacts on human rights resulting from environmental harms, including on the new right to a healthy environment. The Practical Tool can also be of relevance to other stakeholders, particularly States in developing human rights and environmental due diligence and disclosure measures, as well as CSOs, trade unions, community-based groups, National Human Rights Institutions, environmental human rights defenders, and investors engaged in working with and monitoring businesses’ human rights and environmental performance.

Navigating the Just Transition: Practical Steps for Business Leaders

Resource Key: 7GIDFGB2

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Institution: Human Level

Date: November 2024

Language: en

This briefing note is for corporate practitioners who are leading efforts to advance a just transition within their organisations. It offers a practical guide to help companies navigate the complexities of integrating just transition principles across their operations and value chains. By focusing on actionable steps, this resource provides insights into how businesses can bring a rights-based approach to their climate and environmental strategies, ensuring that their transition efforts are equitable, inclusive and just. These actions in turn serve as a foundation for embedding just transition principles into day-to-day business practices, enabling companies to drive meaningful change while addressing the impacts on workers, communities, and other stakeholders most affected by the transition.

A Code of Ethics for the social performance profession

Resource Key: RL3PWL5B

Document Type: Journal Article

Creator:

Date: December 2024

Language: en

I advocate for the establishment of a Code of Ethics for social performance professionals, particularly in the extractive and energy industries where faster and more production is essential for the energy transition. Demand for social performance practitioners is increasing. As the profession evolves, it faces significant challenges due to a lack of standardised qualifications and frameworks. In this opinion piece, I underscore the critical role social performance professionals play in advising corporate decision-making and the necessity for professionalisation of the field. A Code of Ethics recognises three unique aspects of social performance practice that demand specific ethical guidance: multi-stakeholder accountability, complex power dynamics, and consideration of long-term impacts. The concept of ethical maturity in practitioners’ decision-making processes is discussed, and a set of ethical principles proposed, illustrated with practical scenarios. I conclude by emphasising that a well-defined Code of Ethics is essential for building a profession that is valued for its accountability, integrity and culture of ethics. Dialogue among practitioners and stakeholders is crucial to ensure that the code reflects the com plexities of social performance practice and contributes to responsible business practices.

How Does Social Protection Impact Social Cohesion in the Sahel? A Review of Existing Evidence and Gaps

Resource Key: SI4ZKWG2

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: Washington D.C.

Institution: World Bank

Date: 2024

Language: en

In the Sahel, social protection programs have been proven to improve several outcomes for beneficiaries such as boosting consumption, productivity, resilience to climate change, as well as health and education of future generations. They also yield positive impacts on local economies, benefiting local communities beyond beneficiaries. Beyond economic impacts, programs that seek to address poverty and vulnerability, such as social protection interventions, have the potential to strengthen social cohesion. Untangling this relationship is essential to maximize these programs’ positive impact and prevent potential unintended detrimental dynamics. This paper examines the current evidence base in the Sahel to identify what is known about the impact of social protection programs on social cohesion in the region, and what gaps in the evidence remain. The paper finds that social protection programs often improved social cohesion as reported by program beneficiaries, including more trust, cooperation for the common good, involvement in local associations, and a greater sense of inclusive identity. The sense of fairness and legitimacy of programs as perceived by non-beneficiaries varies by context. Finally, the selection of beneficiaries may result in social conflicts and tensions among community members, highlighting the importance of understanding the role of pre-existing contextual factors. In terms of evidence gaps, evidence of social protection programs’ social cohesion impacts for non-beneficiaries are limited to few qualitative studies, which are not necessarily representative of the full programs. Also, most evidence exists around horizontal with-in community social cohesion, and there is a gap in the evidence base on impact on social cohesion between different communities (out-groups) and between citizens and state (vertical cohesion) in the Sahel.

Integrating Internal Migrants in Social Protection Systems : Review on Good Practices to Inform Adaptive Social Protection Programs in the Sahel

Resource Key: P4R3HYAG

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: Washington D.C.

