Paul G Lawrence is a social impact assessment and stakeholder esngagement consultant with over 25 years of experience working on civil society and social development issues. For the last 20 years, he has specialised in natural resources and infrastructure development, and since 2021 has served as Principal Social Adviser for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), managing social risks and impacts in various sectors for both private and government clients.

As a consultant, Paul has designed and implemented work plans for Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) studies and stakeholder engagement to comply with international best practice, developing bespoke training programmes for client staff and consultants. He has led the social and engagement aspects of ESIAs for projects in the Central African Republic, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Kenya, and more, and has managed socio-economic baseline research and impact analysis for major oil, gas, and mining developments across Eurasia and Africa.

Paul’s experience includes senior roles at EBRD, Golder Associates, and as Director of Shelburne Consulting, delivering advisory, due diligence, and training on social performance, stakeholder engagement, and social investment. He has also worked extensively with NGOs in the UK and US, focusing on conflict resolution and community development in the Caucasus and former Soviet Union, and has managed multi-country programmes on civil society and ICT for development.

He holds an MA in Public and International Affairs from Princeton University and a BA in English Literature and Mass Communication from Principia College. Paul speaks fluent Russian and has lived in Russia and the South Caucasus for over four years, including two years as a US Peace Corps Volunteer in Astrakhan, Russia.