ID: 2225
Presenting Author: Fiorella Pino Luna
Session: 750 - Bridging the Gap: Empowering Local Governments in Developing Economies to Make Environmental Impact Assessments Understandable and Actionable
Status: pending
Based on World Bank projects, this session shows how early risk screening and participatory approaches build trust, strengthen governance, and make ESIAs actionable for local governments
When local governments strive to address development priorities and attract investment, their success depends not only on comprehensive engineering studies, but also on proactive environmental and social (E&S) assessments. Yet, many local governments (LG) encounter significant challenges during project preparation and implementation—challenges that are amplified when international financing requires adherence to international E&S Standards. This paper draws on lessons learned from recent World Bank (WB) projects in Peru, where LG navigated these complexities. By incorporating participatory approaches early in project design, enhancing regulatory understanding, and undertaking thorough E&S risk assessments, these projects have strengthened stakeholder trust, improved E&S delivery and governance.
WB projects frequently establish a “bubble” of good practices within LGs, building institutional capacity and harmonizing local procedures with E&S standards. This alignment not only raises the quality of ESIAs but also encourages attention to E&S critical issues that are often missing from local regulatory frameworks. The goal is for this bubble to influence all local initiatives through sustained E&S capacity building.
A key tool developed by the WB was a comparative analysis of local legal, regulatory, and institutional frameworks measured against WB E&S standards. This assessment in Peru revealed gaps and informed implementation priorities, leading to targeted capacity-building efforts that ensured compliance with local requirements while integrating E&S standards.
Environmental Engineer with 20 years of experience in socio-environmental assessments across multiple sectors. Since 2023, serving as Env. Coordinator in the Andes region at the World Bank