Institution: World Bank

Date: 2024

Language: en

Internal migration, characterized by the movement of people within national borders, is a significant and growing phenomenon, with an estimated 763 million internal migrants globally as Of 2013, and 71.1 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) by the end Of 2022. These numbers will continue to increase due to factors such as urbanization and climate change. Estimates suggest that by 2045, the number Of people living in cities worldwide will increase 1.5 times, to 6 billion (World Bank, 2019). Despite the potential social protection programs have in playing a positive supporting role for different types of migrants, their families and communities, and the economy, these interventions often fail to adequately address the needs of internal migrants and IDPs, who face unique challenges in accessing and benefiting from such support. This paper examines the barriers that internal migrants and IDPs encounter in relation to social protection programs and highlights best practices from global experiences in integrating migration considerations into the key components of social protection Systems. To overcome these challenges, the paper suggests several solutions, such as reforming eligibility criteria to explicitly include internal migrants, utilizing dynamic social registries to enable information updates, and designing migrant-inclusive support packages that take into consideration, for instance, the timings of participation. It also emphasizes the importance of portability and continuity of services, flexible program implementation, and effective outreach and communication strategies to ensure migrants are informed of their entitlements and can access services regardless of location.

Gender Equality and Water Security: A Conceptual Framework and Practical Strategies to Accelerate Progress

Resource Key: F9JF4IQP

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: Mandaluyong City, Philippines

Institution: Asian Development Bank

Date: October 2024

Language: en

Why consider women’s water security? There is significant evidence that while women experience greater impacts of water insecurity than men, they are underrepresented in formal and informal water management and service delivery institutions. These differences arise from broader gender inequalities and marginalization of particular groups within the relevant societies. People experience water security and insecurity differently. Women are often responsible for water collection and management within households. Women and girls are also more likely to experience food insecurity; personal safety concerns; vulnerability to disasters, severe weather events, and climate change; risks of disease and physical and mental health impacts; and reduced economic opportunities related to water. It is therefore important to consider the specific factors that contribute to women’s water insecurity. To achieve water security for all, it is imperative that gender and inclusion are meaningfully incorporated into policies, governance, and management processes. This report presents findings from a collaborative knowledge work among the Asian Development Bank; University of Technology Sydney’s Institute for Sustainable Futures; and a wider network of global partners interested in progressing the gender and inclusion agenda in water security. This knowledge work aims to (i) develop a conceptual framework to guide a gendered perspective on water security in policy, project design, analysis, and monitoring; and (ii) document practices on how women’s inclusion and gender equality in the water sector can be enhanced toward more transformational gendered approaches. Conceptual framework for gendered water security. The conceptual framework adopts a human-centric perspective and is designed to highlight the societal, institutional, environmental, and biophysical contexts that impact diverse individuals’ experience of water security and insecurity (Figure 1). While focused on gender equality and the experiences of women, the framework also incorporates an intersection lens covering diverse individual characteristics and can be helpful in considering other vulnerable groups. The framework is intended to help water professionals identify critical factors in conceptualizing and measuring gendered water security across domestic, productive, and cultural water uses as well as in relation to water-related disasters. This, in turn, can support improved gender equality and inclusion in policy development and project design, as well as in monitoring and evaluation efforts. Transformative practices to support enhanced inclusion and gender equality. This report also provides 33 short cases to demonstrate how gender considerations can be better integrated into water project design. Using a second framework presented in Figure 2, these cases highlight the spectrum of possible entry points for promoting improved gender equality and inclusion, ranging from gender-sensitive, gender-responsive, to gender-transformative approaches.

