More than money: New report reveals shortcomings in human rights policies of leading public development banks
May 6, 2024
As the EBRD gears up for its Annual Meeting on 14 May, the FIDH and Bankwatch release a report comparing the lending policies of four major public development banks whose loopholes are contributing to human rights violations.
Civil society calls on public development banks to overhaul their approach to development
September 4, 2023
As a member of the Coalition for Human Rights in Development, Bankwatch has joined civil society organisations and human rights defenders from over 20 countries in calling for immediate and effective action from public development banks.
Civil society seminar: Recommendations for EIB Global
May 2, 2023
This briefing summarises recommendations formulated by civil society to guide the future operations of EIB Global.
Dirty palms: European Development Banks need better due diligence and accountability to prevent human rights abuses
November 29, 2019
Long considered the standard-setters in the world of development finance, Multilateral Development Banks are now at an important junction. Europe’s development financiers must step up their accountability and commitment to protection of people and nature.
Living on the edge: waste collection at Mongolia’s landfill rehabilitation project
October 16, 2019
Ulaanbaatar 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.
European Commission criticises the EIB’s role as a development bank
October 11, 2019
The 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.
Submission on the European financial architecture for development
July 23, 2019
In the Submission to the High Level Group of Wise Persons on the European financial architecture for development, civil society organisations CEE Bankwatch Network, Concord, Counter Balance and Eurodad welcome the European Council’s initiative to revie
In Central Europe, activists fight for ‘just transition’ away from coal
July 12, 2018
As Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic start phasing out coal, campaigners argue that all actors – including small entrepreneurs, communities and civil society – must be part of the process. Source: In Central Europe, activists fight for ‘just tran
ARCHIVED: Southern Gas Corridor
June 30, 2017
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.
National and local levels play secondary role in Green Climate Fund, European Investment Bank project illustrates
April 25, 2017
The use of international financial institutions to manage projects within the Green Climate Fund framework has been criticised as too far removed from communities and those affected by the investments. Recently approved projects, the biggest of them administered by the European Investment Bank confirm this view, despite willingness to include civil society.