Future Terrains worked with the Lebanese consultancy, Sustainable Environmental Solutions (SES), on a World Bank-funded project to review a portfolio of World Bank projects in Afghanistan against its safeguard policies and its new Environmental and Social Framework. Capacity building requirements were determined from this review, with a training course developed to address them. The trainees were Afghan government personnel responsible for ensuring environmental and social management is implemented, in accordance with WB standards, on WB-funded projects in the country.
The originally planned training course consisted of classroom sessions, followed by in situ, on-the-job training. The course was due to be delivered in-country, but, owing to the coronavirus pandemic, travel to Afghanistan was cancelled at the last minute. This meant a new, online approach had to be developed with SES and the WB. The revised online course involved delivering 60 hours of training for 50 officials from various Afghan government ministries’ WB Project Implementation/ Management Units. Modules were delivered in daily, three-hour, online sessions over four weeks. The approach consisted of online lectures, facilitated group discussions and break-out group exercises with reporting back to the wider group and discussions. The syllabus included: environmental and social management frameworks, ESIA, environmental and social management planning, environmental monitoring, audits, contractor management and grievance mechanisms.
The training was well-received by the trainees and the World Bank.