Navigating justice: Examining the intersection of procedural and distributive justice in environmental impact assessment in Puerto Rico

Resource Key: SY4LIV99

Document Type: Journal Article

Creator:

Date: November 2024

Language: en

Recognizing that centuries of mistreatment of low-income and minority communities by governments and cor porations have resulted in widespread exposure to environmental harms, academics and policymakers are seeking ways to improve environmental justice. While it is commonly assumed that improved procedural justice (meaningful participation in decision making) should improve distributive justice (equitable distribution of environmental harms and benefits), empirical evidence of this link is nascent. This paper evaluates whether differing approaches to procedural justice shape recognition of distributive injustices by policymakers, focusing on implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in Puerto Rico. NEPA requires federal agencies to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of projects they implement, fund, or permit; this review commonly includes an assessment of the project’s impacts on distributive justice. Drawing on document analysis and interviews with project developers, regulators, and community organizations, we explore how and why four NEPA reviews consider distributional impacts. In all four cases, the community mobilized to voice concerns about the proposed projects’ impacts, but the lead agencies and project developers did not always create the space for those voices to collaboratively shape the review. This demonstrates the role of the project developer in how distributive justice considerations are treated, as project leads have discretion on whether and when to provide space for community groups to participate in the process. This research makes two primary contribu tions. First, by linking features of the decision-making process with environmental justice-related outputs, this research provides practical understanding of ways to support distributive justice and expands knowledge about how participatory governance works within the context of US environmental policy. Second, by studying NEPA’s implementation in Puerto Rico, we assess challenges associated with implementing Environmental Impact Assessment in a territorial setting, where the demographics and intensity of environmental problems are distinct from the ’traditional’ American context the policies were designed to protect.

Value addition for who? Challenges to local participation in downstream critical mineral ventures in Zambia

Resource Key: D6GD6V39

Document Type: Journal Article

Creator:

Date: December 2024

Language: en

The transition to low-carbon systems requires a secure supply of enabling technologies (e.g. renewables, batteries) and their components, which depend on various minerals. Governments are urgently seeking to secure these minerals by forming and augmenting strategic relationships with mineral-rich nations, particularly in Africa. Notably, the UK, EU and USA are encouraging value addition to take place within Africa, to balance their interests against China’s dominating position in processing and manufacturing. In parallel, there is interest and debate as to how these mineral endowed countries can maximise the positive outcomes from harnessing value addition activities for the local economies. In this viewpoint, we argue that creating downstream high-value industry should be centred around prioritising local company participation. This is important since many African countries continue to experience unfavourable neocolonial impacts and dependencies, particularly in the extractives sectors. We draw on the case of Zambia, which is developing an agenda for local value addition to drive economic transformation and diversification goals. From discussions with in-country experts we highlight three key challenges, which have wider regional relevance: (1) a persisting dominance of foreign-owned entities in the upstream extractives sector; (2) an unfavourable landscape for local company participation; and (3) a lack of enabling environment for value addition activities. Based on these challenges, we offer some areas for policy reform and future research.

Contention and concessions: Exploring the responsiveness of Chinese mining companies in Africa

Resource Key: HAKPRIW4

Document Type: Journal Article

Creator:

Date: December 2024

Language: en

As China’s investments are rising fast across the globe, we examine the circumstances under which Chinese mining companies concede to protest. While scholars have already identified success conditions of such struggles, it is unclear if these conditions apply to Chinese cases as well. More so, some research suggests that Chinese business practices fundamentally differ from others. Therefore, we seek to better understand Chinese corporate responsiveness by examining major mining projects from Guinea and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Our analysis draws on protest event data (collected from news and social media), interviews, and further sources to trace protests and company responses. We find that Chinese mining companies indeed concede under similar conditions as Western and other companies: recurrent disruptive actions, pressure from state actors and NGOs, and reputational concerns are key factors for their responsiveness. As we discuss, however, reputational vulnerabilities, which result from global supply chains and transnational activism, are differently distributed in the Chinese case, which undercuts the responsiveness of some major Chinese miners.

