Monitoring what matters: Public participation as a systemic issue for the EBRD
December 11, 2025
Information on public participation practices reported by the EBRD is lacking. This briefing illustrates the importance of regular and effective monitoring of project-level participation to inform the EBRD’s corrective actions and enhance management strategies.
More than just a few bad apples: If public engagement matters, why isn’t the EBRD tracking it?
December 11, 2025
Civil society organisations and accountability mechanisms have repeatedly highlighted EBRD-financed projects in which the people affected have been marginalised, consultations have been superficial, and grievances have been ignored. These are not isolated missteps or the work of a few bad apples, but rather recurring problems that result in serious harm to people and the environment. Our latest research identifies 38 such cases, raising a pressing question: How can the EBRD ensure meaningful public participation if it doesn’t identify and learn from its failures?
Replicability gone wrong: Demolition of cultural heritage and environmental risks at EBRD project in Kazakhstan
December 8, 2025
For years, concerns have been raised about the Almaty International Airport Extension Project which is being financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Locals question the inadequate protection of cultural heritage and a lack of public participation and access to information. To address this, a formal complaint was recently filed with the Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM), and the outcome of a compliance review is pending.
Dispute resolution agreement on Zarafshan wind project
December 3, 2025
A dispute resolution agreement was signed by CEE Bankwatch Network and Shamol Zarafshan Energy Foreign Enterprise LLC in October 2025. The agreement is the result of a year-and-a-half-long dispute resolution process supported by the Compliance Advisory
Corridor Vc in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Environmental and social impacts can no longer be ignored
October 17, 2025
The EU’s flagship infrastructure project in Bosnia and Herzegovina – the 330-kilometre Corridor Vc motorway – now stands at a critical crossroads. To date, only one-third of the corridor has been completed, financed through more than EUR 3 billion in loans and grants from the EU, the EIB, and the EBRD.
EBRD’s toxic bond with Indorama: Funding polluter in Georgia’s shrinking democracy
September 30, 2025
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) continues to back one of its most controversial clients in one of Europe’s most troubled democracies. Human rights, labour laws, and the environment are all at stake.
Bishkek residents seek mediation to restore trolleybus service
August 19, 2025
Residents of Bishkek have asked the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)’s Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM) to facilitate dialogue with urban authorities over concerns about the city’s trolleybus services.
EIB–EBRD mutual reliance: A threat to environmental and social accountability
July 14, 2025
In April, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) signed a Mutual Reliance and Cooperation Agreement, founding their future cooperation on jointly financed projects. Yet concerns have already emerged about potential risks to environmental and social safeguards as well as accountability under the new partnership.
The EBRD’s first Impact Report: A welcome step, but does it tell the whole story?
July 10, 2025
In May 2025, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) released its first-ever Impact Report. With EUR 16.6 billion invested in 584 projects in 2024, the report highlights ambitious claims: reductions in emissions, boosts to human capital, and support for inclusive economies. But as we dig deeper, a familiar issue re-emerges: the gap between institutional ambition and on-the-ground reality.
The EBRD starts its impact reporting journey: How can it deliver meaningful results?
July 7, 2025
In May 2025, the EBRD published its first-ever Impact Report, showcasing the impact of EUR 16.6 billion invested across 584 projects on real-world change. Although shifting the focus from activities to impacts is important, the report falls short in several key areas.
