A group of civil society organizations from several countries in the region, partners and allies of the Coalition for Human Rights in Development, addressed an open letter to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) regarding the current selection process for the Bank’s presidency.
The organizations urged those who make up the IDB Board of Governors, representatives of the 48 member countries, to take advantage of this opportunity so that the person who is selected is someone with probity, capable of leading the transformations that the institution requires today and of facing Latin America’s social and environmental challenges.
In addition to asking for a clear job description, that the transparency of the selection process is guaranteed, and that the candidates are committed to the effective implementation of the IDB’s Environmental and Social Policy Framework, civil society organizations are exhorting the IDB to include the following criteria:
- Knowledge of the Latin American region and experience working with its institutions and communities.
- Commitment to human rights and sustainable development and knowledge of and commitment to the work of defenders.
- Experience and a comprehensive vision of sustainability and environmental protection.
- Openness to include and receive feedback from civil society and people affected by projects.
- Prioritize the discussion to develop a remedy framework for project-affected communities.
- Lead by example and act with the highest ethical standards related to the fight against corruption, gender equity, non-discrimination, and accountability.
- Commitment to regional and international agreements and treaties that address climate change, biodiversity protection, human rights defense, protection and recognition of indigenous rights, and sustainable development.
“This process represents an opportunity so that the same mistakes are not made, and a new stage begins at the institution. The IDB is an actor with enormous weight in the region, and its investments and operations impact the lives of millions of people. The new president must understand the region’s social, economic, and environmental challenges and the need to include and respect the rights of communities affected by development projects.”
Ivahanna Larrosa, Coalition for Human Rights in Development
The selection process of the person who will lead the IDB was announced on September 28, 2022, after Mauricio Claver-Carone’s dismissal as the Bank’s president. The Office of the Secretary then notified the Bank’s governors about the beginning of the process. The Bank informed the governors that they could nominate candidates until November 11. On November 13, the candidates will answer questions from the governors. The next president of the IDB will be elected by majority vote on November 20, with voting power varying according to the number of bank shares held by each member country.
The IDB is one of the leading financiers of development projects in Latin America, with a loan portfolio of US$ 63,000 million.
The open letter to the IDB can be read here:
Signatures:
- Accountability Counsel
- AMATE, El Salvador
- Asociación Ambiente y Sociedad, Colombia
- Asociación Interamericana para la Defensa del Ambiente (AIDA)
- Asociación Unión de talleres 11 de septiembre, Bolivia
- Bank Information Center
- Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)
- Coalición para los Derechos Humanos en el Desarrollo
- Conectas, Brasil
- Derecho, Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (DAR), Perú
- Ecoa, Brasil
- Environmental Defender Law Center
- Fórum Nacional da Sociedade Civil nos Comitês de Bacias Hidrográficas FONASC CBH, Brasil
- Forest & Finance
- Fórum Mato-grossense de Meio Ambiente e Desenvolvimento (Formad), Brasil
- Fundación CAUCE: Cultura Ambiental – Causa Ecologista, Argentina
- Fundación para el Desarrollo de Políticas Sustentables (Fundeps), Argentina
- Greenpeace, Brasil
- Instituto Energía e Meio Ambiente (IEMA), Brasil
- Instituto Madeira Vivo- IMV, Brasil
- Instituto Maíra, Brasil
- International Accountability Project (IAP)
- International Rivers
- Movimiento Tapajós Vivo (MTV), Brasil
- Oxfam
- Plataforma Internacional contra la Impunidad
- Protection International Mesoamérica
- Rede de Empreendimentos Econômicos Solidários e Produtos da Sociobiodiversidade (REESOLBIO), Brasil
- REDE Pantanal, Brasil
- Sociedad y Discapacidad (SODIS), Perú
- Sustentarse, Chile
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