This article aims to analyze the consequences of Argentina’s entry into the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. The structure of the Bank is analyzed, covering its characteristics and the performance of the institution in general terms, the repercussions of Argentina’s entry are considered, contemplating advantages and disadvantages and, finally, the effects associated with joining this institution are considered. to China’s projection on the international stage.
Tag Archive for: Global Governance
This document presents an analysis of the background and motivations that led Argentina to become a member of the AIIB and the implications that derive from it, as well as the possibility that Argentina advances in its incorporation into the BRI in the short term. In the same way, the challenges and opportunities that both initiatives represent for the country are addressed.
The “CONAFIPS COVID-19 Credit Line project” has made Ecuador the first Latin American country to receive a Latin American loan from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. This report reviews the project, emphasizing its fundamental characteristics, context, environmental and social standards, and main criticisms and concerns about it.
Within the framework of the Annual Meeting of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), held in Panama, a group of civil society organizations met with the president of the Institution, Ilan Goldfajn, in an attempt to strengthen the link between the parties.
“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.
Between March 16 and 19, the Annual Assembly of Governors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and IDB Invest was held in Panama City. It is a debate forum in which the members of the institution, together with those who preside over the central banks and other high-level authorities, discuss and address issues on issues considered to be a priority.
In the opening speech, the current president of the IDB, Ilan Goldfajn, outlined some of the institution’s priorities, which revolve around social issues such as food security, poverty, inequality, health, and education. In turn, he emphasized the mitigation of climate change and adaptation to it, stressing the need to deal with the increasingly frequent natural disasters in the Latin American and Caribbean region. The importance of preserving the biodiversity through the elaboration of an Amazon Regional Program.
The Board of Governors commissioned the preparation of a capital increase proposal for IDB Invest in order to implement a new business model that increases its impact on development through the private sector. In addition, he reiterated the importance of preparing a new Institutional Strategy proposal for the IDB Group, whose approval is scheduled for the next annual meeting in 2024.
The limited participation of civil society
After repeated requests made by a group of civil society organizations, the Bank authorized their participation in the event, although in a limited manner and closed to those who received an invitation. In addition, it was possible to arrange a meeting with the president of the IDB on March 17. In said meeting, the need to generate spaces for dialogue and express the demands of civil society in relation to the bank was raised. Both the possibility of participating in the event and the possibility of meeting with the president represent positive developments, although it remains to be seen if these are real changes in the institution. For now, the bank has invited to continue the dialogue in the coming months to achieve a more effective participation in the annual meetings of 2024.
From Fundeps we have been following and participating in this process together with organizations in the region that make up the IDB Working Group, and we will continue actively in the dialogue processes proposed by the bank.
More Information
– Governors endorse the vision, priorities and plans for the IDB Group | IADB
– Open letter from civil society organizations to IDB President Ilan Goldfajn – Fundeps
– The Brazilian Ilan Goldfajn is the new president of the IDB – Fundeps
– Open letter to the IDB for the election of a new presidency – Fundeps
Authors
Candela Jauregui
Valentina Rasso
Contact
Gonzalo Roza – gon.roza@fundeps.org
On March 3 and 4, we participated in the workshop on Final Beneficiaries of Companies in the extractive and energy sector of Argentina, held in the City of Buenos Aires. The event was organized by Opening Extractives (a program co-implemented by EITI and Open Ownership) and the Argentine Journalism Forum (FOPEA).
“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.
The workshop had among its objectives to raise awareness about the importance of public information of the final beneficiaries, and at the same time, provide resources and materials to increase research, projects and analysis within this field.
In this sense, the training was divided into three modules: first, content and information on final beneficiaries was presented, from the theoretical to the legal and also practical, both nationally and internationally. Those who spoke in this first module were: Andrés Knobel from the Tax Justice Network; María Eugenia Marano, specialist in corporate law; Pamela Morales, Undersecretary of Mining Development of the Government of the Nation; Gonzalo Fernández of the Ministry of Mining Development of the Nation; and Lucía Cirimello from the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).
