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Canpolat, Ezgi

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Canpolat, E.

Last updated:October 31, 2025

Biography

Dr. Ezgi Canpolat is a globally recognized anthropologist and innovation leader architecting climate solutions and AI for social good at scale. At the World Bank, she leads AI for social impact and climate programming in Eastern and Southern Africa, mobilizing millions in climate financing and shaping policy frameworks that impact millions of lives. She was recently selected for the prestigious Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Residency among 105 global thought leaders—a convening that includes Nobel laureates and heads of international institutions—and currently serves as a Visiting Postdoctoral Scholar at Harvard University’s Center for Middle Eastern Studies, where she co-leads the Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability-funded project, “The Political Economy of Energy Transitions in the Middle East.” Her interdisciplinary work has been featured in major platforms including The Washington Post. She previously directed inclusive climate programming at the $10 billion Climate Investment Funds, where she co-founded the groundbreaking $11 million Women-Led Coal Transition initiative—the first gender-responsive coal transition financing mechanism globally. Across her global portfolio, she has forged strategic partnerships with some of the world’s most influential institutions, including major international development banks; leading philanthropic organizations; and numerous national governments, research institutes, and civil society networks. Dr. Canpolat has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles, policy and research papers that influence both academic discourse and multilateral practice. She is the author of a forthcoming book, tentatively titled “Governing Diversity: Syrian Refugees, Humanitarianism, and the Politics of Belonging in the New Turkey.” She holds a PhD in Cultural Anthropology from the Graduate Center, City University of New York. She studied social entrepreneurship and innovation at scale at Harvard Business School and joined the MIT’s AI Venture Studio, helping build the next generation of AI ventures for mass impact.

