The Coalition for Human Rights in Development is working to change the way one of the most influential development institutions does development. The World Bank Group is a multilateral development bank that finances development projects and programs in low and middle-income countries through loans, grants, and technical assistance. The Bank is owned by its 188 member countries, which govern the institution through a Board of Directors.
In 2016, after a four-year review process to review its social and environmental safeguard policies – the policies designed to prevent people and the environment from being harmed by World Bank-financed projects, the Bank issued a new social and environmental framework. Despite some improvements, including the addition of labor safeguards and a commitment on non-discrimination, the new Environmental and Social Framework weakens many critical protections for communities and the environment and raises serious challenges for implementation.
The Coalition and its allies are now working to press the Bank to address some of these gaps, strengthen policy implementation, and to support rights-respecting development. We are also working with communities to monitor World Bank investments to ensure that their human rights are protected.
Materials and Resources from the Coalition
- Joint Submission on the World Bank’s Draft Guidance Notes for Borrowers Regarding the Implementation of the Environmental and Social Framework – December 2017
- Development and Investment in Africa – October 2017
- Holes in the World Bank’s safety net – September 2016
- The World Bank’s Bizarre Retreat on Indigenous Rights – August 2016
- Press Release – World Bank Leaves Holes in Safety Net – August 08, 2016
- Comments on Overarching Human Rights Provisions in the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework – March 15, 2016
- Coalition key concerns and recommendations re: World Bank Safeguards – December 2015 (Spanish) (French)
- Briefing paper for Governments and Human Rights Institutions – November, 2015
- World Bank Safeguards: A Critical Human Rights Issue – October, 2015 (Spanish) (French)
- Coalition submission to World Bank – March 30, 2015
- Coalition Letter to Bank: Obstacles to Participation in Consultations – November, 2014
- Press Release – World Bank Annual Meetings – October 10, 2014
- Coalition Statement To World Bank Directors – July 28, 2014
- Press Release – World Bank: Reject Plan to Roll Back Safeguards – July 28, 2014
- Development Finance Institutions in Africa – 2014
Materials and Resources from Coalition Members and Allies
- ICoCA (International Code of Conduct Association (ICoCA)) Submission on Guidance Note for ESS4 – December 2017.
- Submission to the World Bank on Guidance Note to Environmental and Social Standard 5 – Inclusive Development International (IDI) & Oxfam – December 2017
- Submission to the World Bank on Guidance Note to Environmental and Social Standard 9 – Inclusive Development International (IDI), Oxfam International, Ulu Foundation, NGO Forum on ADB, Bank Information Center (BIC), BICEurope, Oakland Institute, Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL),
Centre for Financial Accountability (CFA), Urgewald, Both Ends, Gender Action, Accountability Counsel, Global Responsibility – December 2017 - BIC´s Public Comment Submission: Draft Guidance Notes for Borrowers Improving Guidance for the Protection and Inclusion of Marginalized Groups – December 2017
- Submission from the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) on the Draft Guidance Notes for the Environmental and Social Standards of the World Bank ESF – December 2017.
- Gender Action, Both ENDS and the NGO Forum on the ADB´s Gender Comments on the Environmental and Social Standards’ Guidance Notes – December 2017
- Letter to the World Bank Re: Environmental and Social Standards Guidance Notes – December 2017
- ICAR Letter to World Bank Safeguards Team on Use of Force – March 2017
- A Case Study of the World Bank’s Land Allocation for Social and Economic Development Project in Cambodia – Bank Information Center & RECOFTC, The Center for People and Forests – June 8, 2016
- Reality Check: Community Voices on the World Bank Safeguards Review – JEI-Nigeria – March 2016
- BIC’s Video: What are the World Bank Safeguards? – October 2015
- Submission from Human Rights Watch on the World Bank’s second draft Framework – October 2015
- Gender Action’s Gender Analysis of the second draft Framework – September 2015
- Revised draft of World Bank’s proposed labour safeguard: Improved but flaws remain – ITUC/Global Unions – August 2015
- BIC’s Guide to a First Look at the World Bank’s Revised Environmental and Social Framework – August 2015
- Forced Evictions in Lagos, Nigeria – Amnesty International – September 2, 2014
- Nepal Power Development Project – Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) – May, 2014
- Kenya Natural Resource Management Project – Forest Peoples Programme (FPP) – February 14, 2014
- Cambodia Land Management and Administration Project – Inclusive Development International (IDI) – October 2013
- Human Rights and the World Bank: Case Studies from IDA Countries – Bank Information Center (BIC) and Inclusive Development International (IDI) – October 2013
- Papua New Guinea Smallholder Agricultural Development Project – Inclusive Development International (IDI) – April 11, 2013
- Kenya-Ethiopia Power Transmission Line – Human Rights Watch – July 11, 2012
- Forced Displacement and “Villagization” in Ethiopia’s Gambella Region – Human Rights Watch – January 16, 2012