Iman Peoples Water Sovereignty: Extractive Industries in Central Queensland

Resource Key: ZCPVAGKJ

Document Type: Journal Article

Creator:

Date: December 2024

Language: en

The coal seam gas (CSG) industry has rapidly expanded in the Great Artesian Basin (GAB) over the past two decades, significantly impacting groundwater ecosystems and Indigenous communities that rely on these water sources for cultural, spiritual, and practical purposes. This article examines the intersection of Water Sovereignty, extractive industries, and key issues such as Social License to Operate (SLO), Indigenous Peoples’ rights, informed consent, and the legal doctrine of Aqua Nullius. Through an Indigenous perspective, this research illuminates the multifaceted dimensions of water governance and the complexities that arise from the interactions between Indigenous stakeholders, industries, and regulatory frameworks. Through interviews with Elders of the Iman Peoples in central Queensland, the research highlights how current SLO frameworks neglect Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) and fail to uphold ethical standards necessary for protecting Indigenous cultural continuity. Water security is a primary concern, with Traditional Owners emphasizing the need to safeguard surface and groundwater for future generations. This research informs policy at local and national levels while contributing to global discussions on Indigenous sovereignty, environmental justice, and cultural heritage protection. It calls for integrating Indigenous knowledge and rights into water governance, promoting respect, equity, and sustainability in managing natural resources.

Who is the ‘public’ when it comes to public opinion on energy? A mixed-methods study of revealed and elicited public attitudes to shale gas extraction

Resource Key: FTGMKLY9

Document Type: Journal Article

Creator:

Date: January 2025

Language: en

Shale gas is a contentious energy source. Yet, ‘imagined’ notions of the public (for example, NIMBYs) rarely reflect the reality of public opinion. We use an inductive, empirical approach to define UK publics in relation to shale gas extraction, drawing on multiple data sources (social media, a national survey, and two local surveys) and composite measures. Cluster analyses and thematic coding reveal a diversity of responses ranging from active opposition, through ambivalence, to active support. The number of communities varies by data source and analytical method, but across all datasets we see more opposition than support. Across all datasets, political views were an important lens through which shale gas was understood. Our findings have implications for how developers and policy-makers engage with the public, and expose limitations of pre-defined notions of the public that may not reflect empirical realities.

Displaced by the transition: The political ecology of climate change mitigation, displacements and Lithium extraction in Zimbabwe

Resource Key: LUJHXQ9F

Document Type: Journal Article

Creator:

Date: Decmber 2024

Language: en

Decarbonization initiatives depend heavily on the sustainable supply of critical raw materials. Such a high dependency on critical minerals drives their urgent sourcing. However, this urgent extraction of critical minerals for the low-carbon energy transition induces severe social impacts including different types of displacements: i.e physical, cultural and economic. Demand for critical minerals is expected to surge in the coming decades, and so are these displacement trends. Communities located on or nearer to critical minerals deposits are increasingly becoming exposed to these displacements, but there is limited problematization of such forced relocation trends that negatively impact communities, socio-economically and culturally. Detailed case studies of displacements induced by the haste to extract critical minerals are scant. The displacement problem is categorized under the “S” of the ESG risks, and it has not been adequately conceptualized- within the energy transitions field- to understand its full-scale. The “speed” to extract these minerals drives us to rethink mining induced displacement and resettlement (MIDR) by considering how this urgency may protract displacement impacts. Using the political ecology of climate change mitigation framework, this article analyses multidimensional displacements resulting from the accelerated extraction of critical minerals with special reference to the lithium case in Zimbabwe. In Zimbabwe, lithium extraction is inducing multidimensional displacements in some regions where it has been discovered. Evidence indicates that these displacements are implemented with no due diligence and in the absence of adequate processes of consultation and consent leaving communities impoverished. The paper provides recommendations for improving the resettlement practices and achieving resettlement with development that improves the lives of affected communities within the energy transition agenda.

Evaluation Insight Note : Agriculture Innovation and Technology in World Bank Projects

Resource Key: UBLGCBNB

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: Washington D.C.

