Scope for community engagement

The importance of stakeholder engagement and information disclosure is also highlighted in the Environmental and social framework of the World Bank (2017). To improve the process of engagement and consultation, the Environmental and social framework proposes a documented approach to (a) stakeholder identification and analysis, (b) planning how the engagement with stakeholders will take place, (c) disclosure of information, (d) consultation with stakeholders, (e) addressing and responding to grievances, and (f) reporting to stakeholders.

This chapter first discusses the scope for community engagement in different dimensions of Green Roads for Water development. It then discusses the practicalities of community engagement in different stages of road development. finally, the chapter provides examples and takes lessons from three large-scale community engagement programs in Ethiopia, Bangladesh, and nepal.

SCOPE FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

The impact of roads programs is easily underestimated. around the world today, local economies provide insufficient opportunities for vulnerable groups and youth to develop the skills, knowledge, assets, and experiences that will enable them to thrive in the productive peaks of their lives. although it is commonly understood that roads provide access to new services and jobs, appreciation of the positive role roads can play in improving access to—and management of— water resources and preserving and protecting the landscape and pristine areas is lacking. When these opportunities are managed carefully, roads programs can create new livelihood opportunities for communities and simultaneously connect those communities to the outside world. Even today, roads are one of the main ways by which ideas and aspirations are spread and transform lives. for these reasons, roads are vitally important to supporting local economies and creating opportunities for future generations. Meeting the needs of youth is among the biggest challenges faced by rural communities around the world (box 15.1). The vast differences in how rural communities manage their land and water resources have enormous impacts on the opportunities available to youth,

BOX 15.1

Sand harvesting by groups of young people

sand often accumulates around new road river crossings. Even though the sand may hamper the capacity of the river to convey floods, it is also a useful asset, much sought after in the construction sector. In many countries the mining of sand is unregulated and often controlled by local strongmen. This unregulated mining may further disturb river hydrology. But it does not need to be this way. In Ethiopia, the Regional departments of Mining mapped all areas with exploitable sand deposits. They next set up programs to give young people a start in business by giving them opportunities in sand mining. The formula is that groups of 25–30 young people—half women, half men—are given one-year concessions to mine sand in a welldemarcated area. They can set aside the money that they earn if they want to do so as individual savings. after one year, their savings are multiplied by selling the sand, and they are supported in setting up their own business.