Community Resource Exchange

• Public development banks (such as the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the African Development Bank, or export-import agencies like China Export-Import Bank)
• Transnational commercial banks (e.g.: Standard Chartered Bank Corporation)
• International companies and corporations investing abroad (e.g.: Nestle, Indorama, Barrick Mining, etc).

Development projects include, for example, activities in the areas of energy, mining, infrastructure, agribusiness, forestry, conservation, water, health, education or housing, both in the public and private sectors.

When calls for proposals are opened, communities can submit proposals for collaborations with financial support (see details below). During the rest of the year, when there are no open calls for proposals, we can facilitate non-financial support.

Depending on the communities’ needs and priorities, that will be discussed during a call with one of the CRE Regional Facilitators, we can facilitate support by:

• providing information;
• connecting communities with potential allies and other CRE collaborators who can offer guidance or accompany  in advancing the community’s struggle;
• organizing capacity building initiatives;
• facilitating peer-to-peer learning to share experiences, strategies and achievements;
• providing small grants or facilitating connections to other funding sources.
• providing tailored communications support to visibilize the community’s struggle at the local, regional or global level

Our support covers the following strategy areas:

• community organizing;
• corporate and follow the money research;
• scientific and technical support;
• access to remedy;
• advocacy and campaigns;
• media engagement and communications;
• security support. 

For example, if a community sees a billboard suddenly announcing a dam project in their territory (funded by the Asian Development Bank), the CRE could support in different ways:

• Information: Help the community access  information about the impacts of the dam or  to find out who is behind the project  (e.g.: by connecting them to groups like the Early Warning System, that monitors projects funded by development banks, or assisting with financial research to map the other companies/financiers involved).
• Linkages:  If the community gets information and decides to take action, the CRE can discuss potential linkages with allies (e.g.: networks that are engaging the Asian Development Bank in their advocacy) and possible strategies. In some cases, the community already knows which strategy to pursue. In others, the CRE can brainstorm with them about the different options available.
• Collective learning and capacity building: Recognizing the expertise of the communities, the CRE can also support peer-to-peer learning exchanges and capacity-building sessions (e.g.: a “learning circle” on community organizing or on advocacy with international financiers, where other communities impacted by ADB-funded dams share their experiences).
• Financial support: when we open calls for proposals, we can provide small grants that act as a “seed fund” to implement activities.

Given the deliberative process by which CRE grants are awarded and the time needed to assess the proposals these grants  are not intended for urgent emergency cases where support is needed immediately.

• livelihood projects;
• water and sanitation project;
• medical emergencies;
• other activities not related to projects funded by development or with international investments.

We believe that these projects are important, but these areas fall outside our scope of work.

Communities can submit proposals for financial support when there are calls for proposals. Regional or global calls for proposals are usually opened twice a year, and they will be posted on this page. The calls can be either open or can be targeted for specific groups, topics or strategies.

The Regional Grant Working Groups, made up by members of the CRE team and a group of collaborators from the different regions, is ultimately responsible for deciding who to award financial support. Further information in this infographic.

Outside the calls for proposals, communities can still apply to collaborate with the CRE. However, financial support is only awarded through the calls for proposals.

• Non-financial support: we can facilitate linkages with possible allies, learning opportunities, sharing resources and information, and supporting any activity that falls within our strategy areas.
• Linkages with or referrals to other organizations that provide small grants: the CRE can help you understand the grant application process and requirements for other funds, and can also review your proposals so that you can potentially access funds from other groups.

We are constantly mapping potential collaborators (especially experts in specific strategy areas) to ensure that we can support communities once they request linkages.

You can also opt to become a “national” or “strategic” node.”Strategy nodes” share their expertise on their specific areas of expertise (e.g.: financial mapping, Chinese finance, international law, etc). National nodes perform three key functions:

• help the CRE conduct due diligence on communities requesting assistance;
• connect communities seeking support to the CRE;
• conduct outreach activities, in partnership with the CRE, so that more communities can be connected to the CRE.

• Medea Turashvili – mturashvili@rightsindevelopment.org [Asia and Caucasus]
• Faith Kivuti – fkivuti@rightsindevelopment.org [Africa]
• Claudia Romero – cromero@rightsindevelopment.org [Latin America]