March 2023 Colombo cityscape reflection on Beira Lake. Photo credit: istock.com Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience in the World Bank Portfolio Fiscal Years Introduction 2012–2021 Countries are facing increasingly complex climate-related challenges, which undermine resilience and require integrated and innovative solutions. Nature-based solutions (NBS) have emerged as cost-effective alternatives to conventional gray infrastructure, delivering greater resilience in the longer term and providing a host of additional benefits. NBSs are defined as “actions to protect, conserve, restore, sustainably use and manage natural or modified terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems, which address social, economic and environmental challenges effectively and adaptively, while simultaneously providing human well-being, ecosystem services and resilience and biodiversity benefits.”1 NBSs that are used with the explicit objective of reducing climate and disaster risks are called NBS for climate resilience. Related terms could include eco-DRR (disaster risk reduction), NBS for disaster risk management, or ecosystem-based adaptation. However, NBSs for climate resilience also provide other benefits such as provision of food or drinking water or opportunities for recreation and climate regulation. NBSs for climate resilience are applied across different geographies. ● For coastlines at risk: Restoring ecosystems such as dunes, mangrove forests, and other coastal wetlands like marshes can support the management of coastal energy from waves and storm surge. While protecting coastal infrastructure and civilians from flooding and erosion, these ecosystems can also enhance fisheries, provide recreational and educational opportunities, restore biodiversity, and increase carbon sequestration. Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience in the World Bank Portfolio ● In cities: Restoring urban green spaces such as wetlands and strengthen natural systems to build climate resilience by and forests, daylighting rivers or streams, planting providing operational support, developing targeted knowledge trees on streets, and creating nature-based stormwater and tools, and forging internal and external partnerships. These systems can reduce flooding that disrupts mobility activities should foster an increase in the use and mainstreaming patterns and damages urban infrastructure, leading to of NBS across World Bank regions and sectors, while also costly recovery and adaptation interventions. Increased improving the quality of analytical and lending operations. urban green space can also improve water and air quality, As part of the work program, GPNBS is tracking the NBS for create ecological corridors that enhance biodiversity, and climate resilience lending portfolio of the World Bank, which will reduce urban heat island effects that are expected to get be used to monitor progress and advance mainstreaming NBS. worse as global temperatures rise. ● In inland areas: Restoring and effectively managing watersheds and natural rivers can reduce flooding, Objective sediment load, and erosion, thereby improving the As GPNBS scales-up its effort to provide targeted support to regulation of water flows, water quality, and overall water World Bank task teams and clients, monitoring and tracking security. Improved watershed management can also the NBS footprint in the World Bank’s portfolio will remain a reduce the costs borne by water utilities, charged with key tool. This paper aims to inform World Bank and GFDRR ensuring water quality and services are maintained. In leadership, donors, clients, and the global community on the hilly terrains, the use of live cuttings and rooted plants World Bank’s progress in mainstreaming NBS for climate embedded in the ground can also stabilize slopes and resilience, and to inform decisions on targeting capacity reduce landslide risks. building efforts and technical support to operations. Global demand and political interest in NBS for climate resilience is increasing across regions. It opens new opportunities for the World Bank to provide needed support to countries Methodology interested in advancing their sustainable development and The methodology used for this portfolio review relies on the climate agendas. The World Bank integrated NBS for climate use of the World Bank’s Operation Portal Database, which resilience into corporate strategies and priorities, recognizing contains all project information for World Bank operations. No the importance of NBS as a tool that delivers next generation specific tags, themes, or databases exist in the system that infrastructure services. Such priorities are included in Climate can be used to find NBS projects efficiently. As such, the review Change Action Plan 2021–2025,2 the  COVID-19 Recovery used an algorithm to search through the database and extract Response,3 and the Green, Resilient and Inclusive Development projects that were approved from the fiscal years 2012 to (GRID).4 Guided by its goals to end extreme poverty and promote 2021 (FY12 to 21) and that used common NBS terms in project shared prosperity, the World Bank is already financing NBS for documents. The list of projects was then manually screened climate resilience across its lending portfolio and developing and reviewed to ensure that the project truly included NBSs. guidance and assistance to governments. Key knowledge The 10-year time frame was chosen to provide a reasonable products include the joint World Resources–World Bank timeline to identify trends and patterns. The review exclusively flagship report “Integrating Green and Gray – Creating Next focused on lending operations, rather than on advisory and Generation Infrastructure”5 and the most recent “A Catalogue analytics because of staffing limitations and minimal project of Nature-Based Solutions for Urban Resilience”.6 documentation on advisory and analytics. In 2021, the Global Program on Nature-Based Solutions Through close review and analysis, qualitative and for Climate Resilience (GPNBS)7 was established, hosted at the quantitative data points were gathered to provide a Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) comprehensive look at the World Bank’s NBSs for climate and financed by GFDRR and the Global Water Security and resilience efforts. This includes: (i) the type of NBS used in Sanitation Partnership (GWSP). GPNBS is a cross-sectoral the project; (ii) the natural hazards addressed by NBS; (iii) effort at the World Bank Group and includes various global the focal thematic type of NBS used; (iv) the measured or practices such as Water; Environment, Natural Resources and stated benefits of the NBS intervention such as project result the Blue Economy (ENB); Urban, Resilience and Land (URL); and indicators; and (v) relevant project descriptors such as whether Finance, Competitiveness and Innovation (FCI). The mission the project was implemented in a coastal or inland location— of the program is to strengthen the capacity of World Bank be it urban or rural. The review also considered whether it teams to prepare, fund, and implement activities that integrate was intended to address COVID-19 impacts, whether it was 2 Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience in the World Bank Portfolio complemented by gray infrastructure measures like a hybrid the portfolio, the most common types of NBSs employed approach, and whether it included community engagement included enabling or restoring urban green spaces, forests, and gender components (Appendix A for additional details on rivers and floodplains, and vegetation, with a notable focus on the methodology). community engagement mechanisms and gender dynamics among 65 percent of projects. For outcomes, projects frequently measured the extent Results to which activities reduced flood risks, increased capacity, The resulting dataset outlines patterns and trends in NBS for and protected natural areas. For example, closed FY12–21 climate resilience investments across the World Bank portfolio, projects that measured NBSs’ efforts restored or made into offering lessons regarding the utility and effectiveness of NBS green spaces more than one million hectares of degraded as a tool for sustainable development, as well as highlighting land; restored or afforested nearly 124,000 hectares of forest potential gaps for further investment. or wetlands; and protected 4,600 kilometers of coastal and marine areas. Lastly, this analysis identified that 12 percent of The review identified 103 projects from FY12 to FY21 FY20–21 projects used NBSs for climate resilience to address that contained NBS components, approximately 37 percent the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as creating jobs of which were supported by GFDRR grants. Most of these by financing community-based reforestation activities. projects are within the URL and ENB global practices and were implemented in Africa and the East Asia and the Pacific (EAP) region. The analysis also found that 25 percent of projects Financing for NBS projects were implemented in countries affected by fragility, conflict, The portfolio review identified a total of 103 projects with and violence (FCV) countries; and that only eight percent project components using NBS for climate resilience from of projects with NBS components occurred in small island FY12 to FY21 (figure 1). GFDRR supported 38 of these projects, developing states (SIDS). providing 72 grants totaling approximately US$35 million. The majority of projects focused on river flooding The total number of approved projects increased 122 percent and erosion, with certain global practices and regions from FY12 to FY21. Most of the increase has taken place in demonstrating various trends, such as a larger focus on recent years, jumping from 13 approved projects in FY18 to 20 coastal risks in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Across projects in FY21. Figure 1. Approved projects with NBS for climate resilience and cumulative approved WBG commitments for NBS from FY12 to FY21. 1400 25 1200 20 Fundin ($USD Million) 1000 15 800 600 10 400 5 200 0 0 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Fisc l Y r WBG NBS Commitm nt No. of proj cts Source: Author derived. 