The EBRD has set new human rights standards: Will they improve the lives of millions?
March 5, 2025
This story explores the changes that the EBRD has made to its revised safeguards, with a particular focus on human rights due diligence. Strengthening this aspect, particularly the EBRD’s weak enforcement of client requirements, has long been a key priority for Bankwatch and has informed the collective advocacy efforts of many other civil society organisations.
Open letter from civil society to the EU on the Ukraine Facility
February 28, 2025
This joint letter from Ukrainian and European civil society organisations urges the EU to improve the Ukraine Facility by enhancing transparency, environmental safeguards, civil society participation, and municipal funding. These recommendations aim to
Why China is Building a New Road to Russia
February 26, 2025
“The Khada Valley is a very small valley. It’s located very close to the capital [Tbilisi] and it’s unique in terms of its cultural heritage,” said Manana Kochladze, the human rights and democratisation lead at Bankwatch.
Countering shrinking space: How multilateral development banks can empower civil society in the Western Balkans, Caucasus and Central Asia
February 25, 2025
This report examines how multilateral development banks have failed to adequately protect civil society in the Caucasus, Western Balkans, and Central Asia.
Guidelines for selecting just transition projects in Ukraine
February 20, 2025
Despite the ongoing war, Ukraine remains steadfast in its commitment to a just transition. As an EU accession candidate, Ukraine must integrate the Just Transition Mechanism’s principles and criteria into its national policies. Since Ukraine plans to join the EU before its coal phase-out in 2035, the Just Transition Fund regulation provides the most relevant framework for meeting these requirements.
One foot in Europe: EU Interreg programmes advance the partnership principle in Ukraine.
February 12, 2025
Wartime challenges and the European integration process present both obstacles and opportunities for Ukraine. As the country rebuilds, it has the opportunity to adopt EU best practices by embracing democratic values, public participation through the partnership principle, and financial transparency.
How to interact with development banks lending to hydropower projects in Central Asia: A toolkit for civil society activists
February 3, 2025
This toolkit is aimed primarily at civil society organisations in Central Asia tackling the construction of dams or other unsustainable water infrastructure.
EIB Group Complaints Mechanism ineffective in addressing complaints submitted in relation to the Budapest Airport expansion project
January 31, 2025
In this case study, we lay bare inefficiencies of the EIB and EBRD grievance mechanisms using a real-life example – the Budapest Airport Expansion Project – and make recommendations for the next review of the EIB Group Complaints Mechanism Policy.
Rebuilding Ukraine: Opportunities for public participation with international donors
January 30, 2025
Ukrainian civil society is both the main beneficiary and the driving force behind Ukraine’s reconstruction. The Ukraine Facility Regulation invites socio-economic partners and civil society representatives to submit ‘opinions’ to the European Commission on implementation of the Ukraine Plan. However, its influence remains limited.
EBRD’s Independent Project Accountability Mechanism investigates the Indorama Agro cotton project in Uzbekistan
January 16, 2025
Following multiple allegations of human rights violations by Indorama Agro on a controversial cotton project funded by public development banks, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)’s Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM) has finally launched an investigation to determine whether the project adheres to the EBRD’s environmental and social standards.
