This article aims to review the increased attention and initiative which the multilateral development banks (MDBs)—more specifically the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB) —have taken in recent years with respect to environmental concerns. Although the MDBs made some responses to environmental concern during the 1970s and 80s, until the late 1980s the resources devoted to this area were rather limited, and the banks came under increasing criticism for their lack of more substantial commitment. Since 1988 fundamental staffing and structural changes have brought environmental considerations, both into the evaluation of all project proposals and also as an approach to planning in its own right. There is still much uncertainty regarding the appropriateness of various techniques available to improve environmental management in developing countries. The article reviews the potential use of economic instruments, ‘command and control’ regulatory approaches, and the importance of macroeconomic policy as determinant of the success of environmental programmes. Developing country governments are increasingly prioritizing the environment, and bank efforts are currently focusing heavily on programmes that address poverty and the environment simultaneously. But it will be necessary to carry out adequate research, monitoring and evaluation of current programmes if these are to progress satisfactorily.

• Environmental policy should be inspired by the recognition that the environment is everyone’s business; all social actors must be involved in environmental management • Policies that implicitly subsidize a wasteful and environmentally destructive use of resources are pervasive: reforms should command a high priority on economic as well as environmental grounds • Compared to regulation, market-based instruments are little used but they can be more efficient; they can also produce revenues to finance environmental improvements • Regulatory effectiveness can be improved by: relying more on preventive measures, including environmental impact assessment; targeting large polluters; strengthening enforcement; and favouring mediation over litigation

. A growing recognition of the need to delimit the role of the government, to promote the market framework, and to rely on the private sector as the engine of growth, offers the prospect of a new beginning in rural development in Africa. . Rural people must take a more dominant role, both in shaping their economic prospects and in assuming the responsibility for a high quality of stewardship of natural resources. . To help to bring about such an empowerment of the people, governments and the donors will need to undertake some drastic reforms in the old systems and habits of governance.

• La politique de l'environnement devrait être fondée sur le principe selon lequel l'environnement est l'affaire de chacun ; tous les acteurs sociaux doivent prendre part à la gestion de l'environnement • Les politiques qui encouragent mplicitement, par des subventions, une exploitation des ressources naturelles abusive et préjudiciable à l'environnement sont fréquentes : les réformes devraient donner aussi bien la priorité aux questions économiques qu'à celles concernant l'environnement • Les instruments de marché sont moins employés que la réglementation mais ils peuvent être plus efficaces ; ils peuvent également constituer une source de revenus pour le financement de la protection de l'environnement • Il est possible d'améliorer l'efficacité des réglementations en mettant l'accent sur les mesures préventives, notamment les études d'impact sur l'environnement, en identifiant les gros pollueurs, en renforçant la mise en oeuvre des mesures adoptées et en encourageant la médiation aux dépens du recours à la poursuite judiciaire

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