3 Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience in the World Bank Portfolio Box 1: Metro Colombo Urban Development Project In Sri Lanka’s capital city of Colombo, the World Bank has supported the restoration and protection of 20 square kilometers of freshwater lakes, wet woodlands and grasslands, and swamps, which serve as natural protectors for the flood-prone city. The wetlands also help purify and cool the air and absorb up to 90 percent of Colombo’s greenhouse gas emissions, while also providing food and supplemental income for Colombo’s urban poor. The preservation of wetlands, combined with the installation of pumping stations and tunnels to divert flood water, has benefited the 2.5 million urban residents. It led the government to develop an additional 50 plans for conserving wetlands across Sri Lanka. Wetlands in Colombo. Photo credit: World Bank A combination of several elements can explain this NBS or baseline assessments for flood risks, landslides, and positive trend. In addition to improved global evidence of the other hazards, while others included knowledge exchanges and utility of NBS, more projects are likely considering the use trainings and the development of innovative tools.8 of NBS owing to outreach from internal working groups and programs such as the GPNBS, which was originally created as a working group in FY17. The publication of several high profile Global practices implementing NBS projects reports on the efficacy and cost effectiveness of NBS for Most projects, about 75 percent, are implemented by the URL climate resilience in recent years, including “Integrating Green and ENB global practices, which have greater commitment to and Gray – Creating Next Generation Infrastructure”5 report in NBS components (figures 2 and 3). Given that the focus was on FY19, have also helped increase visibility of the NBS concept, NBS for climate resilience, dominance of URL global practice and raise awareness and interest among World Bank Group investments in the portfolio review are unsurprising. However, (WBG) teams and client countries. Moreover, GPNBS provides it is also important to note that the Water and ENB global technical and analytical support to World Bank task teams, practices also have a significant share of NBS for climate including helping teams acquire grant funding from relevant resilience investments. They highlight the use of comprehensive multidonor trust funds, such as GFDRR and GWSP, to finance approaches that not only tackle existing sector challenges, but NBS studies to inform investments. Lastly, the World Bank has also build resilience and provision of additional benefits that scaled up approaches toward climate adaption and resilience in can be achieve by using NBSs. recent years. Climate finance to support developing countries to invest in low carbon, resilient opportunities increased from NBS for climate resilience projects are implemented at US$10.9 billion in FY16 to US$26.6 billion in FY21. Since 2012, all higher rates in Africa at 44 percent and in EAP at 22 percent World Bank operations have been required to report on climate (figure 2b). This is also reflected in the commitment amount co-benefits for lending projects, which could potentially have desegregated by region (figure 4). The dominance of NBS contributed to increased interest among clients and teams to projects in Africa reflects the amount of World Bank funding explore the use of NBS. at 53 percent of overall WBG commitments. The prevalence These components are valued at an estimated US$5.53 of NBS projects in Africa is particularly notable in ENB and billion, of which about 64 percent comes from International URL, representing 49 percent and 44 percent of projects, Development Association (IDA) resources. Total funding respectively. In the NBS portfolio review, the EAP region ranked for components integrating NBS has steadily risen, with second in the number of NBS projects after Africa, which differs an estimated 317 percent increase in FY21 from total or from the overall World Bank portfolio, wherein the South Asia cumulative funding in FY16. Of the 55 NBS projects approved region (SAR) comes second. This is owing to EAP’s urgent need from FY18-21, 26 percent were supported by 20 GFDRR to build climate resilience, especially in coastal areas that are grants, totally $7.1 million. These grants helped mobilize experiencing high rates of erosion, mangrove deforestation, US$911 million in funding, with 68 percent from IDA’s sources. and storm surge. SAR also represents a large share of the NBS The grants supported prefeasibility studies for the design of portfolio, where several projects have used best practices and 4 Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience in the World Bank Portfolio Figures 2. (a) The breakdown of approved projects with components integrating NBS for climate resilience by global practice. (b) The breakdown of approved projects with components integrating NBS by World Bank regions. A B 1% 1% 2% 6% 7% Afric 7% URL E st Asi nd 10% ENB P cific 9% 42% W t r 44% South Asi Tr nsport L tin Am ric nd 15% C ribb n AG Europ nd HPN C ntr l Asi 34% SPJ 22% Middl E st nd North Afric Approv d Proj cts b GP Approv d Proj cts b R ion Source: Author derived. Figure 3. Total World Bank NBS commitment for projects approved in the FY12–21 period desegregated by global practice. Environm nt, N tur l R sourc s & th Blu Econom Urb n, R sili nc nd L nd Tr nsport W t r A ricultur nd Food Soci l Prot ction & Jobs H lth, Nutrition & Popul tion 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 Commitm nt (USD million) Source: Author derived. lessons learned to implement climate resilient transport work Guinea, Mozambique, and Yemen. Notably, the number of and reforestation with NBS. projects using NBS for climate resilience in FCV nations increased in 2021—eight projects or 40 percent of the total Across these regions, several projects have been number of NBS in FCV projects. These projects engaged with implemented in countries with status of interest (figure 5). For activities that rehabilitate degraded forests, establish green instance, since FY12, approximately 25 percent of approved infrastructure, and use NBS to build coastal resilience, among NBS for climate resilience projects have been implemented others. Almost half of the 103 NBS projects, about 47 percent, in countries with FCV status such as Afghanistan, Ethiopia, were implemented or are being implemented in countries 5 Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience in the World Bank Portfolio Figure 4. Total World Bank NBS commitment for projects approved in the FY12–21 period desegregated by World Bank Regions. Afric E st Asi nd P cific South Asi Europ nd C ntr l Asi L tin Am ric nd C ribb n Middl E st nd North Afric 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 Commitm nt (USD million) Source: Author derived. Figure 5. Number of NBS for climate resilience projects in FCV and SIDS context approved in the FY12–21 period. 9 8 7 6 No. of Proj cts 5 4 3 2 1 0 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Fisc l Y r No. of FCV Proj cts No. of SIDS Proj cts Source: Author derived. categorized as Least Developed Countries, and 83 percent were are persistent compared to the FY20 portfolio review. The implemented in countries considered lower or lower-middle frequency of erosion and river flooding as hazards addressed income. Only eight percent of NBS projects were implemented can be partly attributed to the cross-global practice attention in the SIDS context, which is often attributed to the lack of these hazards receive. Erosion occurring inland also focuses space, the number of SIDS, and the severity of climate risks several investments across global practices, including Water, faced that may often call for more complex built environments. ENB, and Transport, for differing reasons. For instance, erosion can increase sedimentation and burden water utilities, and it can also reduce the resilience of transport corridors. The data Hazards being addressed desegregated by global practices illustrates how the trend Most projects address river flooding in rural or urban areas unfolds (figure 7). Transport and Agriculture global practices and erosion inland (figure 6). These are strong trends that frequently use NBS to address erosion for climate resilience of 6 Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience in the World Bank Portfolio Figure 6. Total number of NBS projects targeting the specific hazard during the FY12–21 period. H rds Addr ss d Riv r Floodin 40 Erosion (Inl nd) 36 Urb n Floodin 33 Co st l Floodin 22 Drou ht 22 L ndslid s 18 Co st l Erosion 16 H t 5 Fir 2 Source: Author derived. Figure 7. Number of hazards addressed by NBS for climate resilience investments for projects approved in the FY12–21 period desegregated by World Bank global practice. 3% 8% 17% 18% 19% 3% 34% 50% 50% 17% 100% 33% 20% 8% 11% 9% AGR ENB HNP SPJ 3% Urb n Floodin 5% 11% 8% Riv r Floodin 12% 28% Co st l Floodin 17% 5% 36% 42% Co st l Erosion L ndslid s 9% 39% Erosion (Inl nd) 17% 11% 33% H t 19% 5% Fir URL W t r Tr nsport Drou ht Source: Author derived. Note: Acronyms: AGR, Agriculture and Food; HNP, Health, Nutrition, and Population; SPJ, Social Protection and Jobs. 7 Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience in the World Bank Portfolio roads and agricultural productivity, respectively. Transport’s A few trends can also be seen when data are desegregated global practice focuses on transportation infrastructure in by region (figure 8). In Europe and Central Asia (ECA) and EAP, mountainous and rural areas—which are prone to landslides— a high number of projects use NBS to reduce river flooding also contributes to the use of NBS to reduce landslide risks. because many focus on deltaic areas in EAP, and on the rivers Additionally, Water, Agriculture, and ENB global practices are and basins in Poland and the Western Balkans in ECA. Both more likely to use NBS to reduce the risk of drought. This is LAC and SAR have numerous projects that address coastal due to the connection between drought and water availability, risks, which often involve crucial coastal ecosystems, such as water services, and ecosystem health. These global practices mangrove forests. frequently use NBS to reduce the risk and impact of river Integration of NBS for heat mitigation has accelerated flooding, while URLs focus on urban areas, meaning the global since 2020 due to rising global temperatures, more frequent practice often uses NBS to reduce urban flood risks. heat waves, and worsening heat island effects. Box 2. Cities and Climate Change Project In Mozambique, the World Bank has pursued a hybrid approach to mitigating floods in the city of Beira, focusing on community- based mangrove restoration, river clean-ups, and outreach campaigns along the Chiveve River, while also widening the river’s tidal basin and implementing other gray interventions. The project created a 17-hectare urban green park along the river, enhancing flood protection for 50,000 people and providing livelihood and recreational benefits. Mangrove park in Beira. Photo credit: World Bank Figure 8. Hazards addressed by NBS for climate resilience projects approved during the FY12–21 period desegregated by World Bank region. 