Contribution of the World Bank Group In terms of analytical work, the World Bank Group undertook two studies: a Strategic Environmental Assessment for the forestry sector, not published until 2010 (World Bank 2010b), and a Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment for the Mineral Sector in the Mano River Union countries including Liberia, completed in March 2010 (World Bank 2010c). However, a broad Country Environmental Analysis or environmental institutional analysis has not yet been conducted. This is a shortcoming in a country so vitally dependent on its natural resources. In terms of financial assistance, three small GEF biodiversity projects and one forestry sector project were approved: • The development of the Forestry Sector Project, for which a US$2.0 million grant was approved in September 2006 (World Bank 2006); • The GEF MSP for Establishment of Protected Areas, for which a US$ 800,000 grant was approved in May 2008 (World Bank 2008b); and • The GEF MSP for Protected Areas Network II (World Bank 2011), for which a US$ 1 million grant was approved in March 2011. • The GEF Medium-size Project (MSP) for National Park (World Bank 2004b), for which a US$1 million grant was approved in September 2004; As indicated, one implication of these GEF grants has been to skew the program toward the global biodiversity agenda, rather than more systematically tackling Liberia’s own pressing local environmental and environment-related capacity building needs. Table 6.3 presents a summary of the outcomes and the World Bank Group contribution.
Relevance Other than with respect to biodiversity conservation and forest management, the objectives of World Bank Group assistance were essentially defensive, that is to guard against potential adverse environmental (and social) impacts of other Bank-financed, especially infrastructure, projects. Bank interventions in support of natural resource management (NRM) and environmental
Table 6.3
Summary Results — Environmental Sustainability
Outcome
Contribution of the World Bank Group
Little progress has been made due to the limited engagement of the World Bank Group. Weaknesses in environmental management and national institutions persist.
The World Bank Group carried out analytical work on environmental and mining regulations. Support to the Environmental Protection Agency has been provided, but on a modest scale.
Source: IEG.
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Liberia Country Program Evaluation: 2004–2011