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.
Close to frontline communities
We’re in direct contact with affected communities and provide updates from their struggles.
Image (c) Rosa Vroom
Where rights are on the line
Amulsar gold mine, Armenia
Armenia’s largest foreign investor, an international mining company Lydian, is developing the controversial Amulsar gold mine near the touristic spa town of Jermuk. In 2018 locals blocked access to the mine, having long contested that it posed a threat
Just transition
Working on just transition brings all actors who believe in fair regional redevelopment to the same table: unions, industry, public administration, governments, civil society and others sharing this goal. They should be working together to find what is best for their regions and communities, from creating good quality jobs to identifying sustainable alternatives.
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
Latest news
Living on the edge: waste collection at Mongolia’s landfill rehabilitation project
Blog entry | 16 October, 2019Ulaanbaatar is growing, fast. The Mongolian capital has added several hundred thousand people in recent years, many of whom are abandoning the countryside and traditional forms of subsistence herding to pursue opportunities in the city. But the rush to the city is placing pressure on infrastructure like housing, transportation and other essential services.
Read moreNGOs challenge decision to approve Belgrade incinerator operating subsidies
Blog entry | 15 October, 2019The Ne Davimo Beograd initiative has this week challenged a decision by the Ministry of Mining and Energy to grant feed-in tariffs to Beo Čista Energija d.o.o. for the planned Vinča waste incinerator in Serbia, to be financed by the EBRD, IFC and Austrian development bank OeEB.
Read moreEuropean Commission criticises the EIB’s role as a development bank
Blog entry | 11 October, 2019The European Commission recently published an evaluation of EIB development operations under its External Lending Mandate during the period 2014-2018. The Commission’s findings confirm our previous assessments and repeated calls for improvements in the fields of transparency, human rights due diligence and development impacts of EIB projects.
Read moreRelated publications
What can the new European Parliament expect on the ICT agenda
Briefing | 31 October, 2019 | Download PDFThe production of ICT has a huge impact on the environment, climate change, human rights and working conditions along global supply chains in the Global South. This document aims to provide information to Members of the European Parliament about sustai
Western Balkans hydropower: who pays, who profits?
Study | 25 September, 2019 | Download PDFIn the last decade, a wave of hydropower construction in the Western Balkans has caused ever-increasing public outcry. Large hydropower projects have long caused public resistance, but the mushrooming of smaller plants of less than 10 megawatts (MW) in