2% 4% 16% 15% 1% 19% 18% 23% 17% 2% 15% 19% 7% 26% Urb n Floodin 20% 8% 11% 31% Riv r Floodin 9% 8% 7% 15% Co st l Floodin Co st l Erosion AFR EAP ECA L ndslid s 7% Erosion (Inl nd) 9% 13% 11% H t 25% 18% Fir 23% 18% 21% 50% Drou ht 18% 9% 14% 25% 18% 14% 7% LAC MENA SAR Source: Author derived. Note: Acronyms: MENA, Middle East and North Africa. 8 Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience in the World Bank Portfolio Types of NBS being used solutions (Figure 9). Other NBS types like watershed management, sustainable management or agroforestry, The diversity of NBS is evident across the portfolio; however, mangroves, or inland wetlands also have a significant presence. urban green spaces, forests, rivers and floodplains, and grassland and vegetation are the most frequently employed Figure 9. Overall frequency of the use of NBS types across the World Bank portfolio for projects approved between FY12 and FY21. Fr qu nc of NBS T p Urb n Gr n Sp c s 33 Gr ssl nd nd oth r v t tion 30 For sts 28 Riv rs nd Floodpl ins 21 W t rsh d M n m nt 20 Sust in bl M n m nt ( . A rofor str ) 19 M n rov s 16 Indir ct Non-Structur l M sur s 13 Inl nd W tl nds 12 Ponds, L k s, Sm ll W t r Bodi s 8 Dun s nd B ch s 7 Cor l or Cor l R f Ecos st ms 6 Co st l W tl nds ( xcludin m n rov s) 6 Fin nci l M ch nisms 4 S r ss 3 Polic D v lopm nt nd R form 1 Source: Author derived. Nearly half or 46 percent of the total number of NBS River region. ECA has often focused on NBS investments for interventions could be considered green, while the rest rivers in Poland and the Western Balkans, explaining the high were hybrid, employing the use of both green and gray presence of NBS projects related with the restoration and infrastructures. Seventy-seven percent of these interventions protection of rivers and floodplains. were also implemented inland, while 23 percent were The different NBS types implemented also vary implemented in coastal areas. Most of these NBS investments, significantly by global practices (figure 11). For example, all or 61 percent, were accompanied by non-structural activities seven Transport global practice projects in this portfolio review to support implementation. use strategic revegetation, such as with native grasses and It is possible to draw trends when looking at these data trees, to reduce landslide and erosion risks and increase the desegregated by region and GP (figures 10 and 11). In SAR, climate resilience of roads and transport corridors. This seems LAC, and EAP, the use of mangrove forests and other coastal to stem from a historical use of bioengineering in the EAP wetlands is frequent in NBS investments. This is because of the and SAR regions, which account for 86 percent of Transport distribution and availability of these ecosystems in the regions. global practice projects and could be further assessed to For instance, SAR is home to the Sundarbans, one of the largest draw lessons learned to inform other NBS investments across mangrove forests in the world, while Southeast Asia countries the World Bank Group portfolio. The Health, Nutrition, and supported by the World Bank also contain large stretches of Pollution (HNP) and Social Protection and Jobs (SPJ) global mangroves, including important habitats such as the Mekong practices, although only represented by two projects, are also 9 Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience in the World Bank Portfolio Figure 10. Use of NBS types across World Bank regions for projects approved between FY12 and FY21. 2% 3% 6% 14% 9% 13% 11% Urb n Gr n Sp c s 17% 2% 4% 6% 11% Gr ssl nd nd oth r v t tion 7% 13% 14% For sts 3% 2% 11% 11% 4% Riv rs nd Floodpl ins 11% 7% 6% 6% 5% Ponds, L k s, Sm ll W t r Bodi s 17% 6% 4% 11% 13% 17% W t rsh d M n m nt 7% 7% 11% 4% 4% Inl nd W tl nds 2% AFR EAP ECA Co st l W tl nds ( xcludin m n rov s) 3% Dun s nd B ch s 3% 8% 6% 9% M n rov s 4% 17% 14% 6% 4% 12% S r ss 6% 8% 14% Cor l or Cor l R f Ecos st ms 8% 6% 9% 4% 57% Sust in bl M n m nt 8% 6% Fin nci l M ch nisms 8% 14% 18% 4% 8% 9% Polic D v lopm nt nd R form 4% 4% 8% 6% Indir ct Non-Structur l M sur s 3% 3% LAC MENA SAR Oth r Source: Author derived. Figure 11. Use of NBS types by World Bank Global Practice for projects approved between FY12 and FY21. 1% 8% 3% 3% 8% 5% 8% 25% 5% 3% 15% 1% 33% 33% 8% 4% 3% 50% 50% 9% 7% 25% 25% 9% 11% 15% 33% AGR ENB HNP SPJ 4% 37% 11% 9% 11% 14% 5% 11% 9% 37% 22% 4% 17% 8% 86% 10% 3% 8% 5% 28% Tr nsport URL W t r Sust in bl M n m nt Inl nd W tl nds Fin nci l M ch nisms Urb n Gr n Sp c s ( x. A rofor str Ponds, L k s, Sm ll W t r Bodi s S r ss Gr ssl nd nd oth r v t tion M n rov s Dun s nd B ch s Polic D v lopm nt nd For sts R form Indir ct Non-Structur l M sur s Cor l or Cor l R f Ecos st ms Riv rs nd Floodpl ins Oth r Co st l W tl nds ( xcludin W t rsh d M n m nt m n rov s) Source: Author derived. 10 Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience in the World Bank Portfolio using strategic revegetation to support infrastructure and many projects will also have NBS investments created through provide short-term opportunities to communities, respectively. enabling actions, such as the creation of water funds that Notably, both projects occurred in Africa. On another note, protect watersheds and water sources or the development majority of URL projects create or restore urban green spaces, of improved management or business plans centered on leading to notable NBS projects in cities, such as the Cities promoting NBS at the national or regional level. and Climate Change Project in Mozambique; approximately 44 The FY12-21 Portfolio Review found that NBS projects percent of URL projects were implemented in Africa. Several using enabling and restoring approaches are slightly more global practices, including Water, Agriculture, and ENB have common, followed by projects using a creation approach. investments in place that support policy development and The protection of natural ecosystems was the less frequent reform directly enabling the implementation of NBS. Often, approach applied with 35 projects (figure 12a). It could be this is to conserve, protect, or improve management of natural possible that nature protection actions are less likely to be resources, such as water and forests (Appendix B). considered due to existing challenges with enforcement and potential conflicts with preventing local communities from NBS Approaches exploiting specific natural resources. NBS interventions can differ, not only in the type of hazard Among enabling actions, the World Bank frequently focuses addressed or natural ecosystem used, but also in the type of on improved management or development of investment action or approach applied. For instance, protecting an existing plans, along with overall institutional strengthening and urban wetland for flood mitigation purposes is a different capacity building (figure 12b). This is well aligned with World approach than restoring a degraded ecosystem or even Bank strategy among client countries, where capacity building creating a new one. In some cases, an NBS project might not and the development of plans at the macro level are essential bring back an ecosystem, but instead it can create a feature activities. Less used are modeling business development that uses native vegetation specifically selected for their ability activities, but interesting projects that engage and support the to provide a service, which is often the case in bioengineering private sector to stimulate NBS approaches already exist and transport investments or urban projects that build green roofs have the potential to grow in the coming years. or bioswales. Additionally, given that the World Bank often supports national governments to increase climate resilience, Box 3. Marine Conservation and Climate Adaption Project In Belize, the World Bank is enhancing marine conservation and climate adaption by expanding marine protection areas and coral outplants, helping restore the country’s reefs, which are essential to prevent coastal erosion and protect from storm surges and hurricanes. To help diversify livelihoods, ease pressures on the ecosystem, and ensure community buy-in, the project supports sustainable agriculture, offers vocational training, and raises awareness of the importance of the reef ecosystem to climate resilience and community welfare. Belize reef conservation efforts. Photo credit: World Bank 11 Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience in the World Bank Portfolio Figure 12. (a) Type of actions taken by the NBS interventions in project investments. (b) Enabling actions of NBS invest- ments desegregated by type of enabling action. 