World Bank Safeguards Review – Phase 3 Consultations

A coalition of civil society organizations urges the World Bank to avoid a truncated, web-based Phase 3 consultation process for its Environmental and Social Framework (ESF). The group recommends a minimum six-month timeline and a strategy combining general in-country consultations in all six Bank regions, thematic consultations on issues such as climate and human rights, and targeted web-based sessions. They call for greater transparency, including the publication of verbatim transcripts and a feedback matrix, to address failures in the first two consultation phases.

• The first two phases of the Safeguards Review consultations were characterized by significant flaws, including restricted invitation-only access, insufficient time for participants to review documentation, and inadequate notice.
• Civil society organizations oppose a proposed truncated Phase 3 structure that relies primarily on web-based consultations over two months, arguing it is insufficient for reviewing materials and contradicts the Bank's commitments to transparency.
• The signatories recommend a comprehensive Phase 3 strategy requiring at least six months and a budget that supports in-country consultations in at least two countries per region across the Bank's six regions, with funding for independent civil society travel.
• The group proposes thematic consultations accessible via conference call or Skype, specifically highlighting the need for expert input on climate and human rights, and the need for safety considerations for vulnerable or criminalized communities.
• To ensure accountability, the organizations demand the publication of verbatim transcripts of all consultations and a feedback matrix that tracks how specific comments were incorporated into or rejected from the draft ESF.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (2015). World Bank Safeguards Review – Phase 3 Consultations. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/05242015-Letter-re-Phase-3-consultations_FINAL1.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. World Bank Safeguards Review – Phase 3 Consultations. 2015. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/05242015-Letter-re-Phase-3-consultations_FINAL1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=World Bank Safeguards Review – Phase 3 Consultations |date=22 May 2015 |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/05242015-Letter-re-Phase-3-consultations_FINAL1.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{centerforinternationalenvironmentallaw2015world, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{World Bank Safeguards Review – Phase 3 Consultations}}, publisher = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2015}, month = may, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/05242015-Letter-re-Phase-3-consultations_FINAL1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }