Blog
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15 November 2024
IFC’s Bridge Academies Management Action Plan Has Failed Survivors So Far
Survivors and civil society organizations have raised serious concerns regarding the management action plan’s implementation and its potential to fall short of delivering meaningful support to survivors, specifically to Bridge survivors. -
14 November 2024
Joint Statement on Bridge 4 Management Action Plan Implementation Expressing Civil Society and Survivor Concerns
We strongly urge the Board to request that IFC Management revise its Action Plan to prioritize consultation with the maximum number of Bridge survivors as is possible, and ensure that the remediation program is fit for purpose to deliver meaningful remedy. -
12 November 2024
The World Bank’s climate mission: New risks on the horizon?
Over a year into its new climate mission, the World Bank faces questions about human rights and accountability, as recent complaints reveal vulnerabilities linked to its climate-focused projects. -
23 October 2024
Press Release: Civil Society Welcomes the Introduction of the International Financial Institution Improvements Act of 2024
The Bank Information Center (BIC) and Accountability Counsel (AC) welcome the introduction of Chairwoman Maxine Waters and Congresswoman Joyce Beatty’s International Financial Institution Improvements Act of 2024. This comprehensive legislation directs the U.S. to advocate for improved environmental, social, accountability, and transparency standards at the IFIs in which it is a member. This bill also reflects the priorities of our organizations and broader civil society around the need for the IFIs to improve their due diligence before project approval and provide remedy when their projects cause harm. -
15 October 2024
Without Accountability, Climate Finance Won’t Stand a Chance of Protecting Biodiversity
For increased climate finance to meet its ambitions, it has to be good. And right now, the prevailing model is far from it. -
1 October 2024
Why Every IAM Should Have the Power to Self-Initiate Investigations
While it would be ideal if directly impacted people were able to file cases and demand justice whenever harm occurs, significant barriers to access can make it nearly impossible for that to happen. There is an obvious solution: equipping IAMs with the ability to self-initiate compliance investigations. -
25 September 2024
34 Civil Society Organizations submit joint recommendations on how to strengthen AIIB’s Project-Affected People’s Mechanism
A version of this blog was also published in the AIIB Observer Vol. 2 As the Board of Governors of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank gather for their annual meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, we call on the Bank to strengthen its Project-Affected People’s Mechanism (PPM) and reaffirm the importance of… -
3 September 2024
New Export Feature to Download Complaint Data
Experience faster, more reliable data exports on the Console with our new asynchronous export feature – optimized for large volumes of data and seamless analysis. -
6 August 2024
How the largest multilateral development bank finances conflict
Explore the EIB’s controversial investments in Israel, the implications of its new defense financing policy, and the urgent need for alignment with international law to prevent complicity in human rights violations, especially in light of the recent ICJ ruling. -
5 August 2024
Reflecting on the Shortcomings of the World Bank’s Dispute Resolution Service
Dispute resolution facilitated by Independent Accountability Mechanisms (IAMs) is an important tool for giving communities harmed by development or infrastructure projects an opportunity to express their concerns about project impacts, directly engage with the actors responsible for ensuring proper project implementation, and reach an agreement on how those project impacts… -
31 July 2024
Now is the Time for DFC to Shore Up Its Accountability
Last month, the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee passed legislation to reauthorize the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). The legislation, which received bipartisan support, would give DFC seven more years to operate, increase its lending cap to 120 billion USD, and extend its geographical reach. For DFC to meet… -
16 July 2024
Joint Civil Society Statement ahead of IFC Remedy and Responsible Exit Framework Decision
Tomorrow, the Committee on Development Effectiveness (CODE) of the World Bank Board of Executive Directors will discuss the IFC’s draft Remedy and Responsible Exit Framework, which is intended to outline how the institution will deliver remedy to communities harmed by projects it finances. This would be the first policy to… -
8 July 2024
Redefining Impartiality: Advocating for a Community-Centered Approach to Accountability Mechanisms
While accountability mechanisms are meant to provide impartiality and justice, strict adherence to impartiality can sometimes render them ineffective in addressing the unique needs and vulnerabilities of the very communities they were established to assist. -
3 July 2024
Statement on the Situation in Kenya
We are saddened by the news of killings, abductions, arbitrary detentions, and violence meted out by the police in Kenya against its citizens. As an international organization that amplifies the voices of communities around the world seeking protection of their human rights and environment, we are alarmed at the retaliation… -
2 July 2024
Banks do not assess project risks accurately. People and our planet pay the price.
Discover how development financial institutions’ risk categorizations impact local communities and the environment, and why current safeguard measures may be falling short in protecting those most affected by investment projects. -
24 June 2024
External Review Report Recommends Sweeping Changes to the AIIB’s Independent Accountability Mechanism
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), whose finance last year exceeded USD 52 billion, is currently reviewing the effectiveness of its independent accountability mechanism (IAM) for addressing allegations of environmental and social harm from communities, the Project-Affected People’s Mechanism (PPM). Ultimately, the success of the PPM as a trust-building office… -
14 June 2024
Civil Society’s Key Demands to the African Development Bank
The African Development Bank (AfDB) held its Annual Meetings on May 27–31, 2024, in Nairobi, Kenya, under the theme ‘Africa’s Transformation, the African Development Bank Group, and the Reform of the Global Financial Architecture.’ About 5,000 delegates, including representatives from civil society organizations (CSOs) working in Africa, attended the event.… -
13 June 2024
Welcoming Michael Jarvis to Accountability Counsel’s Board of Directors!
Accountability Counsel is thrilled to welcome Michael Jarvis to our Board of Directors! -
4 June 2024
Development Bank Must Prevent Forced Displacement
This article analyzes community-led complaints about forced displacement in development bank projects, including coercive resettlement agreements and violent removals, and suggests measures to prevent future harm. -
3 June 2024
One Year Later, Justice is Delayed: A joint statement on the implementation of the KIIDP-2 Kawaala Community Agreement
One year since the signing of a dispute resolution agreement, advisors Accountability Counsel and Witness Radio evaluate progress toward the agreement’s implementation and remedy for community members.