Category A: If the project likely to have significant environmental impacts that are sensitive, diverse or unprecedented. These impacts may affect an area broader than the communities benefiting from infrastructure investments.
Category B: If the projects potential adverse environmental impacts on human populations or
environmentally important areas are less adverse than those of Category A projects. These impacts are
site-specific; few if any of them are irreversible; and in most cases mitigation measures can be
designed more readily than for Category A projects.
Category C: If the project is likely to have minimal or no adverse environmental impacts. Once the
project is assessed and determined as Category C, no further action would be required. Some examples
of Category C projects include: Education (i.e. capacity-building, etc., not including school
construction) Family planning (World Bank 1999) etc.
All projects financed by the Banks should also comply with the requirements of relevant multilateral
environmental agreements (MEA) to which the host country is a party, including the Montreal
Protocol (on ozone depleting substances), the UN Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto
Protocol (on greenhouse gas emissions) and the Aarhus Convention (on environmental information).
All international organizations and bilateral agencies frequently update their procedures and it is important to obtain the current version from the organization.