Whether in Europe or beyond, public money must not become an auxiliary for human rights violations or the marginalisation of affected communities.
We expose cases where development banks fail to protect those impacted by their projects.
We advocate for participation and consultation processes that are not pro-forma exercises, but a tool to ensure people’s well-being.
We run a helpdesk where activists and communities can get advice on how to challenge controversial projects being considered for funding by development banks.
Close to frontline communities
We’re in direct contact with affected communities and provide updates from their struggles.
Image (c) Rosa Vroom
IN FOCUS
The Reconstruction of Ukraine
The scale of destruction caused by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has been staggering. To repair the damage, joint efforts to coordinate donations and properly plan Ukraine’s reconstruction must start as soon as possible.
A successful reconstruction of Ukraine cannot happen without involvement of the Ukrainian people. That’s why we’re calling on international donors to ensure that the financial structures to help impacted communities are put in place and that civil society groups have a say in this process.
We believe that Ukraine and the international community have a unique opportunity to modernise the country while addressing people’s needs and long-term sustainability.
Amulsar gold mine, Armenia
The controversial Amulsar gold mine near the touristic spa town of Jermuk was supported by the EBRD equity investments, but blocked by locals after the velvet revolution in 2018. In spite of a number of legal threats and intimidation by the company, the blockade continued till the eruption of military conflict overNagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) at the end of 2020.
Myronivsky Hliboproduct (MHP), Ukraine
The leading Ukrainian agribusiness giant has been enjoying generous support in public funds and national subsidies. With over half a billion euros from the EBRD, EIB and the IFC, Myronivsky Hliboproduct PJSC (MHP) has grown into a near monopolist in poultry production. While MHP’s vertically integrated model has contributed to its status as a leading Ukrainian agribusiness, the scale and nature of its business have also contributed to mounting concerns about its social and environmental impacts. These concerns are compounded by patterns of poor community consultation and a lack of information provided about MHP’s operations, leaving project-affected people guessing about the true impacts of its operations.
Corridor Vc motorway, Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Bosnian section of the international Corridor Vc is planned to run for 330 km through Bosnia and Herzegovina. Concerns about environmental impacts and threats to cultural heritage were raised by local people and cultural figures. The public discussions about the project have led to a series of scandals and a deadlock of the motorway’s development.
More of our projects
OUR PAST WORK ON: Export Credit Agencies (ECAs)
With many billions of dollars at their disposal, export credit agency finance far outpaces that of development banks and yet avoids the same public scrutiny. Most money flows into large infrastructure projects in politically-volatile countries that oft
ARCHIVED: Kresna gorge / Struma motorway, Bulgaria
The Struma motorway is tragically emblematic of an EU-funded project that has wrought havoc on European biodiversity and the wishes of local communities. In spite of two decades of protest by civil society and citizens, part of the Struma motorway section is planned directly through the Kresna gorge, a Natura 2000 site and Bulgaria’s richest biodiversity hotspot.
ARCHIVED: Southern Gas Corridor
This system of mega-pipelines meant to bring gas from Azerbaijan to Europe, is unnecessary for Europe’s declining gas demand. But the billions in public investments will boost Azerbaijan’s dictatorial regime and cause upheaval for transit communities in Turkey, Greece, Albania and Italy.
Latest news
Armenia hosts COP17: Its ‘action for nature’ stops at Amulsar
Blog entry | 20 October, 2026Armenia is set to host the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) from 19 to 30 October. Hosting this high-profile environmental summit has drawn scrutiny to the government’s simultaneous backing of the controversial Amulsar gold mine project at home. At COP17, progress towards the targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework will be reviewed for the first time. The summit’s slogan is ‘Taking action for nature’, yet the Amulsar case illustrates how countries and international investors are ‘taking action against nature’.
Read moreBillions for reconstruction: How not to finance projects that harm the environment
Bankwatch in the media | 24 September, 2026Ukraine is being rebuilt, without waiting for the end of the war. In the coming years, billions of euros of public investment — funds from the state and local budgets — will be directed to energy, transport, housing, hospitals, and other public investment projects and programs.
Read moreLetter: Ukraine chicken baron’s environmental footprint
Bankwatch in the media | 7 September, 2026The Ukrainian success story of poultry giant MHP is anything but for the communities that live in the shadows of its factories (“War fails to clip wings of Ukraine’s chicken baron”, FT Series Big Chicken, September 4). MHP operates the largest agricultural enterprise in the Vinnytsia region, managing extensive cropland for chicken feed production. Its environmental footprint is massive. For the last five years, locals have monitored water quality near the MHP site, detecting alarming levels of nitrate contamination, especially in groundwater that people rely on for drinking.
Read moreRelated publications
Unlocking complaints mechanisms at multilateral development banks: A toolkit for civil society
Toolkit | 4 November, 2026 | Download PDFThis toolkit for civil society explains how the accountability mechanisms of multilateral development banks work and gives practical guidance on how people and communities affected by bank-financed projects can prepare and submit complaints. It aims to help them understand their rights, access these mechanisms and voice their concerns.
EIB must tighten oversight of Georgia’s East–West Highway projects amid authoritarian crackdown
Briefing | 26 October, 2026 | Download PDFGeorgia has been in authoritarian freefall since spring 2024. In response, the EIB, in line with the EU’s position, has not issued any new sovereign loans to the country. However, the Bank still holds a significant active portfolio there, including the East-West Highway road projects. In this brief we document several of the environmental and social costs that the Bank has failed to account for.
Leaving no one behind? LGBTIQ+ inclusion in EIB policies, safeguards and investments
Briefing | 21 October, 2026 | Download PDFThe European Investment Bank (EIB) has established a range of policy and safeguarding frameworks to promote gender equality, non-discrimination, and social inclusion across its operations. Despite these commitments, the EIB’s current policy architecture does not coherently promote and protect the rights of LGBTIQ+ people throughout the project cycle.
