Public Development Banks Cant Drag Their Feet When It Comes to Building a Sustainable Future — Global Issues
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, October 21 (IPS) – A coalition of civil society organizations is asking public development banks (PDBs) to take innovative and radical steps to address violations. human rights violations and environmental damage. No project funded by PDBs should not be at the expense of vulnerable groups, the environment and collective liberties, but should instead represent the voice of the community, the values of the people. ownership and environmental justice.
requirements, part of a collective statement signed by more than 50 civil society organizations, until more than 450 PDBs gather in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, from 19 October, for the third international summit, voiced General Finance.
The COVID-19 pandemic and climate emergency, coupled with human rights abuses and growing risks to activists worldwide, is making the need to change current practices critical. more attention. While public development banks may attempt to address structural and intersectional inequalities, civil society organizations are taking actions to create decent livelihoods by combining development with development with specific affirmative measures towards climate, social, gender and racial equity.
PDBs cannot act reluctantly. They need to achieve their goals when helping to transform economies and financial systems towards sustainability and address the most pressing needs of people around the world – from food systems to increased support. for an equitable transition towards truly sustainable energy sources. PDBs must recognize that public services are the foundation of a just and equitable society, rather than encourage privatization and keep stories of austerity alive.
9 out of 10 people live in these countries where civil liberties are severely restrictedand with a environmental activist killed Every two days on average over the past decade, development banks are obligated to recognize and incorporate human rights in their plans and actions, subject to a “do no harm” obligation.
Community cannot be left at the door. They need to be given the space to play a legitimate role in the responses to today’s global challenges, without which PDBs would be more backward than forward – and that means thinking. more environmental degradation, less democratic participation and, frankly, an even bigger crisis than the one we face today. And no one needs that.
Recommendations in the collective civil society declaration emerged from a three-year process of engagement and exchange involving civil society networks in efforts to shape PDB policies and projects. You can find some of their words and messages below.
As calls for accountability grow, the Finance summits at Chung are an opportunity for PDBs to demonstrate ethical leadership and help overcome longstanding lack of cooperation with civil society, communities and indigenous groups, threatening to constrain development stories and practices.
Below are messages from civil society organizations around the globe towards public development banks.
Oluseyi Oyebisi, Executive Director of the Nigerian Network of Non-Governmental Organizations (NNNGOs), a network of 3,700 Nigerian national NGOs In particular, the Sahara and Sahel countries are facing the most serious security crisis in history related to climate change, social justice and inequality in the region. Marked by economic robustness (lack of opportunities, especially for young people), social (limited equitable access to basic social services) and climate vulnerability After all, the region has some of the lowest human development indicators in the world – even before the great pandemic. Access to affected populations is limited in some localities due to three main factors: security situation, poor infrastructure condition and difficult geographical conditions. The PDB must prioritize civil society organizations and Community initiatives that support state programs for decentralization, security reform, and mediation. This will help reduce the vulnerability of people and prevent violent extremism.”
Mavalow Christelle Kalhoule, President of Forus and President of Spong, Burkina Faso’s network of NGOs says: “Development projects shape our world; from the way we navigate our cities to the way the rural landscape is being transformed. Ultimately, they impact the way we interact with each other, with plants and animals, with other countries, and with the food on our plates. Therefore, the decisions of the public development banks exist. That responsibility comes with greater responsibility that includes the communities directly involved in development projects, whose air, water, and daily lives will be impacted for generations to come. For this to happen, public development banks must intensify their long-term efforts to forge dialogue with civil society organisations, social movements and indigenous communities in order to strengthen local principles. democratic principles in their work. We encourage them to listen, ask for, and collaborate in creative ways so that growth stays true to the original definition of progress and positive change; a collective, participatory and equitable process and a word that makes sense not for the few, but for all. “
Tity Agbahey, Africa Regional Coordinator, Alliance for Human Rights Development said: “Many in civil society have expressed concern about Common Finance as an elite-run space that doesn’t really embrace. It’s a space where a top-up approach is dominant. down to grow, instead of being challenged, strengthened.Once again, the leaders of the public development banks gathered at this Summit will make decisions on key issues without listening to the people most affected by their projects and the real development experts: local communities, human rights defenders, Indigenous peoples, feminist groups, civil society They will talk about “sustainability”, while ignoring protests against austerity policies and rising debt, they will talk about “human rights”, while ignoring those denounce human rights violations in the context of their projects, they will talk about “green and transitional”, and continue to support projects that contribute to climate change.”
Comlan Julien AGBESSI, Regional Coordinator of the West Africa National Network of Non-Governmental Foundations (REPAOC), a regional coalition of 15 national civil society foundations “Regardless of how they are perceived by public authorities in different countries, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) will contribute to covering the aspects and spaces where development programs are national development has not been achieved or achieved.Despite the undeniable impact of their actions on people’s living conditions, NGOs remain poor cousins of donors, apart from the support of some charities or charities. , Pooled finance, in fact a paradigm shift, seems to be a lifesaver for CSOs This is why REPAOC welcomes commitments collaboration between the Public Development Bank and the Multilateral Development Bank to directly support CSO projects and programs in much the same way as they typically do with governments and the private sector. partnership agreement that we hope and pray ween CSOs and banks, the latter can rest assured that actions will be envisaged for the benefit of rural communities and urban will certainly reach them with the accountability guarantee that their new CSO partners offer.”
Frank Vanaerschot, Director of Counter Balance, said: “As one of the organizers of this year’s Finance in Common Summit, EIB will boast of billions of dollars invested in development. The truth is that the bank will promote the EU’s own commercial interests and promote the use of public money for development in the Global South to ensure returns for private investors. Reducing inequality would be second best. The EIB is also co-hosting the summit despite systematic human rights abuses in projects it funds from Nepal to Kenya. Instead, the EIB and other public banks should work to empower local communities by investing in the public services needed for human rights to be respected, such as health care and education is publicly owned and managed – not corporate profits first. “
Stephanie Amoako, Senior Policy Associate at Accountability Attorney “PDBs have a responsibility to the communities affected by their projects. All PDBs should have an effective accountability mechanism in place to address concerns with projects and must be committed to preventing and fully redressing any harm to the community.”
Jyotsna Mohan Singh, Regional Coordinator, Asian Development Alliance said: “PDBs should have a normative core; they should start with the permissions framework. This means bringing all the protections into all the different rights frameworks that already exist. There are rights tools for indigenous peoples, the elderly, women, young people and people with disabilities. They are part of a series of global and regional conventions. Their approach should be based on those rights, then it will be placed on a very strong foundation.
Asian governments should support, implement and apply stringent environmental laws and regulations to all PDBs. The first step is to disseminate public information and conduct effective and public environmental impact assessments for all of these projects, as well as strategic environmental assessments for infrastructure and transnational projects. border. “
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