Civil Society Organizations Call on the New Development Bank to Establish an Independent Accountability Mechanism

Today, 45 organizations are calling on the New Development Bank (NDB) to respond meaningfully to communities affected by its financed projects and establish an independent accountability mechanism.

NDB does not yet have an independent mechanism where communities can raise concerns about harm linked to its projects. The letter draws on three cases: the Araripe III wind complex in Brazil, the Medupi Environmental Protection Project in South Africa, and the Lesotho Highlands Water Project Phase II, where NDB is a co-financier with a ZAR 3.2 billion loan.

In June, we wrote to the NDB President and Board about community impacts in the Lesotho Highlands Water Project Phase II and the Bank's accountability commitments. We have not received a response and this open letter escalates that effort.

The letter calls on NDB to:

·      Establish and operationalize an independent accountability mechanism without further delay

·      Ensure meaningful participation by affected communities and civil society in designing the mechanism

·      Provide an effective interim avenue for accountability while the mechanism is being established

·      Engage meaningfully in existing accountability processes concerning NDB-financed projects

Read the full letter and list of signatories in English and French

For questions or to discuss the letter, contact Nkoti Reitumetse Mabula on nkoti.reitumetse@seinoli.org.ls and Robi Chacha Mosenda on robi@accountabilitycounsel.org