Publication: Biodiversity for a Livable Planet: An Evaluation of World Bank Group Support for Biodiversity, Fiscal Years 2010–24
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2025-10-09
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2025-10-21
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Biodiversity is the variety of life at genetic, species, and ecosystems levels. It is essential to sustain human life, food security, crop yields, jobs, livelihoods, and marine productivity. Yet, it is declining at an unprecedented rate as the planet approaches a tipping point that could have permanent effects on livelihoods, economies, disaster risks, and climate stability. While the international community aims to stop and reverse biodiversity loss, progress has been slow. The World Bank Group has historically been the largest global investor in biodiversity. This evaluation assessed how well the Bank Group is supporting clients to address biodiversity loss, by answering: (i) How is the WB addressing biodiversity challenges through conservation-focused activities? and (ii) How well are the WB and IFC supporting activities with potential biodiversity benefits in key production sectors? A third question on managing risks to biodiversity was covered in a WBG biodiversity offsets review. The evaluation offers four recommendations to help the Bank Group support clients in achieving their livable planet goals. The recommendations align with the Bank Group’s mission to end poverty while supporting clients in protecting their natural capital, which is foundational for their prosperity, job-creation, resilience, and debt sustainability. Recommendations include: (i) The World Bank Group should assist clients to identify, finance, and measure biodiversity outcomes. To support this goal, the World Bank Group should strengthen its internal capabilities. (ii) The World Bank should engage, empower, and protect Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities to achieve sustainable and inclusive biodiversity outcomes at scale. (iii) The World Bank and IFC should proactively replicate and scale proven biodiversity positive production models that deliver positive ecological, economic, and social outcomes. (iv) The World Bank, IFC, and MIGA should actively address the gaps in offset projects regarding staff capacity, information disclosure, and project life cycle monitoring and supervision.
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“World Bank. 2025. Biodiversity for a Livable Planet: An Evaluation of World Bank Group Support for Biodiversity, Fiscal Years 2010–24. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/43880 License: CC BY-NC 3.0 IGO.”
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