Institution: World Bank

Date: 2024

Language: en

This Evaluation Insight Note (EIN) aims to contribute to the World Bank’s goal of encouraging the use of data, digital technology, and innovation towards transforming agri-food systems in client countries. The EIN was guided by the overall question: “How are World Bank agriculture and irrigation projects using technologies and what insights can be drawn from them?” In answering this question, the EIN draws from a portfolio identification and review of 158 active and 113 closed projects (FY16-23) World Bank agriculture and irrigation projects to describe the extent and utilization of agricultural technologies. It supplemented the findings from the review with insights drawn from four project evaluations (Project Performance Assessment Reports) prepared by IEG in Bangladesh, Brazil, Cote d’Ivoire, and Vietnam, which were selected because of their likely lessons on agriculture technology. The portfolio and systematic review provided the basis for seven main insights on coverage and nature of technologies used in World Bank agriculture projects, demand-based technological solutions, technology diffusion, collaboration, and investment in enabling environment factors, among others.The World Bank Agriculture and Irrigation portfolio shows limited coverage of advanced technologies.The technologies that are prevalent in projects are mainly focused on increasing agricultural productivity with limited focus on technologies for facilitating market linkages. Among the technologies promoted in Bank agriculture and irrigation projects, some technologies, and applications such GIS, early warning systems and MIS are more concentrated than others. Combining demand-based technological solutions with training and technical assistance supported uptake of those solutions. Technology diffusion worked well when there was strong collaboration between key research and extension agencies, each with well-defined roles and responsibilities in the projects. When technology dissemination efforts are combined with investments in enabling environment factors such as infrastructure (i.e., roads, markets), they facilitated technology adoption. Building sustainable institutional models – key for technology uptake and use – continue to be challenging in Bank supported projects.

Integrating Social Protection and Economic Inclusion with Management of Sri Lanka’s Coastal Fisheries

Resource Key: B5G59MTB

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: Washington D.C.

Institution: World Bank

Date: 2024

Language: en

Sri Lanka’s coastal fisheries are a vital source of livelihoods, food, and nutrition, and are integral to the country’s economy, culture, and society. However, coastal fish stocks are in decline and fail to meet domestic demand, leading to negative repercussions on livelihoods. This Case Study Note explores how Social Protection and Jobs (SPJ) policies and programs can help rebuild and maintain sustainable coastal fisheries in Sri Lanka, with a focus on the spiny lobster fishery on the south coast. The authors reviewed Sri Lanka’s evolving SPJ policies and programs to see how they may help fishers cope with short-term losses due to a potential extended closure aimed at rebuilding the lobster stock and complement long-term fishery management measures to, among other things, ensure that fishing effort does not increase. The authors also analyzed socio-economic survey data on coastal fishers, including their aspirations for education and livelihood improvement. Opportunities identified to link SPJ with fisheries management are included in this case study.

Entry Points for Integrating Gender Considerations in Resilient Infrastructure

Resource Key: YIIMQQ8Q

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: Washington D.C.

Institution: World Bank

Date: 2024

Language: en

Natural hazards disproportionately affect women due to existing social and economic inequalities, increasing their vulnerability and exposure to GBV and economic instability during disasters. This report highlights the necessity of integratinggender-sensitive approaches into infrastructure development to address these disparities effectively. Utilizing the World Bank’s Gender Tag methodology, the reportidentifies gender gaps, proposes targeted interventions, and establishes indicatorsfor monitoring and evaluation.This report presents a strategic framework for incorporating gender perspectivesinto resilient infrastructure development, focusing on the transportation, water,and energy sectors. The aim is to enhance disaster resilience while promoting gender equality, aligning with the commitments of the GFDRR and the World BankGroup’s initiatives in inclusive DRM and gender equality.

Gender Gap Analysis Part 2 : Catalog of Tools, Mechanisms, and Initiatives for Reducing Gender Inequalities in Land Tenure in Senegal

Resource Key: 495AHIPJ

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: Washington D.C.

