CEE Bankwatch Network supports communities and civil society organisations who raise concerns about problematic projects financed by development banks. We closely monitor these projects, whether they’re being considered for financing or have already begun to negatively affect the lives of residents.
Multilateral development banks have sets of policies and procedures in place to prevent negative environmental and social impacts. These banks are obliged to work with the companies and states that borrow money to ensure that this regulatory framework is properly implemented. If they don’t, concerned citizens have every right to voice their concerns, not only with the banks who have such a large say in how these projects are designed, but also with governments, businesses and the courts.
Bankwatch staff navigate the complexities of these banks’ decision-making structures and procedures to make sure we reach the right people. We visit communities and project sites to see and hear what’s happening on the ground, and then present our findings to bank officials.
Most importantly, we provide informed advice to people who have been negatively impacted by these investments. We’re always open to hearing from activists, communities and civil society organisations about the challenges they face when it comes to problematic bank investments.
If you want to use the banks’ complaint mechanisms to raise issues with the companies responsible for these projects, Bankwatch staff are available to act as formal advisors in this process.
On this page, you’ll find links to helpful sources of information about how to formulate complaints so that your needs have the best chance of being addressed. We do our best to make sure you have access to the most up-to-date information. We also organise training sessions for interested civil society activists.
Contact us
You can email us at helpdesk@bankwatch.org
If you’ve got concerns, we can help you to …
- contact international financial institutions
- understand how bank’s accountability mechanisms work
- reach the right people in the right places
- attend trainings on public participation and development banks
- organise or take part in needs-based training workshops
- assess and address the risks of retaliation
Guides
Major infrastructure development projects aim to improve people’s lives. But for the people who live next to these projects, they can have the opposite effect. Large-scale construction projects are expensive, which is why companies and governments seek loans to finance them. This is where multilateral development banks step in as a source of funding.
These banks are often controlled by governments and therefore accountable to the public. CEE Bankwatch Network specialises in helping communities understand how these institutions work.
Above all, we help people negatively affected by these projects to use the policies, strategies and procedures that these banks have in place to protect themselves and the environment from their harmful impacts.
We have extensive experience in dealing with the leading international development banks, including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank.
Guides by Bankwatch
Guides by other groups
Mediation and Consultation Mechanism for the Mining Industry and Mineral Value Chain (Inclusive Development International and Accountability Counsel)
Guides by the Coalaition for Human Rights in Development
Tools for Activists: An Information and Advocacy Guide to the World Bank Group by the Bank Information Center