12a En blin R storin Cr tion Prot ctin 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 Numb r of Proj cts with this Action 12b Improv d M n m nt or D v lop d Inv stm nt Pl ns Institution l Str n th nin nd C p cit -Buildin Inform tiv nd D cision Support Knowl d Products nd… Busin ss Mod l nd D v lopm nt D v lopm nt of Innov tiv Fin ncin M ch nisms Polic : Includin D v lopm nt or R vi w of R form Polic 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 Numb r of Proj cts with this En blin Action Source: Author derived. NBS outcomes outcomes. For instance, in Malawi, the rehabilitation and improved management of the Shire River Basin contributed Substantive benefits can be achieved through NBS and to 3,155 households being reclassified to a lower risk from ensuring that projects integrate proper monitoring allows the flooding, while in Tajikistan, natural resource management World Bank to gather evidence regarding the utility of NBS, activities contributed to more than 50 percent of the particularly how these solutions can contribute to progressing beneficiary population reporting an increase in well-being or sustainable development goals. The review found that reducing livelihood assets. flood risks, increasing capacity, and protecting natural areas were the most tracked outcomes in project result frameworks Including result indicators that assess whether NBS are (figure 13). While NBS can provide a multitude of benefits, many achieving climate resilience goals will inform project teams and projects did not include indicators that specifically tracked clients whether adjustments in approach are needed. Although the NBS activity being implemented. Rather, these projects the rate of inclusion for these indicators over the years was had outcome indicators related to the project development not tracked, several pipeline projects now include indicators objective to which the NBS was contributing, such as reduced affiliated with NBS that go beyond global practice silos—such flood risks. as climate resilience indicators as part of ENB investments— demonstrating a growing recognition that NBS can produce Of the 18 closed projects with implementation completion multiple benefits and an increased effort to capture these reports (ICRs) 72 percent had result indicators that benefits in formal project monitoring. demonstrated how NBS contributed to climate resilience 12 Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience in the World Bank Portfolio Figure 13. Monitored outcomes of project components that integrate NBS based on the number of projects including an NBS indicator in the results framework. Monitor d NBS R sults Flood R duction 44 Incr s d St k hold r C p cit 38 Biodiv rist /Prot ction of N tur l Ar s 33 G n r l Clim t Ad ption/R sili nc 23 Oth r Liv lihoods 15 A ricultur , Fish ri s nd For str Incom 10 W t r Qu lit /Cons rv tion 10 Economic Improv m nt for Wom n 10 Public H lth nd Qu lit of Lif 10 C rbon S qu str tion 8 Erosion Control/Slop St bili tion 8 R duc d Loss/Prot ction of Inf structur 7 Co st l Prot ction 4 Soil Cons rv tion 2 H t 1 Source: Author derived. Community Engagement and Gender in Similarly, 65 percent of the 103 NBS projects received a Gender Tag from the World Bank, which indicates that the NBS project design addresses gender gaps through analysis, action, More than 65 percent of the NBS investments studied use and result indicators. For example, the Green National Highways community engagement mechanisms that involve communities Corridor Project in India aims to improve female employment directly in project design or implementation, moving beyond opportunities in the transport sector by incentivizing technical simple consultative or feedback mechanisms. This high skill training of 2,500 women in specialized areas, including level of citizen participation fosters project sustainability by bioengineering solutions for road upgrades and maintenance. ensuring that local needs are being understood and addressed, Additionally, the Stormwater Management and Climate promoting community support. For instance, the World Bank Change Adaption Project in Senegal aims to address the gender is employing community-based planning and management gap in women’s access to income opportunities and agency in strategies for reforesting hilly areas in Bangladesh and urban planning flood risk management by: (i) safeguarding mangroves in Nicaragua, reducing the risks from landslides women’s inclusion in labor-intensive public works, including and sea level rises, respectively. Similarly, the World Bank is tree planting near drainage works, and (ii) granting leadership supporting community flood and land management efforts roles to women in local flood management committees. in Ghana and Senegal, and the development of community- driven mitigation and preparedness plans that include NBSs in Indonesia. A cash-for-trees program in Madagascar is NBS in World Bank’s COVID-19 Response providing incentives to smallholders to reforest their lands and The COVID-19 pandemic had severe economic impacts, with help prevent erosion, thereby mitigating risks and improving many vulnerable people losing their jobs. As part of the World livelihoods. Bank’s COVID-19 response, several global practices, including 13 Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience in the World Bank Portfolio ENB and URL, emphasized the importance of financing shovel- resources. The majority were grants, while one was a loan. ready investments and short-term labor opportunities for Global practices that led these projects were: Transport, URL, communities struggling with unemployment and compounding HNP, and Agriculture. The projects only occurred in Africa and disasters. As part of this strategy, the use of community-based South Asia, with 50 percent located in Africa. Additionally, conservation and restoration, and implementation of NBS was 75 percent of projects were deemed green, and the rest were highlighted as a viable opportunity to meet the growing needs hybrid, involving the use of both gray and green infrastructure. of COVID-19 impacted communities. As such, this review also Furthermore, 50 percent of the projects were in urban settings looked at this strategy’s implementation in the field, focusing and all projects were terrestrial, inland-based projects that on NBS for climate resilience. focused on reducing landslide and erosion risk through community-based interventions such as reforestation. This review found that around 12 percent of projects approved in FY20 and FY21 used NBS for climate resilience Projects that indirectly used NBS for COVID-19 to alleviate COVID-19 impacts directly (figure 14). Estimated impact alleviation—58 percent of them—often determined funding for these project components integrating NBS was that NBS could support communities by increasing their US$49.1 million, with 78 percent of funding coming from IDA climate resilience, ensuring the reduction of compounding hydrometeorological and health disasters. A substantive 30 percent of NBS investments in FY20–21 was irrelevant to Figure 14. Breakdown of FY20–21 projects that utilized the overall COVID-19 response, likely owing to the timeframe NBS for climate resilience as part of the World Bank’s COVID-19 response. in which those projects were approved; projects that were approved before March 2020. It is also possible that active NBS projects approved before FY20 contributed to resilience 12% against the impacts of COVID-19. However, this was not tracked as part of the review. 30% Three examples illustrate World Bank investments with NBS that directly address and respond to the impact of COVID-19 on local communities. Most of these projects employ the use of community based NBS that help alleviate the economic impact of the pandemic through short term Dir ct work, while increasing climate resilience in project areas. In Indir ct 58% one of these projects—namely Nigeria COVID-19 Preparedness Not R l v nt and Response Project—HNP uses NBSs implemented through public partnerships to improve the climate resilience of health Source: Author derived. infrastructure (figure 15). 15% 14 Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience in the World Bank Portfolio Figure 15. Three projects that integrate NBS as part of investment packages to alleviate the impact of COVID-19 on lo- cal communities. Stormwater Management and Nigeria COVID-19 Resilient Urban Sierra Leone Climate Change Adaptation Preparedness and Response Project Project​ Project​ Freetown residents pose with their Beach in Senegal. © World Bank. Health clinic in Nigeria. © World Bank. seedlings. © World Bank. Lead Global Practice: URL​ Lead Global Practice: URL​ Lead Global Practice: HNP​ Estimated NBS Commitment: Estimated NBS Commitment: Estimated NBS Commitment: US$ 11.2 Million ​ US$ 143.9 million​ US$114.2 million​ The project finances community- The project will use nature-based The project will collaborate with based reforestation, which is tracked solutions (for example, trees and public—private partnerships to through the Tree Tracker App. More plants) along drainage infrastructure build climate-resilient health than 550 jobs have been created and promote wetland management. infrastructure and support creation amid the pandemic, which have Jobs will be created in a short-term of green spaces by planting trees supported local economies impacted including for tree planting. Women around facilities to reduce heat. by COVID-19, and especially will be included and safeguarded in supported marginalized, vulnerable, this work, as well as given leadership and underemployed women and positions on flood management youth.​​ committees.​ Concluding Remarks technical support; (ii) develop knowledge products, tools, and resources; and (iii) strengthen strategic partnerships that advance the global and World Bank’s NBS agenda. Indeed, This assessment showcases the continued growth of the preliminary analyses for FY22 and FY23 suggest that the World Bank’s NBS for climate resilience investment portfolio. World Bank will continue the trend of increasing use of NBS for The portfolio aligns with the global momentum and demand climate resilience in lending operations across global practices. for NBS to comprehensively address complex development As the investments in NBS for climate resilience increase, challenges. Project documents demonstrate that after FY17, a GPNBS will be strongly positioned to support the integration of greater number of projects began to integrate NBS concepts best practices and lessons learned. Such measures are geared and best practices, with more recently approved projects to ensure that these projects can achieve the potential NBS showcasing greater awareness and knowledge of NBS and has to progress sustainable development goals and the World more likely to use NBS terms and approaches. These projects Bank’s twin goals to end extreme poverty and promote shared are also likely to reference World Bank reports, such as the NBS prosperity. Community of Practice’s flagship report, “Integrating Green and Gray – Creating Next Generation Infrastructure”, which The review also highlighted several gaps to inform future was led by the Water GP and supported by URL and ENB. The NBS operations. First, the portfolio reveals a significant popularity of integrating NBS coincides with the establishment increase in NBS for climate resilience among URL projects, of the NBS Community of Practice, which later evolved into a but there remain opportunities among other sectors that global program (GPNBS) to support World Bank teams to: (i) have benefitted less from technical support from groups like implement NBS in lending and nonlending operations through GPNBS. In the future, GPNBS will continue to work with the 15 Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience in the World Bank Portfolio Transport and Water sectors to further integrate NBS for 4. https://www.devcommittee.org/sites/dc/files/download/ climate resilience, while also continuing to support operations Documents/2021-03/DC2021-0004%20Green%20 in ENB and URL. Second, NBS are typically integrated into Resilient%20final.pdf multifaceted investment components in project documents, 5. