Sustainable development in Bangladesh has often been challenged by inadequate environmental and social performance, creating risks for public health, productivity, and natural resources. To address these challenges, the World Bank introduced the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) in 2018, providing a structured approach to manage environmental and social risks in development projects. However, early implementation in Bangladesh revealed critical capacity gaps among Implementing Agencies (IAs). Recognizing this, the World Bank partnered with the Center for Environmental and Resource Management (CERM) at BUET to establish a dedicated Learning Center (LC), a hub to strengthen institutional and technical capacity for managing environmental and social issues. With resources allocated in FY’22 and FY’23, the initiative focused on developing curriculum, training programs, and collaborative networks. A graduate-level, three-month course aligned with the ESF and international best practices was prepared as one of its first milestones. On February 15, 2023, the Learning Center was officially launched, marking the start of a new chapter in building national expertise and supporting Bangladesh’s sustainable development journey.
The LC was initiated by the World Bank in response to capacity challenges during the implementation of the ESF in Bangladesh. Key challenges included gaps in staff expertise, differences between ESF and local laws, and weak monitoring frameworks. Resources were mobilized starting in FY22 to establish the LC and develop training modules aligned with ESF and global best practices.
| Training Names | Date | Number of Participants |
|---|---|---|
| Orientation Program of the Three-Month Long Professional Course | 10th February 2024 | 35 |
| 14-week Professional Capacity Development Program | 10th February to 18th May 2024 | 41 |
| Orientation Course on ESF, ESSs, and Various Documents | 29th-30th April 2024 | 8 |
| Basic Environmental and Social Framework Course | 2nd-6th May 2024 | 30 |
| Field Visit | 3rd May 2024 | 38 |
| Geo-Enabling Initiative for Monitoring and Supervision (GEMS) Batch 1 | 21st-23rd May 2024 | |
| Geo-Enabling Initiative for Monitoring and Supervision (GEMS) Batch 2 | 5th-7th October 2024 | 34 (Batch 1&2) |
| Occupational Health and Safety in Construction and Power Sectors | 26th-28th May | 27 |
| ES Issues in Bidding Documents | 26th November 2024 | 31 |