Secondly, civil society organizations had the opportunity to present their projects related to the theme. In this way, Edgardo Livitnoff (Red Ruido Coordinator) presented progress on the report “Lithium and transparency in Argentina” that we prepared together. For her part, Eugenia Rodríguez (Centro de Economía Política Argentina) shared details about the work of her organization: “The rich of Argentina”.
Finally, the third module consisted of a practical workshop given by Mariel Fitz Patricks, in which tools and resources were provided for approaching final beneficiaries. The journalist helped us, mainly, to access information and how, in this way, to enrich work carried out and to carry out on the subject.
This instance was very fruitful, not only in terms of knowledge and learning, but also in terms of the possibility of meeting peers from other civil society organizations, with whom one could work together in the near future.
More information:
Author
Maitén de los Milagros Fuma
Contact
Maria Victoria Sibilla, ninasibilla@fundeps.org
More than twenty organizations from Latin America and the United States addressed a letter to the president of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Ilan Goldfajn. They ask that the Bank strengthen its work by committing itself to respect for Human Rights and the protection of the environment and that spaces be created for greater articulation with civil society.
“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.
The organizations, members and allies of the Coalition for Human Rights in Development alluded in the letter to the commitment assumed by Goldfajn in his inaugural speech as president of the Bank to “take advantage of all opportunities for dialogue” and collaboration with governments, the sector private sector, academia and civil society to solve regional problems.
To strengthen the articulation with civil society, the organizations urged the Bank to open a space for dialogue with civil society at its Annual Meetings, not only because it is a good practice implemented by other multilateral organizations, but also because it is a unique opportunity. to include communities affected by projects.
Since 2017, the group of signatory organizations of the letter has been monitoring and enriching the Bank’s policies and projects that it hopes to continue carrying out. The organizations have contributed to the IDB Environmental and Social Policy Framework, updates to the Independent Consultation and Investigation Mechanism policy, and the Bank’s Access to Information Policy review process.
The organizations seek the IDB to ensure in its practices and operations the promotion and respect of Human Rights, particularly of indigenous peoples, and the protection of key ecosystems in the fight against climate change.
Signatory organizations:
- Accountability Counsel
- AMATE El Salvador
- Articulación Salvadoreña de Sociedad Civil para la Incidencia en las Instituciones Financieras Internacionales (ASIFI)
- Asociación Ambiente y Sociedad
- Asociación Interamericana para la Defensa del Ambiente (AIDA)
- Bank Information Center
- Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)
- Coalición para los Derechos Humanos en el Desarrollo
- Cohesión Comunitaria e Innovación Social A.C. (México)
- Conectas Direitos Humanos
- Derecho, Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (DAR, Perú)
- Ecoa – Ecologia e Ação
- Fundación para el Desarrollo de Políticas Sustentables (Fundeps)
- Fundación CAUCE: Cultura Ambiental – Causa Ecologista. (Argentina)
- Gender Action
- International Rivers
- International Accountability Project
- Mesa de Discapacidad y Derechos (Perú)
- Plataforma Internacional contra la Impunidad
- Protection International Mesoamérica
- Sociedad y Discapacidad – SODIS (Perú)
- Sustentarse (Chile)
- Wetlands International / Fundacion Humedales (Argentina)
Read the full letter here: Letter to IDB President
More Information
This interactive map presents 9 cases of projects that have the participation and financing of Chinese companies, which are monitored by the Regional Group on Financing and Infrastructure (GREFI) and the Regional Coalition for Transparency and Participation in Peru, Argentina, Colombia and Brazil.
The objective is to make known the basic information of the projects, the location, the current situation and the socio-environmental impacts that have generated or that could be generated if they are implemented.
From the Regional Group on Financing and Infrastructure (GREFI) we held the workshop in 2021: “Follow-up on relations between China and America America: exchange of experiences”. This space brought together different civil society organizations, academia, indigenous leaders and journalists from the region who monitor the relationship between China and Latin America, or have been impacted by investments from the Asian country.
The objective of the space was to identify common issues and key elements of discussion, based on the work and the experience of monitoring and advocacy that serves to promote greater articulation between the actors, identify the differences, limitations and opportunities for joint work.