Institution: World Bank

Date: 2024

Language: en

Secure access to housing, land, and property (HLP) is essential for development. Land rights are fundamental to supporting livelihoods, food security, and asset building, while women’s HLP rights can generate not only economic benefits (land value, improved agricultural productivity, access to credit etc.), but social benefits, such as improved bargaining power within the household and community. According to national statistics, women in Senegal account for 70 percent of the rural working population. Furthermore, women are significant con tributors to agricultural production, specifically subsistence crops. Yet only 6 percent of them own farmland and just 2.5 percent own housing. Despite a generally favorable legal framework and the fact that Senegalese women are significant users of land, access to land and control over it remains a major challenge for Senegalese women. Civil society organizations (CSOs) working in the field have consistently noted that women do not have equal access to or control over land compared to men. In practice, social and religious norms continue to play an important role in gender relations, particularly where land is concerned: most Senegalese women gain access to land or housing through a male relative, with the security of their rights dependent on maintaining a relationship with their husband, brother, father, and/or sons. If this relationship is fractured in some way (e.g. divorce, death) women can find themselves in a tenuous situation regarding land access. Several tools, mechanisms, and initiatives aimed at dealing with these constraints have been implemented in Senegal. For example, some women use women’s promotion groups to secure land in their name or the name of their group, taking men out of the equation. Other initiatives focus on sensitizing men to raise their awareness of the importance of women’s land access, while also educating women.

People in a Changing Climate: From Vulnerability to Action

Resource Key: XPVADXQL

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: Washington D.C.

Institution: World Bank

Date: November 2024

Language: en

Ending poverty on a livable planet requires all countries to enhance the resilience and adaptation of their people and economies to the impacts of climate change, while also reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other damages to nature and the environment. To identify opportunities and priorities to align development and climate change action and objectives at the country level, the World Bank Group introduced the Country Climate and Development Reports (CCDRs) in 2022. This summary report, the third in the series, presents key findings from the first three years of CCDRs,covering 72 countries and economies. It complements the previous two summaries by focusing on the role of people, as they are affected by climate change impacts, but also as essential actors in inventing, designing, and implementing solutions to make development more resilient and to lower emissions. People are at the center of climate change risks, but also at the core of adaptation and mitigation solutions. Climate change poses significant risks to people, causing long-term, irreversible, and intergenerational harm, especially for populations already affected by unemployment, exclusion or food insecurity. For instance, the expected loss of labor productivity in 2050 is around 6 percent in lower-income countries, but only 0.2 percent in high-incomecountries. Investing in people—through education, reskilling, health, labor markets, social protection, and so on—is crucial for building people’s ability to adapt to climate change and contribute to and benefit from low-emission development. Placing people at the center of climate-development policies, as opposed to addressing their challenges through complementary policies, enhances policy effectiveness and can foster more inclusive growth. Ensuring key infrastructure systems—power, water, transport, and digital—are reliable, affordable, sustainable, and resilient is essential for people’s resilience and well-being, but also for productivity and job creation. CCDRs highlight the potential benefits of enhanced access to electricity and improved maintenance, standards, investments and policies in the transport and water sectors, with benefit-cost ratio often larger than 2. They also highlight opportunities from expanding renewable energy, investing in public transit, and supporting transport electrification, and the growth of green value chains and digital technologies. Rapid urbanization provides a unique opportunity to develop resilient, low-emission cities that can drive growth; and the irreversibility of urban development makes action in this sector urgent. Poorer countries are more vulnerable than richer ones, are exposed to different threats, and have lower adaptation potential. Each additional $1,000 in GDP per capita reduces expected climate change-induced GDP losses in 2050 by 0.5–0.7 percentage points, but some countries, especially small island countries, have characteristics that make them particularly vulnerable. Despite the potential of adaptation, some impacts cannot be prevented and reducing emissions remains a priority in all countries, especially in higher-income countries and other large emitters. With well-designed policies, higher investments, and enhanced support from the international community, emissions reductions can be achieved with rates of economic growth that are similar to current trends. However, larger annual investments are required, with additional needs averaging 1.4 percent of GDP in CCDR countries but exceeding 5 percent in many low-income countries. Private investments can contribute more to these needs, and the toolkit of instruments available for mobilizing private capital toward climate investments has expanded over the years. But public finance will continue to play a crucial role, and enhanced domestic resource mobilization, increased spending efficiency, and more concessional resources for climate and development will be required. The CCDRs are diagnostics that aim to help countries achieve their development and climate goals together. A companion report, From Knowledge to Action: Lessons from Early Operationalization of Country Climate and Development Reports, shows how the first CCDRs have been used either directly, through country national plans and strategies, through partners like the IMF and other development organizations, or through the World Bank Group country engagement framework and operational portfolio. This review of three years of CCDRs demonstrates the benefits of applying a people lens to climate policy design. It shows that by placing people at the core of climate policy design from day one and increasing engagement with communities and stakeholders, countries can navigate a green transition that improves people’s lives and promotes more inclusive economic growth.

