Blog

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is expanding into Sub-Saharan Africa and Iraq. Unless it ramps up its policies to prevent and remedy negative environmental and social impacts, it risks replicating harm that communities in the region are already experiencing.

Accountability Counsel and Lawyers Association for Human Rights of Nepalese Indigenous Peoples publish “A Community Guide to Demand Ingenious Peoples Rights in Hydropower Projects in Nepal” – a short and informative leaflet for affected Indigenous communities in Nepal to learn about and advocate for their human rights.

A new report, launched today by Accountability Counsel and LAHURNIP, exposes critical violations of the rights of Indigenous Peoples to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent in four hydropower projects in Nepal.

Responding to intense sustained advocacy efforts by project-affected communities and civil society organizations, the Boards of the International Finance Corporation and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, approved their long-awaited Interim Remedial Action Framework.We applaud IFC/MIGA for advancing this framework, which contains promising commitments that, if well implemented, could address a troubling history of IFC/MIGA allowing environmental damage and human rights abuses to go unremedied.

IAMs aim to deliver justice for communities harmed by development projects – but too often fail to address gendered harm. This article explores why survivor-centered, gender-sensitive reforms are essential to meaningful remedy.

(March 13, 2025) – One year ago today, World Bank Group President Ajay Banga apologized to survivors of child sexual abuse at Bridge International Academies, acknowledging “the trauma they experienced” at the World Bank Group-funded schools and committed to supporting them. At the same time, he announced an “external review” of  allegations that IFC staff and Bridge management (aka NewGlobe) colluded to obstruct and delay CAO’s work.

A personal reflection tracing the long-term impact of a 2012 complaint against a major wind farm project, examining both its institutional legacy and its effects on local communities in Mexico’s Isthmus of Tehuantepec.

The Trump administration is targeting historically marginalized peoples to quell resistance and consolidate power. All of us can keep power in check by holding it accountable to the people who are the most impacted.

The International Finance Corporation is finally updating its Performance Standards. Not only must the new Performance Standards include better environmental and social protections in line with current needs–as defined by impacted communities, but they also must be implemented well and monitored honestly.

In November 2024, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced she would introduce a proposal to amend three key pillars of the European Green Deal through an Omnibus law: the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, and the Taxonomy Regulation. As members of civil society, human rights and environmental defenders, trade unions and climate activists, we call on the European Commission to actively protect these EU corporate accountability laws, reaffirm the official timeline for their transposition and implementation, and be fully transparent about the Omnibus process.

Accountability Counsel welcomes the World Bank Board of Directors’ recent announcement on changes to the Bank’s accountability system. The changes, which reflect Accountability Counsel and partners’ recommendations, aim to create an institutional structure that allows the Inspection Panel to independently investigate allegations of harm to communities and the Dispute Resolution…

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has finalized its new Environmental and Social Policy (ESP). The policy makes several key improvements, including the creation of safeguards around previously unaddressed harms. However, the EBRD’s roles in contributing to remedy and addressing reprisals remain inadequate.

As recognized under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, a human rights-based approach is integral to halting and reversing nature loss in a sustainable manner. Those seeking to deliver on nature-positive impacts now have access to instruction on how to protect the rights of local communities and Indigenous Peoples in the endeavor–the Core Human Rights Principles for Private Conservation Organizations and Funders. The set of ten principles reflect and clarify existing international human rights norms and standards applicable to private conservation efforts, including the responsibility of taking action to prevent and remediate adverse human rights impacts.

Nearly five years after the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation became operational, its independent accountability mechanism finally has terms of reference, or procedures, to guide its work addressing complaints from communities harmed by DFC’s financing. Although the TOR include many strong provisions that align with international good practice for IAMs, the TOR fail to address crucial accessibility and independence challenges.

We, the undersigned CSOs and representatives of herders from Mongolia, strongly condemn the IFC and EBRD in providing a $100 million loan each, to Oyu Tolgoi. This decision blatantly disregards years of unresolved grievances, environmental harm, and OT’s failure to comply with lenders’ safeguard standards, and widespread rejection from local herders, CSOs, and even the Mongolian government.

Today, on Human Rights Day, we proudly launch the Guardians of Lamu case study, which captures an extraordinary journey and highlights six complementary strategies communities used to demand justice.

The ADB’s Accountability Mechanism promises justice for communities impacted by its projects — but is it accessible? Restrictive eligibility requirements, coupled with legal rigors and opaque processes, leave many complaints unresolved.

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.

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.

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.