Engaging Local Communities Affected by Multilateral Development Bank-Financed Projects

As the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Special Project Facilitator, Warren Evans is responsible for providing neutral facilitation of problem-solving of complaints from people affected by ADB-assisted projects, including indigenous people and vulnerable households and communities. Mr. Evans took on this role in September 2017. He has 40 years of professional practice, specializing in environment, climate change, and sustainable development. His experience with multilateral development banks includes (i) 15 years at ADB where he led the safeguard compliance system as well as formulating and obtaining approval of several environmental investment programs and (ii) 10 years at the World Bank where, as Environment Director and Senior Advisor on Sustainable Development, he led the development of the $8 billion Climate Investment Funds, carbon finance operations, and large-scale natural resource management and biodiversity conservation initiatives.

Mr. Evan’s presentation will cover the main sources of complaints, the roles of NGOs/CSOs, the challenges of consultation and participation with project-affected people, and an example of successful facilitation of conflict resolution. Tracy Kapezi (GHD ’21) and Samera Yousuf (GHD ’21) will serve as moderators.

Sponsored by the the Asian Studies Program, the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs, the Global Human Development (GHD) Program, and the MS Foreign Service (MSFS) Program.