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/ meaning they lack specificity for implementation. More support handle/10986/31430 is needed to help teams employ suggested investments in 6. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/ project appraisal documents (PADs) and incorporate these handle/10986/36507#:~:text=The%20catalogue%20 solutions into feasibility studies, designs, and implementation. of%20Nature%2Dbased,investments%20in%20 Moreover, further work is needed to promote the use of NBS- nature%2Dbased%20solutions. specific result indicators that fully capture the biodiversity or 7. The Program https://naturebasedsolutions.org/ resilience benefits of the solutions utilized. GPNBS will aim to 8. A later review of all GFDRR grants from FY18-21 identified increase support to teams to operationalize such investments an additional 30 World Bank projects supported with 33 and include NBS-specific indicators in result frameworks. GFDRR grants specifically for NBS activities. However, Lastly, although most projects with NBS received a Gender these projects were not identified in our analysis because Tag, further guidance would facilitate how to integrate gender the grants occurred after the appraisal stage and NBS considerations into NBS themselves. To fill this gap, GPNBS was not included in the original project documents that is engaging operations and developing a gender guidance we used in our analysis, or because the grants supported document to inform project design. advisory and analytics or technical feasibility studies that were outside of the scope of this portfolio review. The 43 GFDRR grants from FY18-21 that specifically supported Notes NBS totaled 22.4 million, of which $14.6 million (65% of total) was informed by NBS activities. Of the 43 grants, 14 grants with a total of US$11.6 million (of which US$7.2 1. United Nations, Environment Assembly of the United million was informed by NBS activities) helped mobilize Nations Environment Programme Fifth Session, 2022. US$2.3 billion of funding. Mobilized funding from World 2. https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/ Bank resources accounted for US$1.7 billion, with 66% d06622e74a388000e2e440438d461b99-0020012021/ from IDA resources and 34% from IBRD funds. In addition, original/CCAP-2021-25-Highlights.pdf these grants helped mobilize US$0.56 million from non- 3. https://www.worldbank.org/en/who-we-are/news/ World Bank sources, such as the Government of Rwanda, coronavirus-covid19 German Development Bank, and Government of France, among others. 16 Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience in the World Bank Portfolio Appendix A: Methodology This section provides a detailed overview of the methodology Hazards: An Evaluation of the World Bank’s Support, Fiscal that was used to deliver this portfolio analysis of NBS for Years 2010-2020,a and the previous NBS for climate resilience, climate resilience. Quality assurance and testing of this ENB, and Water Resource Management portfolio reviews to methodology demonstrated its effectiveness in capturing the ensure that a comprehensive search covered most, if not all, World Bank’s financial support of NBS for climate resilience NBSs for climate resilience projects at the World Bank, while across the sustainable development portfolio. also limiting duplication and reducing the time of analysis. Project Database Project Review The World Bank’s Operation Portal Database was used For the selected projects, documents such as the PADs, to search throughout the repository of projects that were implementation completion reports (ICRs), and IEG ICR Reviews approved from FY12 to FY 21. There was no focus on a specific were downloaded from the Operations Portal (intranet) for development theme, region, sector, or global practice to ensure screening. If these were not available, Project Information the search was comprehensive and inclusive of as many NBS Documents or Project Concept Notes in combination with projects as possible across the portfolio. While the focus was Environmental Assessment documentation or other produced on NBSs that were used to deliver climate resilience, the initial reports were collected and assessed. database results were broad to ensure sufficient coverage and For projects with NBS for climate resilience interventions, greater accuracy. the available project documents were screened in-depth to capture details not reflected in the search terms such as the: Project Selection ● Type of NBS used A list of lending projects with documents—project paper, ● Natural hazards addressed by NBS PADs—mentioning the use of NBS was extracted from the ● Focal thematic type of NBS used Operations Portal Database through an algorithm. The terms ● Specifics on the type of action taken by the NBS used by the algorithm referred to NBS types or represented ● Scale of the NBS, such as local, regional, national effort interchangeable terms that could be used to describe NBS, ● Whether the NBS was hybrid, green, or another type of such as ecosystem-based adaptation. These were chosen due project to their common use in describing a nature-based approach ● Whether the NBS focused on land, coastal, or other areas that differentiates investments from simple restoration, ● Measured and non-measured outcomes expected from conservation, or green space creation, which are not intended the NBS to provide substantive climate resilience benefits. The terms ● Whether there was a focus on community involvement via utilized include: NBS ● Type of operation (Technical Assistance/Advisory and ● ‘natural infrastructure’; ‘nature-based infrastructure’; Analytics/Investment Project Financing Lending) ‘green infrastructure’ ● Funding sources and lending instruments used ● ’nature-based solutions’; ’nature-based’ ● Estimated commitment to NBS components ● ‘natural climate solutions’ ● Amount of International Development Association (IDA) ● ‘bio-engineering’; ‘bioengineering’ funding the project used. ● ‘ecosystem-based’; ‘ecosystem-based adaptation’ ● ‘building with nature’; ‘engineering with nature’ In addition, the project development objective, description ● ’green space’ of project components with NBS, details on gray or non- structural measures included, and lessons learned (from IEG Projects that included these terms in relevant documents ICR Reviews) were collected for each project and entered in the were selected for further scanning and assessment. Projects master data sheet. Brief summaries of the projects were also with additional financing were considered the same project written to ensure there was a quick and relevant synopsis of despite the internal use of additional project codes. The the project available. Projects featured in the previous portfolio selected projects were also compared to the Independent review were re-screened. Those found to have not included Evaluation Group’s (IEG) Reducing Disaster Risks from Natural 17 Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience in the World Bank Portfolio NBS in consequent activities were removed from the portfolio Additionally, total World Bank financial commitments for review. components integrating NBS were determined for each project. Owing to the lack of specific NBS cost data in the screened Below are key terms or definitions for each of the data and project documentation, the lowest possible estimate, typically information points mentioned as they appear on the portfolio the cost of the subcomponent(s) containing NBS was used. The review master sheet. cost of larger components that integrated NBS were included if NBS was prevalent and a critical piece of the investment Operational Data, Financing Sources, and NBS component. Commitment amount was excluded for projects Commitment with large investments that integrated NBS, but NBS made up less than 10 percent of the investment to avoid the drastic Operational data, such as lead global practice; country; region; exaggeration of funding going toward NBS. product type; FCV status of the country; and total WBG commitment, were generated automatically when the project list was extracted from the database. Collaboration with other Hazards Addressed global practices was also noted—that is, lead global practice Common natural hazards addressed by the projects’ NBS working formally with other global practices on the project. were identified for each project. These included the following: These data were transferred to the portfolio review dataset coastal flooding, coastal erosion, river flooding, urban flooding, or a master sheet. Lending instrument, financing sources, IDA landslides, erosion, urban heat, fire, and drought. Landslides and International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and general erosion were joined in the previous methodology (IBRD) contributions, SIDS status of the country, and type but were separated from each other in this update to ensure a of funding—credit, grant, loan— were added to the portfolio clear division between the movement of masses (landslides) or review master sheet manually, based on the information in the individual grains (erosion). associated project documents. The main financing source was included; however, co-financers were also added to the notes when possible. Nature-Based Solution Type The following are NBS types and list of examples identified and used during the portfolio review analysis—comprehensive and inclusive of non-structural measures. Urban Green Spaces Sustainable drainage systems (soakways, retention ponds); filter strips, filter and infiltration trenches, green roofs, bioswales, detention or retention; urban parks; greenbelts. Grassland and Other Vegetation Increase in grasslands (extensive root network), vegetation cover with balanced ratio of root network or aboveground biomass; slope or hillside revegetation; roadside revegetation. Forests Use of forest ecosystems as part of NBS efforts. Rivers and Floodplains River, lake embankment protection or reinforcement: re-vegetation, coir matting, coir rolls, stakes, vegetated riprap, gabions, concrete blocks (hybrid); embankment removal; floodplain restoration or creation; eradication of invasive plants; riverbed restoration, desiltation (minor dredging), in-stream riffles; river course restoration, meander creation or restoration. Ponds, Lakes, Small Water Bodies Construction, protection, or use of ponds, lakes, and other small water bodies (excluding rivers and meanders). Watershed Management The sustainable management of watersheds to protect or restore water supply, quality, or related services. Inland Wetlands Wetland restoration, creation, or protection. Coastal Wetlands (excluding The protection, restoration, or creation of salt marsh, mudflats, lagoons, and other coastal wetland mangroves) ecosystems. Mangroves Mangrove restoration and or protection; planting of native or adapted mangrove species or ecological-based restoration (focusing on reducing causes of degradation). Dunes and Beaches Dune restoration or revegetation; shelter belts. Seagrass and other nearshore Seagrass, kelp bed restoration; oyster or shellfish reefs; other uncommonly used nearshore ecosystems ecosystems for development projects. This classification excludes wetlands, dunes, and coral reefs. 