Applied learning for planning, designing, and implementing nature-based solutions
The Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) Training Program equips practitioners with approaches, tools, and hands-on knowledge to integrate NBS into development planning and climate resilience strategies for World Bank-financed projects. It supports task teams, governments, and public institutions to turn NBS ambition into practical, bankable climate resilience investments for World Bank-supported development operations. Working with ministries, infrastructure agencies, water authorities, and planning departments, the program helps translate concepts into implementable World Bank-financed projects.
Through tailored courses, lessons, and practical exercises, participants develop the technical and strategic skills to plan, implement, and sustainably manage effective NBS within development planning, project preparation, and investment processes across sectors. Training topics covers real-world applications ranging from flood protection and land restoration to urban cooling and biodiversity enhancement.
The NBS Training Program supports the World Bank, its clients, and development partners in identifying NBS investment opportunities and understanding how to plan, design, implement, and sustainably manage NBS . The program helps institutions assess the benefits of NBS for people and ecosystems while strengthening the enabling environment required to advance resilient and sustainable development across World Bank operations.
Challenge
Despite increasing interest in NBS, many stakeholders still need to build up their capacity to effectively plan, implement, and sustainably manage these solutions. This limits their ability to address disaster and climate and resilience challenges through NBS. This gap is further widened by the limited availability of applied, context-specific training, which constrains the effective use and integration of NBS across diverse settings.
Solution
The NBS Training Program provides a dynamic and adaptable approach to address capacity gaps by combining flexible training methodologies with specialized expertise. Through collaborative and participatory learning, the program equips stakeholders with the skills and confidence to effectively plan, design, and implement NBS initiatives within World Bank-financed projects. Emphasizing experiential learning and actionable insights, the program translates interest in NBS into impactful, sustainable solutions, that strengthen climate resilience across sectors and at local, national, and regional levels .
Thematic Modules
The training program is broken down into several cross-cutting and NBS-specific modules.
A.
Introduction to NBS
B.
Setting the Stage for NBS
C.
NBS, People, and Participatory Methods
D.
Economics and Finance for NBS
E.
NBS Opportunity Scan (NBSOS) & Other Spatial Analysis Tools
F.
Selecting NBS and Context Specific Design
G.
Managing and Monitoring NBS
1.
NBS for Cities
2.
NBS for Land Restoration and Landscape Resilience
3.
NBS for Agriculture
4.
NBS for Mountainous and Hilly Landscape Resilience
5.
NBS for Integrated Water Resource Management
6.
NBS for Coastal and Marine Resilience
7.
NBS for Arid Landscapes and Drought Resilience
Knowledge
The program builds on global best-practices and World Bank expertise, drawing from an expanding knowledge base of case studies, tools, and publications including the Catalogue of Nature Based Solutions for Urban Resilience, Catalogue of Nature Based Solutions for Coastal Resilience, and the Guideline for Assessing the Benefits and Costs of Nature Based Solutions for Climate Resilience. By combining global knowledge with applied learning, the program strengthens the institutional capacity, enables NBS uptake, and advances the integration of scalable, sustainable, NBS investments into World Bank-supported development planning and financing.
Photo: Field Exercise at the 'Forum on Urban and Peri-Urban Nature-Based Solutions', Rwanda, 2026. Source: World Bank
Photo: Mapping exercise at the 'Forum on Urban and Peri-Urban Nature-Based Solutions', Rwanda, 2026. Source: World Bank
Structure
The NBS Training Program is structured as a flexible, modular framework tailored to meet the diverse needs of World Bank clients. NBS trainers and technical specialists use the foundational training content and pedagogical approaches to create customized participatory training courses and lessons according to the local context and needs of each course. By adapting content to local contexts and priorities, this initiative empowers professionals with the knowledge and skills to enhance climate resilience and disaster risk reduction through NBS and to better integrate NBS into development investment planning.
Impact and Results
Since 2024, the NBS Training Program has supported client countries across regions to strengthen institutional capacity and advance implementation-ready NBS concepts.
Innsbruck Workshop
A 4-day event summary video that highlights the site visits, learning, and outcomes from the NBS on mountains workshop held in Innsbruck, Austria for September 9 – 12, 2024. The workshop was provided for participants from 6 countries in disaster risk management, environment, and transport sectors from Caucasus and Central Asian countries: Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
Steps for preparing and delivering a tailored NBS training
The NBS Training Program follows these core steps to rapidly and effectively customize and implement a tailored training course for World Bank-financed projects.
Note: This training is developed specifically for World Bank engagements and is not for general public enrollment. The following steps serve as a guide for World Bank teams to submit requests.
Training Request
Obtain a training request from a World Bank Country office, task teams, or staff.
Training Needs Assessments
Conduct a training needs assessments with World Bank requesting staff and intended trainees.
Technical Experts Onboarded
Identify and confirm the appropriate technical experts required to customize and deliver the training course.
Course Customization
4a. Develop customized course program outline.
4b. Customize lessons, training materials, and tools for the local context and needs.
4c. Trial and finalize customized training content.
Training Course Logistics Finalized
Finalize course dates, venues, site tours, and all other logistics.
Training Course Implementation
Implement the training course on-site over 2–5 days with customized lessons, participatory group work, site visits, and applied exercises.Trainee feedback will be obtained for finetuning the NBS Training Program.
Contact Us
Interested in a training course for a World Bank-financed project? Get in touch to learn more.
*Please note that training inquiries are solely intended for World Bank engagements and are not open to external public inquiries. Only World Bank task teams will receive responses to inquiries.
