Part IV : Worldwide Experience and World Trend
Sea Practices of World Bank

The Operational Directive (OD) of 1989 on Environmental Assessment included provision for Sectoral and Regional EA (REA) and has been implemented ever since. The conversion of the original OD into the Operational Policy (OP) 4.01 format in 1999 confirmed the role of SEA and REA.

The first Environmental Strategy of the World Bank, approved in July 2001, emphasized the potential role of SEA for upstreaming and mainstreaming environmental concerns in PPPs, along with the development of the Country Environmental Analysis and the strengthening of the safeguard policies framework and application. Sectoral EA are used to examine the issues/ impacts to a particular policy, plan, programme, or a series of projects for a specific sector. It is used to evaluate and compare the impacts against those of alternative options; assess legal and institutional aspects; and provide recommendations to improve environmental management in the region. REA are used to examine issues/ impacts related to a particular policy, plan or programme, for a particular region. SEA and REA need to be conducted in a very participatory way and, when conducted under the OP 4.01, need to be disclosed in-country and on the World Bank's Internet site.

Since 2001, work on good practices and guidance on SEA has increased and intensified, both within the World Bank and with external partners, particularly United Nations organizations and bilaterals (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development /its Development Assistance Committee).

SEA is increasingly mandated or "guidelined" in national systems, including in Bank's borrowing countries, the most advanced (countries in accession to Europe) or fastest growing or even in less advanced countries.

The World Bank is helping and wants to continue helping build capacity for effective SEA preparation and development. More information is available at the World Bank and queries about SEA development at the World Bank can be sent to sea@worldbank.org.