social policy
of development finance institutions

Contents

Asian Development Bank
    Policy
    Implementation Resources

World Bank
    Policy
    Implementation Resources

International Finance Corporation (IFC)
    Policy
    Implementation Resources

Context

It can be challenging for clients to identify the range of social policy that may be applicable to a given project or development initiative. Adding a layer of complexity to any discussion of 'social policy' among international financial institutions (IFIs) are those policies that have an apparent 'social' orientation, but which are operational policies that come to bear only on internal bank operations.

In recent years, safeguards policies have been receiving considerable media attention as IFIs continue to invest time and resources in updating their safeguard policy frameworks. Yet safeguards are but one aspect of social policy. Other aspects include social development policy (including initiatives to mainstream gender-sensitive development; initiatives to ensure the participation and empowerment of people and communities affected by development processes), social protection policy (including social assistance and welfare service programs including child protection and micro- and area based schemes to address poverty, and vulnerability; social insurance programs to cushion risks associated with unemployment, ill-health, disability, work-related injury and old age; and labour market policies and programs designed to generate employment, improve working conditions), human rights law, etc. Unfortunately, IFI institutional treatments of social issues (such as web and print publications touting institutional contributions to social development) seldom help to situate different institutional initiatives and activities within their greater policy contexts.

The aim of this work is to help track the evolution and applicability of development policy and to help disambiguate and nuance terms and concepts.