18 Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience in the World Bank Portfolio Coral or Coral Reefs Ecosystems Protection, restoration, or creation of coral reef habitat, or creation of artificial reef. Sustainable Management These are improved methods for managing resources such as agroforestry and farmer-managed Practices and Techniques natural regeneration. Financial Mechanisms The development and use of financial mechanisms such as debt-for-nature swap, payment for ecosystem services, and green bonds to establish protection, restoration, or creation of natural or nature-based features. Policy Development and Reform The development and use of policies as a measure to enable or catalyze the establish of natural or nature-based features. Indirect Measures Other measures that catalyze the establishment of natural or nature-based features, such as coastal management plans, community management plans, capacity building, and awareness raising. Focus of NBS Action Taken These descriptors were used to provide further detail on what the NBS approach intended to do in relation to the natural or nature- based feature in focus. Protecting Setting aside existing natural or semi-natural areas for protection, or for limited and sustainable use, such as establishing a buffer zone to protect against flooding. Creating Creation of ecosystems or nature-based features (i.e., installing or constructing green roofs, urban green parks, lakes). Restoring Enhancing or restoring natural ecosystems that were previously there or existing, such as rehabilitating wetlands, forested areas, wetlands, riverbanks, or dunes for climate resilience purposes. Enabling Actions that enable the uptake of NBS. This includes, but is not limited, to the creation of policies, financing mechanisms, delivery of technical reports, or building general capacity in areas such as sustainable forest and watershed management. For projects that had enabling actions that supported the use and implementation of NBS into development investments, additional data was collected to better understand the type of enabling action. Below you will find the various categories used to tease out this information. Informative and Decision Support The project develops new tools and knowledge to enable NBS. Knowledge Products and Tools Improved Management or Development of management plans that enable or catalyze NBS. This can also refer to investment Developed Investment Plans plans developed (i.e., urban drainage plans, resilience plans). Institutional Strengthening and Strengthening the capacity of institutions, clients, development partners to prepare and implement Capacity-Building Programming NBS. This can include the structural reforms, production of knowledge products, trainings, workshops, and knowledge exchanges. Development of Innovative Creation, implementation, or design of innovative financing mechanism to support NBS. Financing Mechanisms Business Model and Development The project creates or facilitates new business opportunities centered or related to NBS. Policy: Including Development or Development or implementation of specific policies to enable NBS at any level of governance. Review and Reform Policy 19 Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience in the World Bank Portfolio Main NBS Descriptor and Characteristics These project descriptors were chosen as they provide insightful categorization on how the overall project chose to address development challenges, such as through a hybrid or solely green approach, and through the inclusion of non-structural measures. Additionally, this section also differentiates between coastal and land based NBSs. Hybrid vs Green Projects were classified as hybrid solutions if the project’s objectives were achieved by combining standalone nature-based activities and conventional grey infrastructure, or when the objective was to research or pilot such combinations. Purely using NBSs led to the classification of “green”. Conversely, projects with non-structural measures, were classified as other. Coastal vs Inland Coastal refers to NBS related to the marine and coastal environments (coasts, oceans, seas). Land refers to inland solutions (urban green parks, river restoration). Any activities conducted on land or coastline to solve coastal related issues will also be included in coastal (e.g., NBS for preventing saltwater intrusion into freshwater lens of SIDS). Urban vs Rural The goal of this category was to distinguish NBS investments implemented in urban areas, such as cities, or more rural areas such as towns and villages. COVID-19 Given the recent global public health crisis, WBG teams have adjusted projects to ensure they contribute at some level to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. NBS was considered by the WBG as a possible shovel ready and job-creating option for reducing economic impact in communities affect by COVID-19. Projects that directly included the use of NBSs for these reasons were noted. Benefit of NBS Intervention The expected benefits of NBSs were split into two categories: those that were explicitly measured as indicators, and those that were only mentioned in reporting or project information documents as benefits but not included in the results framework. This was done to highlight projects that explicitly included NBS activities in the results framework. Definitions and descriptions classify both explicitly stated and mentioned benefits: Coastal Protection Reduction or prevention of coastal inundation through flood and storm surge, tidal surge; attenuation of wave energy; reduction of wave crest height; wave attenuation or dissipation; absorption of wave energy; dampening of wave stress; moderation of wave impact; decreasing wave surge; reduction or prevention of coastal erosion (or e.g., shoreline, dunes); shoreline accretion and seaward land expansion. Wind Speed Reduction Reduction of wind speed, force. Flood Reduction This classification was used if the project resulted in reduced flooding from any source, including conveyance or drainage or evacuation of flood and storm water; redirection of flood and storm water to nearby natural or nature-based features; temporary on-site storage or retention and filtration of flood water, storm water; infiltration of flood or storm water. Reduced Loss or Protection of Reduction of weather-related damages to infrastructure, including transportation, coastal or river Infrastructure protection, housing, and critical urbans service infrastructure, such as medical, energy. Erosion Control and Slope Reduction or control of soil erosion on slopes and gullies; reduction in the frequency or extent of land Stabilization failures or mass wasting, such as landslides, mudslides, topples, and flows. Soil Conservation or Protection Reduction of topsoil erosion or maintenance of soil profile; reduction of nutrient loss (minerals, organic matter). Water Quality and or Conservation Improvements to the degree to which water is clean, or suitable in quality for uses such as drinking or agriculture; conservation of water quantity and availability; increase in water infiltration and percolation leading to the recharge of the aquifer. Carbon Sequestration Sequestration and storage of carbon for climate change mitigation. General Climate Adaptation or Progress made towards increasing adaptation to climate change. Resilience Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Alternative livelihood strategies such as improvement of forestry, fisheries, or agriculture income; Income or Enhanced Opportunities improvement of forestry, fisheries, or agriculture production or production methods (e.g., climate- smart agriculture); diversification of forestry, fisheries, or agriculture livelihoods; or income from non-timber forest products (e.g., bee keeping, other non-timer forest products). Socioeconomic Status Specific improvements to the socioeconomic status of women, such as higher incomes, more Improvement for Women or opportunities, enhanced livelihoods, empowerment, and social equality. Vulnerable Groups 20 Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience in the World Bank Portfolio Other Livelihoods, such as Tourism Service sector employment; off-farm wage labor; improvement of market access; sustainable or and Recreation eco-tourism; increase in recreation-derived incomes. Public Health and Quality of Live or Improvements in quality of life such as through improved mental and physical health, including Livability improved opportunities for recreation, exercise, and other leisure activities. This classification also focuses more on the long-term health benefits and quality of life that NBSs scan provide to beneficiaries. Biodiversity and Protection of Increase in species diversity and abundance, enhancement of populations of rare or endangered Natural Areas species, and other conservation benefits, such as protection of cultural heritage. Reduced Heat Reduction of heat waves, high temperatures, especially in urban setting, and