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Home > Rights, democracy and development

Rights, democracy and development

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.

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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

ARCHIVED: Minerals mining and supply chains

Global demand for minerals and other critical raw materials is intensified by the just transition to renewable energy and the digital transformation agenda. Therefore sustainable supply chains of minerals are fundamental to addressing the climate crisis and the Covid-19 crisis that humanity is facing today. The European Union needs to innovate and find solutions to achieve its circular economy and resource use reduction objectives and to meet the demand of EU’s industry and consumers, while still protecting communities and nature threatened by mining.


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.


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Latest news

EIB–EBRD mutual reliance: A threat to environmental and social accountability

Blog entry | 14 July, 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.

Read more

The EBRD’s first Impact Report: A welcome step, but does it tell the whole story?

Blog entry | 10 July, 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. 

Read more

Restoring the Dnipro: Ukraine’s water crisis and the path to Europe

Blog entry | 1 July, 2025

The critical task of protecting and preserving Ukraine’s water resources presents significant challenges. To address these issues, the environmental community has initiated discussions on implementing effective water management across the country, with a particular focus on rehabilitating its principal waterway – the Dnipro River.

Read more

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Related publications

The EBRD starts its impact reporting journey: How can it deliver meaningful results?

Briefing | 7 July, 2025 | Download PDF

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.



Civil society recommendations for ADB Accountability Mechanism Policy Review

Policy comments | 23 June, 2025 | Download PDF

In April 2025, 29 civil society organisations, including Bankwatch, submitted recommendations for the Asian Development Bank’s Accountability Mechanism Policy.



The role of stakeholder engagement in the EBRD’s impact monitoring and reporting

Issue paper | 30 May, 2025 | Download PDF

This report examines the EBRD’s policies and practices related to stakeholder engagement and its monitoring and reporting at the project, country, and institutional levels. It identifies gaps in transparency at the project level, consultations on country strategies, and institutional reporting.



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