Members Map
The Coalition has over 100 members based in around 50 countries.
Click here to check who our members are and learn more about their work.
STORIES & UPDATES
With our members and partners, we work to ensure that frontline communities have the information, power and resources to determine their own development paths, and to use their own voice to hold development banks and other actors accountable for their impacts on people and the planet. Find out more reading the latest updates on our work and our collective campaigns!
Civil society groups to hold WB accountable for human rights outcomes
On Thursday, the World Bank approved a new Environmental and Social Framework to replace its existing safeguard policies. Members of the Coalition for Human Rights in Development criticized the missed opportunity to adopt robust protections for the human rights of communities impacted by Bank projects, and committed to holding the Bank accountable for the outcomes of the new policy. Read the press release here.
World Bank approves new safeguards
The World Bank recently approved its new social and environmental safeguard policy. However the new policy has been met with criticism by civil society for its ambiguity, lack of measures to prevent human rights abuses and increased reliance on borrowers’ laws and policies without clear safeguard measures set in place. Critics cite increased flexibility and reliance on self-monitoring by borrowers as substantial risks. Read the Wall Street Journal article here.
Inspection Panel’s Pilot Failure
In an article in Bretton Woods Observer, Coalition member Accountability Counsel identifies the serious flaws in a new approach by the World Bank’s independent complaint mechanism, the Inspection Panel’s. The Pilot Approach for Early Solutions was devised to create an opportunity for more expedient resolution of community complaints. Accountability Counsel cites the dismal implementation of the pilot project on a case of forced eviction in Badia East, Nigeria, where communities were left with...
Cotton Campaign: Hold Uzbekistan Accountable
The Cotton Campaign, a global coalition of human rights and labor organizations, recently submitted a letter to the World Bank urging the institution to incentivize the Uzbekistan government to end its use of forced labor in the agriculture sector. During the cotton harvest season, the government of Uzbekistan systematically uses the forced labor of more than one million people to pick cotton. One of the persons subjected to forced labor together with labor monitors subjected to abuse filed a...
UN Expert: it’s time for development banks to start listening
In an opinion piece in Foreign Policy magazine, Maina Kiai, UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, explains how the goal of sustainable development is under threat from growing restrictions on public participation in development and closing civil society space. Kiai calls on development banks to ensure that human rights are respected within their investments and to defend the role of public participation in development processes. "When funds are...
Cautious optimism as NDB wraps up 1st Annual Meeting
Devex reported that the 1st Annual Meeting of the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB), held from July 20 to 21 in Shanghai, China, conclude on a positive note, leaving development professionals, civil society leaders, and bank officials optimistic about the potential for the NDB to finance green and sustainable development projects. Still, concerns persist over the transparency and thoroughness of the bank’s environmental standards and other policies. And some question just how different the bank...
Labor Confederation calls out World Bank on Labor Standards
The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) called on the World Bank to adhere to ILO standards in its proposed new labor safeguard policy. While the inclusion of a labor safeguard within the World Bank's social and environmental policy is marked as a positive development, the current language is still problematic and fails to meet international labor standards. In the proposed policy, Freedom of association in World Bank financed projects must be respected only "in a manner consistent...
SCOs from the Global South send letter to WB EDs rejecting the new safeguards framework
After a four year review process of the Environmental and Social Safeguards Policies of the World Bank, the World Bank Board approved the third, and probably final, draft of the new Environmental and Social Framework of the Bank. Last July 19, more than 50 organizations from 20 countries from the Global South sent a letter to the Executive Directors of the World Bank representing their countries, through which they respond to the three main arguments that the directors have provided to justify...
BRICS bank open to expand its membership
The Financial Review reported that in the culmination of BRICS' National Development Bank (NDB) Annual Meeting held last July 21 - 22 in Shanghai China, the focus centered around expanding the scope of the Bank's membership. According to NDB Vice - President and Chief Risk Officer Paulo Nogueira Batista Jr., new members are expected to join the Bank by the end of 2017 or 2018. Currently, the Bank has announced five projects on renewable energy in each of its members amounting to a total of USD...
OUR COLLECTIVE WORK
COMMUNITY RESOURCE EXCHANGE
The CRE is a system to facilitate collaborations and co-develop strategies with and among communities, who are defending their rights in the context of international investments and development projects.
DEFENDERS IN DEVELOPMENT
A global campaign to prevent and address risks that human rights defenders face when raising their voices about projects funded by development banks.
REGIONAL WORK
Together with our members and allies, we work at the national and regional level to strengthen capacity, coordination, and advocacy around development finance and human rights.
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About Development Finance & the Early Warning System
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If you are in #Tbilisi, don't miss this beautiful art exhibition organised by @forum_adb showcasing some of the stories of communities across #Asia impacted by @ADB_HQ projects
👇 👇👇
🌍 Join us for an insightful session on protecting people and the planet!
🌿 Forum is shedding light on CSO reflections regarding the @ADB_HQ Draft ESF and proposed changes in safeguards policy.
We'll discuss recommendations to safeguard project-affected individuals and…
🎨✨ In TBILISI now!
🌊 Explore a preview of our exhibition exposing the link between environmental degradation, social injustice, and human rights violations caused by @ADB_HQ projects.
With @ceebankwatch, @RightsinDevt, Green Alternative ✊🏽
Can't make it? No worries, catch…
The Lower Sesan 2 Dam is being partly funded by ABBank, a financial intermediary (FI) client of the @IFC_org. Financial intermediaries represent the nexus between development finance and commercial banking.
Read about the Lower Sesan 2 Dam Project here: http://bit.ly/IFC_LowerSesan2
