Evaluating Social Safeguards Protecting Indigenous Peoples

Abstract

Developing countries adopt policies to achieve certain results, such as reducing poverty and building prosperity. Why do many such policies not seem to work? A recent World Bank evaluation highlighted one possible reason: projects don’t adequately protect community impacts, labor and working conditions, and health, safety and security issues. This paper will focus on a crucial part of the social and cultural landscape: indigenous peoples. It will explore how the World Bank has supported projects in areas that affect indigenous peoples. Based on good practices and lessons learned, investing in such areas can turn up alternative ways to re-think the challenges of social development and find better ways for sustainable growth. By supporting different forms of participation with policymakers, strategic timing, and real time feedback loops in learning, evaluators can contribute to advancing safeguard issues.