wb_operational_policies-5a6c43d40ded5148.pdf

This document is a draft of the World Bank's Operational Policy (OP 4.12) on Involuntary Resettlement, dated March 6, 2001. It establishes safeguards to mitigate the economic, social, and environmental risks associated with the displacement of people or the restriction of access to natural resources resulting from Bank-assisted investment projects.

• The primary objectives of the policy are to avoid involuntary resettlement where feasible, or minimize it by exploring alternative project designs. When resettlement is unavoidable, activities must be executed as "sustainable development programs" to ensure displaced persons can share in project benefits and have their livelihoods restored to pre-displacement levels or levels prevailing before project implementation, whichever is higher.
• Displaced persons are categorized into three eligibility groups: those with formal legal rights to land (including customary/traditional rights), those without formal rights but with recognized claims, and those with no recognizable legal right or claim. While the first two groups receive compensation for land, the third group is provided resettlement assistance (such as land, assets, cash, or employment) in lieu of land compensation, provided they occupied the area before a specified cut-off date.
• The Bank requires compensation for lost assets to be provided at "full replacement cost," which is defined as the amount sufficient to replace the asset without accounting for depreciation. If domestic law does not meet this standard, the borrower must provide supplementary measures to bridge the gap.
• Specific protections are mandated for vulnerable groups, including those below the poverty line, the landless, the elderly, women, children, indigenous peoples, and ethnic minorities. For indigenous peoples with traditional land-based production, the Bank requires that all viable alternatives to physical displacement be explored, and preference is given to land-based resettlement strategies compatible with their cultural preferences.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (n.d.). wb_operational_policies-5a6c43d40ded5148.pdf. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WB_Operational_Policies.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. wb_operational_policies-5a6c43d40ded5148.pdf. n.d. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WB_Operational_Policies.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=wb_operational_policies-5a6c43d40ded5148.pdf |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WB_Operational_Policies.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforinternationalenvironmentallawndwboperationalpolicies5a6c43d40ded5148pdf, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{wb\_operational\_policies-5a6c43d40ded5148.pdf}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WB_Operational_Policies.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }