No sunshine — DFC limits transparency when it is needed most

By Stephanie Amoako, Accountability Counsel, in Devex

Just as the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, or DFC, gets off the ground with the potential to chart a new era of U.S. overseas development, the institution has taken a worrying step backward.

Relying on legal technicalities, DFC quietly announced this month that it is exempt from the Sunshine Act, legislation aimed at promoting transparency and public participation in the U.S. government. Passed after the Watergate scandal, this act requires that “every portion of every meeting of an agency shall be open to public observation,” subject to some exceptions. DFC’s decision is a negative signal to those who value transparency and stakeholder engagement — and is of particular concern for communities impacted by DFC projects.

Read the full article at Devex