The latest World Bank environmental and social framework: Progress on fair and equitable benefit-sharing?

On 4th August 2016, the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved a new Environmental and Social Framework, which is expected to enter into effect in early 2018 and replace the current Operational Policies and Bank Procedures. This is the first in a series of three blog posts that evaluate the Framework with specific regard to fair and equitable benefit-sharing with peoples affected by Bank-financed projects. Specifically, the blogs will seek to contrast these references with the understanding of benefit-sharing arising from international human rights and biodiversity law. Of the four Standards that explicitly incorporate the concept of benefit-sharing, this first post will focus on impact assessment and on cultural heritage, whilst the next ones will engage with indigenous peoples' interests and with land acquisition respectively.