Gender Gap Analysis Part 1 : Land Rights and Gender Inequality in Senegal

Resource Key: QQLU9UCS

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: Washington D.C.

Institution: World Bank

Date: 2024

Language: en

Despite the existence of legal provisions and inter national commitments aimed at promoting gender equality in land rights, women in Senegal continue to face significant challenges in accessing and controlling land. While the Constitution of 2001 explicitly prohibits gender discrimination when it comes to property rights, traditional practices and patriarchal norms often limit women’s access to land. According to national statistics, despite constituting 70 percent of the country’s labor force in the rural sector, only 6 percent of women own agricultural land and 2.5 percent their housing. Traditionally, land is a collective family asset under the control of the head of household, generally male, who can then determine who does and does not have ac cess to it. As such, women primarily obtain access to land through inheritance, loans, or gifts within the family. Land rights obtained through these channels are generally temporary and secondary in nature, however, with women rarely receiving full administrative rights. Additionally, women’s limited knowledge of land access procedures and the influence of patriarchal norms con tribute to their marginalization in land matters. This tendency to rely on local custom and social norms is confirmed by the quantitative data gathered as part of this study. For both men and women, obtaining rights to agricultural land is primarily achieved through inheri tance (61.8 percent) and borrowing (loan) (24.2 percent). The other methods for obtaining land rights (purchase, gift, rental, allocation of use rights by municipal coun cil, etc.) are only very rarely used, with none shown to be above 6 percent. Importantly, only 1.1 percent of people who declared that they hold land rights stated that they held formal land allocation decisions from the municipal council. Essentially, women access land under male supervi sion (husbands, adult sons, or brothers). This practice is consistent with concepts of a woman’s place in so ciety. While social norms are often cited to perpetuate such discrimination, false interpretations of religious rules are also used. In many municipalities, a skewed interpretation of Muslim law has led to women’s exclu sion from land inheritance. Aware that they are being excluded, women use different strategies, both formal and informal, to access land rights. The gradual commodification of land and property appears to offer women a means of circumventing the difficulties they face in customary situations. The reality, however, is that women’s economic resources are, for the most part, very limited. Thus, while money could be a factor in women’s emancipation, its absence puts them in a situation of continued vulnerability, particularly in localities where land pressures are strong. Efforts to address gender inequality in land rights have included initiatives such as capacity- building and awareness-raising programs, reducing the costs associated with securing land use rights, and the use of quotas. While these initiatives have provided some encouraging results in improving women’s land tenure security, their effectiveness remains limited. Women’s participation in formal land decision making at the local level is also limited, with formal institutions often colluding with male-dominated customary institutions. The Law on Parity has allowed women to gain a stronger presence on municipal councils, but they remain poorly represented in land commissions and face barriers to active participation in debates. To overcome these constraints, women are creating their own strategies, such as collective ac cess. In certain municipalities, civil society organizations (CSOs), the state, and even technical and financial partners have implemented simultaneous initiatives combining various approaches—such as capacity building, awareness raising, advocacy, support for land use rights allocation applica tions, reducing survey costs, and quotas. These initiatives have provided encouraging results in improving women’s land tenure security. Local-level land governance at the is also characterized by formal institutions colluding with male-dominated customary institutions. At the local authority level, while the Law on Parity has ensured women now have a stronger presence on municipal councils, they remain poorly repre sented in land commissions, with very few women actively participating in debates. The few who have been able to assert themselves have benefited from capacity building and empowerment activities. The patriarchal norms underlying these forums, however, give women little or no voice, and can reinforce their marginalization. Finally, women’s marginalization in relation to land tenure is further exacerbated by a lack of transparency at the decision-making level. The report closes with a set of recommendations for improving the situation of women’s land rights in Senegal, directed at national government, local government authorities, CSOs, and donor-financed projects. These recommendations encompass the legal and policy framework, project-level actions, capacity building and public awareness, and increasing women’s roles in land governance institutions.

