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Home > Archives for Rights, democracy, development

Rights, democracy, development

Empowering communities: Using digital innovation to drive Ukraine’s green recovery

February 5, 2026

Ukraine’s network of more than 1,000 territorial communities now finds itself at a unique historical juncture. On the one hand, decentralisation has entrusted these communities with the authority and responsibility for their own development. On the other, the ongoing war has depleted resources and made the survival of critical infrastructure a key issue.

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Fast and furious? Europe hunts for raw materials

January 12, 2026

The roar of heavy machines, forests and meadows pushed back by steel giants – the traditional image of mining has become rare in Europe. But that could soon change, as access to critical raw materials becomes a global power play.

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The Czech mining town saying ‘no thanks’ to Europe’s critical raw materials push

January 12, 2026

As Brussels races to secure raw materials and cut its reliance on China, it’s facing resistance from a Czech region that’s thought to hold a significant lithium deposit.

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Cleaning up District Heating: Best technologies and real-life examples (Ukrainian)

December 18, 2025

Intended for practitioners, policymakers, civil society and the energy sector, this brochure reviews various public financing options that can help enable the transition to clean district heating.

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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.

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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?

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Ukraine Facility’s next chapter: From patchwork to principles

December 9, 2025

As the EU looks ahead to rebuilding and integrating Ukraine, the design of its support instruments under the next Multiannual Financial Framework (2028–2034) will shape not only reconstruction on the ground, but also the credibility and long-term sustainability of EU policies.

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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.

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Will Uzbekistan benefit from ratification of the Aarhus Convention?

November 14, 2025

In 2025, Uzbekistan finally acceded to the Aarhus Convention, becoming the last Central Asian state to ratify the treaty.

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Ukraine’s Single Project Pipeline: The challenges of reforming public investment management

November 12, 2025

This briefing explores how Ukraine’s new Single Project Pipeline is reshaping public investment management.

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