the improvement of general urban microclimates (e.g., through blue infrastructure and urban forests or trees). Includes reduced consumption of energy using nature-based elements that improve infrastructural services (e.g., tree shading and green roofs to reduce air conditioning costs). Reduced Fires Reduced risk of uncontrolled wildfires or unnatural fires. Increased Stakeholder Capacity Strengthening the ability of communities, governments, World Bank staff, development partners, or others to prepare, implement, or replicate projects that result in better management of resources and hence, greater prosperity. Emphasis on Community Engagement and Gender planning and monitoring of afforestation efforts, implement participatory alternative livelihood activities, and build local The World Bank employs various citizen engagement capacity for marine conservation, among others (figure A.1). mechanisms in lending projects and aims to increase the degree in which implementation involves community participation. Additionally, this portfolio review compared the list of As such, this classification was used to describe how closely NBS projects to the World Bank’s Gender Tag Portal to identify the projects examined involved communities, given that NBSs projects that meaningfully integrate gender considerations in are often highly dependent on local ownership for continued the project design. A project only receives a Gender Tag if the success. In this analysis, only projects that moved beyond project document: (i) identifies a gender gap that activities inform and consult citizen engagement mechanisms were can address; (ii) defines specific interventions to mitigate the considered as having an emphasis on community involvement. issue(s) as part of the main components with lasting results This includes projects that involve local communities in the beyond the project period; and (iii) includes an indicator in Figure A.1. Level of citizen participation in engagement. Empow r Citi ns hold fin l d cision-m kin L v l of int r ction Coll bor t pow r Citi ns r r sponsibl for som Coll bor t d cisions Citi ns r r sponsibl for som Coll bor t d cisions Citi ns r r sponsibl for som Proj ct consid r d in this n l sis d cisions L v l of Citi n P rticip tion in D cision M kin Source: Author derived. 21 Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience in the World Bank Portfolio the results framework defining the outcomes expected from ● Limitations with term searches and definitions: the planned intervention. As such, activities related to citizen Terminology limits the number of projects to review, but too engagement, due diligence, and social safeguard requirements, many terms can produce irrelevant projects that burdens as well as indicators that only report the number or percentage the review process. The terms used in this review were of female beneficiaries are not sufficient to receive a Gender decided based on the high likelihood that NBS projects had Tag. used these terms within project documents. While this is a limitation, it is unlikely that projects with NBSs would not Limitations include these terms. Additionally, the focus and definition of NBS also narrows the search. NBS definition can vary Various aspects limit this methodology and should be by global practice and institutions. Here we use a specific acknowledged when interpreting the data and results. These definition based on the focus on NBS for climate resilience. limitations and how they were addressed are summarized: ● Limitations with financial commitment amounts: NBSs ● Limits with appraisal-stage documents: The review was do not often have their own earmarked budget, which conducted primarily using project documents created at means they are included as part of larger components. the appraisal stage. As such, many projects had not yet In many cases, the funding solely toward NBSs cannot conducted technical studies to determine feasibility. While be determined. Therefore, the lowest possible estimate, few projects that include NBS in PADs will later forgo the typically the cost of the subcomponent(s) containing use of NBS as the project continues, projects should be the NBS, is used as the NBS commitment. The costs of rechecked as activities are completed to ensure that those larger components that integrate NBS are also included if projects did indeed implement NBSs. For active projects, NBS were prevalent and critical elements. Commitments the interpretation of funding figures and trends in this are excluded for projects with large investments that brief is based on approved commitments and components integrated NBS, but NBSs made up less than 10 percent at the World Bank Board approval stage, while closed of the investment to avoid the drastic exaggeration of projects report the final funding figures included in ICRs. funding going toward NBSs. In this portfolio review, the ● Limits to tracking NBS projects: No institutional-wide most accurate interpretation of financing toward NBSs NBS tag or sole theme exists to easily track projects with is the “amount of financing for components integrating NBS, so it cannot be assured that projects found through NBS”. this established methodology represent all the World Bank projects with NBS for climate resilience investments. Despite this limitation, quality checking has shown Notes that this method is effective in capturing most, if not all a. https://ieg.worldbankgroup.org/sites/default/files/Data/ projects. Evaluation/files/Reducing_Disaster_Risks_v2.pdf 22 Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience in the World Bank Portfolio Appendix B: Additional Details on NBS Type and Region by Global Practice This appendix is intended to provide additional information on which types of investments each global practice is implementing in the various regions. 1. Urban, Resilience and Land (URL) W t rsh d M n m nt Inl nd W tl nds 4% 2% For sts Riv rs nd 3% Floodpl ins 5% Middl E st nd Gr ssl nd nd Oth r V t tion North Afric 2% 3% South Asi 14% Urb n Gr n Sp c s Urb n Gr n 2% Sp c s Dun s nd B ch s 30% 3% L tin Am ric Afric nd C ribb n 44% Ponds, L k s, Sm ll 9% W t r Bodi AFR s 7% Europ nd C ntr l Asi Inl nd W tl nds 7% 4% Oth r Gr ssl nd nd 7% oth r v t tion E st Asi nd 8% P cific M n rov s 44% Indir ct Non-Structur l M sur s For sts 6% 3% 4% Sust in bl M n m nt Riv rs nd Floodpl ins ( x. A rofor str ) 6% 2% URL Proj cts b NBS T p URL Proj cts b R ion 2. Environment, Natural Resources, and the Blue Economy (ENB) Fin nci l Polic D v lopm nt M ch nisms S r ss nd R form Co st l W tl nds 1% 3% 3% ( xcludin m n rov s) Gr ssl nd nd 5% oth r v t tion Cor l or Cor l R f 8% Middl E st nd Ecos st ms North Afric South Asi 5% 3% 11% Ponds, L k s, Dun s & B ch s For sts Sm ll W t r 3% 15% Bodi s 1% L tin Am ric Inl nd W tl nds nd C ribb n 4% 11% Afric Riv rs & Floodpl ins 49% Oth r 9% 3% Europ nd C ntr l Asi 6% W t rsh d Indir ct Non-Structur l M n m nt M sur s E st Asi And P cific M n rov s Sust in bl 11% 20% 7% M n m nt 9% ( x. A rofor str ) 15% ENB Proj cts b NBS T p ENB Proj cts b R ion 23 Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience in the World Bank Portfolio 3. Water Inl nd Urb n Gr n South Asi W tl nds Sp c s 10% 11% 11% Afric 30% Gr ssl nd nd oth r v t tion L tin Am ric W t rsh d 11% nd C ribb n M n m nt 20% 22% For sts 17% Europ nd E st Asi nd P cific C ntr l Asi 20% 20% Riv rs & Floodpl ins 28% W t r Proj cts b NBS T p W t r Proj cts b R ion 4. Transport Afric Indir ct Non- 14% Structur l M sur s1 4% South Asi 43% E st Asi nd P cific Gr ssl nd nd oth r 43% v t tion 86% Tr nsport Proj cts b NBS T p Tr nsport Proj cts b R ion 5. Agriculture and Food Fin nci l M ch nisms 8% Inl nd Afric W tl nds 25% 8% Indir ct Non- Gr ssl nd nd oth r Structur l M sur s v t tion 9% 25% South Asi 50% W t rsh d M n m nt For sts EAP 25% 25% 25% A ricultur Proj cts b NBS T p A ricultur Proj cts b R ion 24 Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience in the World Bank Portfolio 6. Health, Nutrition, and Population (HNP) Gr ssl nd nd oth r Urb n Gr n Sp c s v t tion 50% 50% Afric 100% HNP Proj cts b NBS T p HNP Proj cts b R ion 7. Social Protection and Jobs (SPJ) For sts 33% Urb n Gr n Sp c s 34% Gr ssl nd nd oth r Afric v t tion 100% 33% SPJ Proj cts b NBS T p SPJ Proj cts b R ion 25 Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience in the World Bank Portfolio Appendix C: List of NBS Projects This appendix provides the list of identified World Bank projects with NBS components from FY12–21 chronologically. Project ID Number Name Country Global Practice Area (Lead) Approval FY P112615 (AF: P163153) Kiribati Adaptation Program - Kiribati Urban, Resilience and Land 2012 Phase III Project (KAP III) P116398 Medium Cities Development Vietnam Urban, Resilience and Land 2012 Project P117617 (AF: P127866) Malawi: Shire River Basin Malawi Environment, Natural 2012 Management Program (Phase-I) Resources, and the Blue Project Economy P122735 Metro Colombo Urban Sri Lanka Urban, Resilience and Land 2012 Development Project P122841 (AF: P152150, Stormwater Mgmt. and Climate Senegal Urban, Resilience and Land 2012 P158415) Change Adaptation Project P123201 (AF: P146059) Cities and Climate Change Mozambique Urban, Resilience and Land 2012 P123922 (AF: P124198) Integrated Disaster and Land Togo Environment, Natural 2012 Management Project Resources and the Blue Economy P124905 (AF: P126549, Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Nigeria Environment, Natural 2012 P145212, P164082) Management Project Resources and the Blue Economy P125669 (AF: P165397) Niger Community Action Project Niger Environment, Natural 2012 for Climate Resilience Resources and the Blue Economy P121271 Integrated Coastal Zone Morocco Environment, Natural 2013 Management Resources and the Blue Economy P122694 (AF: P153709) Environmental Land Management Tajikistan Environment, Natural 2013 and Rural Livelihoods Project Resources and the Blue Economy P126504 Enhancing the Climate Resilience Samoa Transport 2013 of the West Coast Road P126856 CN-Jiangxi Poyang Lake Basin China Agriculture and Food 2013 and Ecological Economic Zone Small Town Development Project P127015 Climate Resilient Participatory Bangladesh Environment, Natural 2013 Afforestation and Reforestation Resources and the Blue Project Economy P128276 Coastal Embankment Bangladesh Urban, Resilience and Land 2013 Improvement Project - Phase I (CEIP-I) P127088 Adaptation of Nicaragua’s Water