In 1998, the Bank grouped ten of its key environmental and social policies into a set of "safeguard policies" which together are designed to provide minimal protections to the environment and vulnerable populations from the negative effects of Bank-financed operations.
The ten public sector safeguard policies (the Bank's private sector arms apply different policies), as well as a "Quick Reference Guide" that summarizes key provisions of the Bank's safeguards, are listed below:
- Environmental Assessment
- Natural Habitats
- Pest Management
- Indigenous Peoples
- Involuntary Resettlement
- Forestry
- Safety of Dams
- Projects on International Waterways
- Projects in Disputed Areas
- Cultural Property
For a summary of the key provisions of the Bank's safeguards, check our Quick Reference Guide (Acrobat pdf, 271 KB).