An Evaluation of World Bank and International Finance Corporation Engagement of Gender Equality over the Past 10 Years

Resource Key: 4SMM7JJS

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: Washington D.C.

Institution: World Bank

Date: 2024

Language: en

Gender equality has been a high-level commitment of the World Bank Group for at least two decades. In its gender strategy for fiscal years 2016-23, the Bank Group committed to maximizing the impact of its efforts to close gender gaps in key development outcomes, while steering activities and their monitoring toward measurable results. Moreover, gender has been an International Development Association (IDA) special theme since the 16th Replenishment that channeled financial resources to address gender inequalities in IDA countries. This evaluation assesses World Bank Group support to countries to address gender inequalities between fiscal years 2012 and 2023. It analyzes the factors that enabled and constrained success, includes three recommendations and provides lessons that are relevant for implementation of the recently approved Gender Strategy 2024-2030. The evaluation’s findings underpin three recommendations for the Bank Group to improve its country-driven engagement for gender equality and the achievement of results. (i) Strengthen the country-driven engagement model for gender equality, with greater selectivity, prioritization, and coordination of the country portfolio activities supporting gender equality objectives and an increased focus on implementation. (ii) Develop the capacity of World Bank and IFC monitoring and evaluation systems to track and account for complex gender results; incentivize the achievement of outcomes at the operational, country, and corporate levels; and regularly report on progress. (iii) Redefine the current Bank Group gender architecture to specify roles and responsibilities; avoid overlaps and replication of functions; strengthen underresourced tasks, especially implementation of gender-related activities and support to country engagement; improve capacities; and enforce accountability.

Uncovering the Hidden Iceberg – A Global Perspective

Resource Key: LRSYY2YW

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Place: Rome

Institution: International Land Coalition

Date: 2024 [2022]

Language: en

The year of 2022 marked the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which two years on has resulted in widespread displacement and loss of life. Violence erupted across different continents as energy and infrastructure projects advanced in India and Uganda, threatening communities and the health of the environment. In Tanzania, a high-profile game reserve threatened to evict the Massai. In Palestine, flare-ups in 2022 hinted at a long-standing conflict approaching a boiling point, while in Colombia and Guatemala, enduring patterns of violence against Indigenous land and environmental defenders continued, making them among the most violent countries for defenders worldwide. Land, territory and natural resources continued to occupy a central role in ongoing and unfolding conflicts, as Indigenous, land and environmental defenders (ILEDs) and their communities were caught in the crosshairs, often clinging to their ancestral lands, livelihoods and means of existence. In 2022, Global Witness documented the death of 177 land and environmental defenders across 18 countries, numbers that mark another somber drumbeat in a decades-long pattern of violence. The killing of these defenders is a stark reminder of the high stakes faced by the individuals and communities on the frontlines of climate and biodiversity crises. They provide, however, only a partial picture. Violence against ILEDs is significantly underreported for a number of reasons, among them the political pressure that defenders might face when denouncing a powerful business or state authorities, who may be directly or indirectly involved in the violence. Often, violence against these defenders and their communities take place in rural areas, far from media attention and in areas with weak rule of law. As levels of impunity in cases of violence against ILEDs remains high, there is also a fear of retaliation or threats of violence that may lead to self-censorship or reluctance to report. In countries and regions where few attacks are documented, it does not mean that violence against ILEDs is nonexistent but rather that it is not being captured or is not accessible. The true extent of the violence is likely much greater than the data implies while in Colombia and Guatemala, enduring patterns of violence against Indigenous, land and environmental defenders continued, ranking them among the most violent countries for defenders year after year.