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/10986/43214

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Now showing1 - 10 of 10

Spatial Analysis of Coal Transition Vulnerability in Indonesia
(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-08-19) Tas, Emcet Oktay; Canpolat, Ezgi; Cole, Megan; Setyowati, Abidah; Woodhouse, Jasminah
This paper provides a spatial analysis of coal transition vulnerability in Indonesia. It uses a mixed-methods approach that combines quantitative data on exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity to coal transition, summarized in a Coal Transition Vulnerability Index, with qualitative insights from stakeholder consultations and interviews. The paper explores the socioeconomic implications of dependence on coal and potential shifts in production patterns for communities and workers. It finds that vulnerability to coal transition is geographically concentrated, with provinces like East Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, and South Sumatra exhibiting high susceptibility due to their dependence on coal mining and coal-fired power generation. Case studies and qualitative findings further illustrate the localized nature of vulnerability, and the potential challenges faced by communities due to impending mine closures. The paper underscores significant socioeconomic and local impacts, particularly on employment within the coal value chain; highlights the disproportionate effects on vulnerable groups, including women, youth, indigenous communities, and informal workers; and highlights the need for inclusive and tailored strategies for managing the socioeconomic impacts of coal transition.
Fostering a Just Transition in the Energy Transition Minerals Sector in the Eastern and Southern Africa Region
(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-10-31) Canpolat, Ezgi; Lokanc, Martin; Bakx, Jara; Baker, Steven; Kaplan, Karen
The study’s primary objective is to assess how manifestations of social exclusion and FCV in ETM value chains are evolving, or are expected to evolve, in response to growing global demand, and what the opportunities are to strengthen inclusion and justice and reduce conflict risks through deliberate policy and programming responses. Anchored in a justice-oriented approach, the analysis explores key social justice considerations that require attention to foster such inclusive and peaceful ETM sector development. It draws on four interrelated justice principles (distributional, procedural, restorative, and recognition justice) to assess how patterns of power, participation, benefit-sharing, and redress shape social dynamics in ETM producing areas. This framing complements existing World Bank frameworks, including the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF), the FCV Strategy, and the Extractive Industries Value Chain framework, by offering a lens to better understand the social foundations of equitable and sustainable mineral development.
Understanding Social Vulnerability for more Effective Climate Strategies: Lessons from CCDRs in Southern and Eastern Africa
(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-06-13) Canpolat, E.; de Berry, J.; Davis, M.; Brown, R.
Climate change is increasingly evident across Southern and Eastern Africa, bringing higher temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns, more extreme weather, and sometimes catastrophic events. These impacts are expected to intensify in the coming decades, making it crucial to build climate resilience. Governments in the region recognize the threats and, in partnership with the World Bank, have taken steps to reduce climate risks and help their citizens adapt. Yet, without a clear understanding of how social vulnerability interacts with climate risks, these efforts may fail to protect those who are least able to cope with climate shocks. Indeed, some climate investments could leave vulnerable groups worse off. This report draws on a wealth of new analysis for eight countries, Botswana, Burundi, Comoros, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, and South Africa, conducted by the Social Sustainability and Inclusion team to provide that crucial perspective for Country Climate and Development Reports (CCDRs). It highlights how social vulnerability puts some people in harm’s way or prevents them from finding safety; limits their access to resources for adaptation; and constrains their agency and their voice. Poverty is a key factor, but so is social exclusion. The goal of the report is to show how understanding social vulnerability can help policymakers to prioritize climate investments, design projects and programs to be more inclusive, and create tailored initiatives that make households and communities stronger and more resilient overall. These insights can help World Bank teams and other development partners as they engage with countries in the region to support green, resilient, and inclusive development.
Fostering Gender-Transformative Change in Sustainable Forest Management: A Case Study of DGM Ghana
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2022) Canpolat, Ezgi; Shakirova, Meerim; McElhinny, Vince; Westerman, Kame; Cruz, Alli; Buppert, Theresa
The US5.5 million dollars DGM Ghana country project focuses on strengthening knowledge and practices of targeted local communities in REDD+ processes and sustainable forest management. In implementation since 2018, with 212 subprojects either in implementation or completed, there are ample opportunities for detailed examination of specific subprojects. This can offer insight the issue of whether, and how, DGM projects are influencing women’s participation and leadership on the ground and provide some indication of the extent to which the project may be influencing broader social and gender norms at the community or regional level. This case study provides primary information to supplement and inform the DGM Gender Study, which seeks to analyze the contribution of the DGM project to promoting women’s economic achievement, access to and control over productive assets, voice, and agency. The US5.5 million dollars DGM Ghana country project focuses on strengthening knowledge and practices of targeted local communities in REDD+ processes and sustainable forest management. In implementation since 2018, with 212 subprojects either in implementation or completed, there are ample opportunities for detailed examination of specific subprojects. This can offer insight the issue of whether, and how, DGM projects are influencing women’s participation and leadership on the ground, and provide some indication of the extent to which the project may be influencing broader social and gender norms at the community or regional level. This case study provides primary information to supplement and inform the DGM Gender Study, which seeks to analyze the contribution of the DGM project to promoting women’s economic achievement, access to and control over productive assets, voice, and agency.
Fostering Gender-Transformative Change in Sustainable Forest Management: The Case of the Dedicated Grant Mechanism (DGM)
(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2022-03-10) Canpolat, Ezgi; Shakirova, Meerim; McElhinny, Vince; Westerman, Kame; Cruz, Alli; Buppert, Theresa
Since 2015, the Dedicated Grant Mechanism for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (DGM) has provided a unique model for inclusive and bottom-up approaches to delivering climate finance for sustainable forest management. Through 12 country-level programs designed and implemented by Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs), the DGM is guiding investment of around $80 million and impacting the livelihoods of over 200,000 people. DGM supported activities are intended to be designed and implemented in a gender-responsive and socially inclusive manner and aim to improve key gender equality outcomes based on the particular and varied contexts of DGM countries.
Fostering Gender-Transformative Change in Sustainable Forest Management: A Case Study of DGM Indonesia
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2022) Canpolat, Ezgi; Shakirova, Meerim; McElhinny, Vince; Westerman, Kame; Cruz, Alli; Buppert, Theresa