Nicaragua Environment, Natural 2013 Supplies to Climate Change Resources and the Blue Economy P123933 Capturing Coral Reef and Related Philippines Environment, Natural 2014 Ecosystem Services (CCRES) Resources and the Blue Economy P126596 Enhancing the Climate Resilience Samoa Environment, Natural 2014 of Coastal Resources and Resources and the Blue Communities Project Economy 26 Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience in the World Bank Portfolio Project ID Number Name Country Global Practice Area (Lead) Approval FY P129156 (AF: P169003, Sudan Sustainable Natural Sudan Environment, Natural 2014 P161304) Resources Management Project Resources and the Blue Economy P129516 Natural Resources Management Mali Environment, Natural 2014 in a Changing Climate in Mali Resources and the Blue Economy P131235 Uttarakhand Decentralized India Agriculture and Food 2014 Watershed Development II Project P130682 BR Espirito Santo Integrated Brazil Water 2014 Sustainable Water Management Project P132100 (Parent: P098538) Sustainable Land and Water Ghana Environment, Natural 2014 Management Resources and the Blue Economy P133133 (AF: P133410) Sustainable Land Management Ethiopia Environment, Natural 2014 Project Resources and the Blue Economy P145268 (AF: P145932, Niger Disaster Risk Management Niger Urban, Resilience and Land 2014 P167352) and Urban Development Project P147514 Madagascar Emergency Food Madagascar Agriculture and Food 2014 Security and Social Protection Project P123134 Dar es Salaam Metropolitan Tanzania Urban, Resilience and Land 2015 Development Project P131408 BZ Marine Conservation and Belize Environment, Natural 2015 Climate Adaptation Resources and the Blue Economy P129640 Bolivia Climate Resilience - Bolivia Environment, Natural 2015 Integrated Basin Management Resources, and the Blue Economy P131464 Landscape Approach to Forest Rwanda Environment, Natural 2015 Restoration and Conservation Resources and the Blue Economy P143492 BR DGM for Indigenous People Brazil Environment, Natural 2015 and Traditional Communities Resources and the Blue Economy P145559 (AF: P176704) Coastal Region Water Security Kenya Water 2015 and Climate Resilience Project P153301 Climate Change Adaptation Maldives Environment, Natural 2015 Project Resources and the Blue Economy P154847 Andhra Pradesh Disaster India Urban, Resilience and Land 2015 Recovery Project P147460 Odra-Vistula Flood Management Poland Water 2016 Project P149620 (AF: P168940) Moz Agriculture and Natural Mozambique Agriculture and Food 2016 Resources Landscape Management Project P152851 Can Tho Urban Development and Vietnam Urban, Resilience and Land 2016 Resilience P153544 (AF: P159976) Mekong Delta Integrated Climate Vietnam Environment, Natural 2016 Resilience and Sustainable Resources and the Blue Livelihoods Project Economy P155350 (AF: P173087) Sindh Resilience Project Pakistan Urban, Resilience and Land 2016 27 Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience in the World Bank Portfolio Project ID Number Name Country Global Practice Area (Lead) Approval FY P146965 Jamaica Disaster Vulnerability Jamaica Urban, Resilience and Land 2016 Reduction Project P149485 Ningbo Sustainable Urbanization China Urban, Resilience and Land 2017 Project P156210 Cameroon: Inclusive and Resilient Cameroon Urban, Resilience and Land 2017 Cities Development Project P157127 Forest Sector Modernization and Vietnam Environment, Natural 2017 Coastal Resilience Enhancement Resources and the Blue Project Economy P158194 Myanmar Flood and Landslide Myanmar Urban, Resilience and Land 2017 Emergency Recovery Project P159397 Vietnam Scaling up Urban Vietnam Urban, Resilience and Land 2017 Upgrading Project P160096 (AF: P172014) Pacific Resilience Project II under Marshall Islands Environment, Natural 2017 the Pacific Resilience Program Resources and the Blue Economy P160929 Cambodia Southeast Asia Cambodia Urban, Resilience and Land 2017 Disaster Risk Management Project P161392 (AF: P171877) Malawi Resilience and Disaster Malawi Urban, Resilience and Land 2017 Risk Management Project P150523 Tanzania: Resilient Natural Tanzania Environment, Natural 2018 Resource Management for Resources and the Blue Tourism and Growth Economy P153814 Metro Manila Flood Management Philippines Water 2018 Project P158622 Hezhou Urban Water China Water 2018 Infrastructure and Environment Improvement Project P158805 Lower Shire Valley Landscape Malawi Water 2018 Project P159756 Integrated Urban Development Madagascar Urban, Resilience and Land 2018 and Resilience Project for Greater Antananarivo P159870 Zhejiang Qiandao Lake and Xin’an China Environment, Natural 2018 River Basin Water Resources Resources and the Blue and Ecological Environment Economy Protection Project P160613 (AF: P171745) Burundi Landscape Restoration Burundi Environment, Natural 2018 and Resilience Project Resources and the Blue Economy P160930 (AF: P170945) Lao PDR Southeast Asia Disaster Lao People’s Urban, Resilience and Land 2018 Risk Management Project Democratic Republic P162337 (AF: P168908, West Africa Coastal Areas Western Africa Environment, Natural 2018 P176313) Resilience Investment Project AF Resources and the Blue BN-TG Economy P163452 Ethiopia Urban Institutional and Ethiopia Urban, Resilience and Land 2018 Infrastructure Development Program P163782 Integrated Water Management Uganda Water 2018 and Development Project P163924 Pakistan Hydromet and Climate Pakistan Urban, Resilience and Land 2018 Services Project (PHCSP) 28 Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience in the World Bank Portfolio Project ID Number Name Country Global Practice Area (Lead) Approval FY P166538 (AF: P170954) Senegal - Saint-Louis Emergency Senegal Urban, Resilience and Land 2018 Recovery and Resilience Project P161568 Bangladesh Sustainable Coastal Bangladesh Environment, Natural 2019 and Marine Fisheries Resources and the Blue Economy P161842 Sao Tome e Principe Transport Sao Tome e Transport 2019 Sector Development and Coastal Principe Protection Project P163383 (AF: P172462) Ethiopia Resilient Landscapes and Ethiopia Environment, Natural 2019 Livelihoods Project Resources and the Blue Economy P164330 Greater Accra Resilient and Ghana Urban, Resilience and Land 2019 Integrated Development Project P164764 Transforming Landscapes for Zambia Environment, Natural 2019 Resilience and Development in Resources and the Blue Zambia Economy P165344 (AF: 172351) Cambodia Sustainable Landscape Cambodia Environment, Natural 2019 and Ecotourism Project Resources and the Blue Economy P167359 Benin - Stormwater Management Benin Urban, Resilience and Land 2019 and Urban Resilience Project P170612 (Parent: P161915) Sustainable Cities Project 2 - Turkey Urban, Resilience and Land 2019 Additional Financing P165973 Saramacca Canal System Suriname Urban, Resilience and Land 2019 Rehabilitation Project P165861 Bolivia Urban Resilience Bolivia Urban, Resilience and Land 2020 P155203 Timor-Leste Branch Roads Timor-Leste Transport 2020 Project P163328 Himachal Pradesh State Roads India Transport 2020 Transformation Project P168951 Cap Haitien Urban Development Haiti Urban, Resilience and Land 2020 Project P166865 Sri Lanka Integrated Watershed Sri Lanka Water 2020 and Water Resources Management Project P167350 Green National Highways Corridor India Transport 2020 Project P167804 Enhancing Coastal and Ocean India Environment, Natural 2020 Resource Efficiency Resources and the Blue Economy P168097 Meghalaya Integrated Transport India Transport 2020 Project P168308 Urban Resilience and Solid Waste Cote d’Ivoire Urban, Resilience and Land 2020 Management Project P168862 (AF: P175192) Sava and Drina Rivers Corridors Western Balkans Water 2020 Integrated Development Program P170874 Indonesia Disaster Resilience Indonesia Urban, Resilience and Land 2020 Initiatives Project (IDRIP) P171361 Comoros Post-Kenneth Recovery Comoros Urban, Resilience and Land 2020 and Resilience Project P171700 (AF: P177314) Vinh Long Urban Development Vietnam Urban, Resilience and Land 2020 and Climate Resilience Project 29 Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience in the World Bank Portfolio Project ID Number Name Country Global Practice Area (Lead) Approval FY P171778 Water Supply and Wastewater Dominican Water 2021 Services Improvement Project Republic P165017 Second Rwanda Urban Rwanda Urban, Resilience and Land 2021 Development Project P166020 West Bengal Inland Water India Urban, Resilience and Land 2021 Transport, Logistics and Spatial Development Project P168608 (AF: P173676) Resilient Urban Sierra Leone Sierra Leone Urban, Resilience and Land 2021 Project P168613 Guinea Natural Resources, Mining Guinea Environment, Natural 2021 and Environmental Management Resources and the Blue Project Economy P169930 Cambodia Road Connectivity Cambodia Transport 2021 Improvement P171141 Kinshasa Multisector Congo, Urban, Resilience and Land 2021 Development and Urban Democratic Resilience Project Republic of P172153 Rwanda NDC Deep Dive: Rwanda Environment, Natural 2021 Advancing Financial Innovation to Resources and the Blue scale up Climate Action Economy P172562 Turkey Resilient Landscape Turkey Environment, Natural 2021 Integration Project (TULIP) Resources and the Blue Economy P173259 (Parent: P162929) Medium-size Cities Integrated Uzbekistan Urban, Resilience and Land 2021 Urban Development Project Additional Financing P173980 (AF: P177076) Nigeria COVID-19 Preparedness Nigeria Health, Nutrition, and 2021 and Response Project Population P174294 (Parent: P171040) COVID-19 Response Additional Mozambique Urban, Resilience and Land 2021 Financing P174348 (AF: P176888) Emergency Agriculture and Food Afghanistan Agriculture and Food 2021 Supply Project P174385 Second Ethiopia Resilient Ethiopia Environment, Natural 2021 Landscapes and Livelihoods Resources and the Blue Project Economy P174546 Emergency Locust Response Eastern Africa Agriculture and Food 2021 Project P175588 Ghana Productive Safety Net Ghana Social Protection and Jobs 2021 Project 2 P175791 (AF: P178270) Integrated Urban Services Yemen, Republic Urban, Resilience and Land 2021 Emergency Project II of P175830 Stormwater Management and Senegal Urban, Resilience and Land 2021 Climate Change Adaptation Project 2 P175894 Seismic Resilience and Energy Turkey Urban, Resilience and Land 2021 Efficiency in Public Buildings Project P171449 Maputo Urban Transformation Mozambique Urban, Resilience and Land 2021 Project 30