The World Bank, in partnership with the Philippine Learning Center for Environment and Social Sustainability (PHILCESS), conducted a successful two-day event focused on building capacities and communities for environmental and social governance in the Philippines. The Environment and Social Framework for Practitioners (ESF4P) Community of Practice (COP) 2024, held on April 11-12, 2024, brought together over 100 participants from various sectors including government agencies, academia, and private organizations.
The event aimed to provide a platform for ESF focal persons from World Bank-financed projects to learn from other practitioners, identify areas for management support, and initiate the creation of a community of practice on environmental and social risk management in the public sector.
Key sessions included presentations on supervision of construction works, environmental and social auditing, stakeholder engagement, and building a community of practice. Interactive clinic sessions allowed participants to discuss challenges and best practices from their specific projects.
Highlights of the event included keynote addresses from Carlos Tomas Perez-Brito, Senior Social Development Specialist at the World Bank, and Engr. Esperanza Sajul, Assistant Director of the Environmental Management Bureau at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Participants expressed high satisfaction with the event, praising its relevance and the expertise of the speakers. Suggestions for improvement included better time management and larger venue spaces for future events.
The ESF4P COP 2024 marks an important step in strengthening environmental and social governance in the Philippines, with plans for continued engagement and training events in the future.