The DGM Indonesia (DGM-I) country project focuses on improving clarity and security of land rights for Indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs), as well as improving livelihood opportunities from sustainable forests and land. In implementation since March 2017, with 63 subprojects either in implementation or completed, there are ample opportunities for detailed examination of a particular DGM-I subproject. This can offer insight into whether and how DGM projects are influencing women’s participation and leadership on the ground, and can also provide an indication of the extent to which the project may be influencing broader social and gender norms in Indonesia. In turn, this case study informs the wider line of inquiry of the World Bank DGM & REDD+ Gender Study, which follows a conceptual framework of gender transformative change to analyze the contribution the DGM-I project is making to women's economic achievement, access to and control over productive assets, voice, and agency that support positive changes in women’s leadership and meaningful participation. The conceptual framework for this study follows a stepwise, yet flexible and dynamic, progression toward gender transformative change. The framework begins by assessing the inputs that the DGM project provides to beneficiaries, such as assets, information, skills, and capacity building. This assessment looks at what types of inputs are provided, as well as to whom and how they are provided. Next, we assess through the framework how those inputs have influenced women’s income and assets, and building on that, how women are gaining voice and agency. Next, we assess whether and how those changes in voice and agency are influencing gender norms, attitudes, and perceptions of women and men at multiple levels, from individual to household to community. Finally, we look at whether those shifts have the potential to be sustained beyond the lifetime of the project and influence more formal practices, rules, policies, and laws that treat women in an unequal way.
Gender Differences in Behavior and Perceptions of Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings in Turkey
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2021) Canpolat, Ezgi; Casabonne, Ursula
Energy efficiency in public buildings in Turkey is currently at a low level. Energy use in the country’s public and service sectors experienced a five-fold increase between 2000 and 2015. Total green house gas (GHG) emissions increased by more than 120 percent from 1990 to 2015, constituting a significant environmental challenge. Several policy, regulatory, financial and technical barriers have prevented meaningful improvements to date. The government of Turkey aims to substantially reduce its energy consumption in all strategic sectors of buildings, industry, and transport. Several legal requirements are in place for energy efficiency, such as the energy efficiency law, a regulation on energy performance in buildings, and regulation on increasing energy efficiency in the use of energy resources. In support of the government’s plan to curb energy consumption, the World Bank’s energy efficiency in public buildings project was approved on November 5, 2019, to demonstrate the renovation of a large share of the central government building stock, and develop sustainable financing and institutional mechanisms to support a scaled-up, national program for energy efficiency in public buildings in Turkey. The project supports the renovation of central government and central-government affiliated buildings based on periodic calls for proposals to improve energy performance. Through these renovations and experiences, the government will develop a national program covering central and municipal buildings across the country and introduce sustainable financing and implementation schemes.
Energy Subsidy Reform Assessment Framework: Incidence of Price Subsidies on Households and Distributional Impact of Reform — Qualitative Methods
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2019-01-10) Canpolat, Ezgi; Georgieva, Sophia
This is the fourth in the series of ten good practice notes under the Energy Sector Reform Assessment Framework (ESRAF), an initiative of the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) of the World Bank. ESRAF proposes a guide to analyzing energy subsidies, the impacts of subsidies and their reforms, and the political context for reform in developing countries. This good practice note provides those working on consumer price subsidy reforms, in particular social scientists, with hands-on, practical guidance for using certain qualitative research tools to help fully understand the distributional impacts of higher prices on households. It focuses primarily on the direct effects of energy price subsidies (that is, higher energy prices), which are especially pronounced in middle-income countries. The good practice note aims to illustrate how qualitative research tools—focus group discussions and in-depth interviews—can be utilized in the context of energy subsidy reforms. By using such tools, this note aims to guide researchers and policy advisers to better understand the energy use behavior of households, the impacts of higher energy prices on their lives, the ways households may adjust their energy use behavior in response, and the consequences of such coping strategies.
Energy Subsidy Reform Assessment Framework: Designing Communication Campaigns for Energy Subsidy Reform
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2018-06-30) Worley, Heather; Pasquier, Sara Bryan; Canpolat, Ezgi
Energy subsidy reform is not a goal in itself, but rather a means of achieving lasting economic and social progress. Communicating with the public and other key stakeholders about the benefits of reform and the drawbacks of existing subsidies helps build support and acceptance. It can also increase trust and understanding of the political decisions that underpin the reform. International experience shows that communicating before, during, and after subsidy reform is essential to ensuring the smooth rollout of a well-planned and executed energy subsidy reform program (GSIand IISD 2013). Some governments undertaking energy subsidy reform programs either ignore communication with stakeholders or take a top-down approach that fails to recognize stakeholder views and concerns. This happens for many reasons, including lack of understanding about the powerful role communication plays in a successful energy subsidy reform program and the absence of capacity within a government to undertake communication activities. This note is intended for use by governments and aims to (a) advocate for the importance of communicating with citizens proactively about energy subsidy reform and (b) guide practitioners through some of the important elements of an evidence-based and effective communication campaign, including timing, stakeholder consultation, opinion research, messages, messengers, media, and evaluation. This note should be used in combination with other tools, including capacity building workshops and tailored advice from experienced communication professionals.
Residential Electricity Subsidies in Pakistan: Targeting, Welfare Impacts, and Options for Reform
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2016-12) Walker, Thomas; Canpolat, Ezgi; Khan, Farah Khalid; Kryeziu, Adea
This paper examines the economic and social implications of the current system of residential electricity subsidies in Pakistan, and assesses the potential to improve the system's outcomes through alternative targeting and program design. The analysis is multi-disciplinary in nature, drawing on national household survey data, electric company data on household electricity consumption, a welfare database, and a specially commissioned qualitative assessment of household and service provider attitudes and experiences. Affordability is only one of many concerns among electricity users, with reliability of supply and customer service being arguably more important. The analysis finds that targeting could be improved considerably by allocating subsidies according to proxy-means test scores using an existing national proxy-means test database. Providing a flat credit rather than a price subsidy could also alleviate certain governance concerns. The paper concludes with some guidance on how to carry out these reforms based on international experience.