After participating in a series of face-to-face and virtual public consultations, a group of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) from the region sent comments and suggestions to the IDB in the framework of the revision of the Bank’s Access to Information Policy.
“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.
On December 28, 2022, the deadline established by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for sending comments on the draft of the institution’s new Access to Information Policy (PAI) ended. Thus concluded the Second Phase of the Public Consultation Process approved by the Bank and which lasted 90 days.
Within this framework, together with a group of Civil Society Organizations in the region, we sent a document with comments and recommendations in relation to the Draft Policy prepared by the Bank, which, although it incorporates some positive advances, is not enough to guarantee the right of access to information effectively in relation to the actions of the Bank and its customers.
Among the main recommendations and suggestions highlighted in the document, the following stand out:
- Commitment to access to information as a fundamental human right. The Bank must establish clear commitments to guarantee respect for access to information as a fundamental human right. The right to information is also a key access right for the exercise of other fundamental rights, such as the consultation, participation and involvement of people and communities impacted by projects in decisions that affect or may have an impact on their ways of life. .
- Implementation Guidelines. It is concerning that some criteria and parameters that will make the PAI effective are left to be addressed in the Implementation Guidelines. In this way, the effectiveness and force of the PAI will depend a lot on the Implementation Guidelines that do not require mandatory compliance as the PAI itself does. In turn, these Guidelines should be consulted through a meaningful participatory process with civil society.
- Language ambiguity. The PAI contains a lot of ambiguous language and vague and diffuse commitments, which opens the door to different interpretations, including breaches and serious misconduct. Likewise, it prevents the establishment of clear requirements for the borrowers and also the responsibilities of the Bank itself. The Policy must avoid flexibility and ambiguity of language to prevent the use of discretion and non-compliance with respect to its guidelines.
- Specification of what information is going to be published proactively, disclosure times, in what formats, channels and deadlines. The PAI must clearly establish what information it is going to proactively publish, through what channels or media, in what formats and in what terms. In turn, response times to requests for information are excessive, and the IDB reserves the right to extend these terms indefinitely. The Bank must define shorter and clearer terms in terms of its responses to requests for information, and must be aligned at least with the currently applicable international standards.
- Country or customer proprietary information. Although the elimination of the “Exception specific information of countries” is celebrated, there is concern that other points of the policy may end up undermining the principle of maximum disclosure and the openness that is intended with such elimination.
- Exceptions. The exceptions must be more precise and clear criteria must be established for their application, as well as the identification of the specific documents or information to which access will not be given under the exception.
- Damage assessment. The inclusion of the assessment of the damage for the application of the exceptions is celebrated. However, clear criteria and scales must be specified to delimit its application. If an effort is not made to define these criteria and procedures in the body of the Policy (and leave them for the Implementation Guidelines), there is a risk that during their application discretionary use of exceptions will end up prevailing on the part of the Policy. of the Bank and borrowers. It is recommended to incorporate the criterion of public interest in the damage assessment, as a counterbalance to the damage, and to make the results of the damage assessment public in each specific case.
- Open data, simple language, accessible formats and usability of the information. The information that is disclosed and published must be useful for those who request it, especially for the communities affected by IDB projects, paying attention to marginalized groups, such as indigenous peoples, Afro-descendants, people with disabilities, women, the LGBTIQ+ population, among others. others. The accessible format, the simple language and the generation of open data are related to the usability of the information. It is recommended that the IDB address the issue of accessible formats, simple language, and open data in more detail and in a transversal manner throughout the PAI, taking into account the importance of this aspect, especially for marginalized groups.
It should be noted that a large part of the recommendations and suggestions contained in the document were previously raised in the framework of the public consultations carried out by the IDB, both online and in person in Montevideo, Bogotá and Washington DC. Precisely, from Fundeps we participated in the face-to-face public consultation in Montevideo, Uruguay on November 15, 2022.
We hope that the inputs provided by civil society are considered by the Bank and contribute to strengthening the draft Access to Information Policy proposed by the institution, which is far from incorporating the highest standards in the matter.
To access the complete document with comments and suggestions sent to the IDB, access here
More Information
- Recommendations and comments from Civil Society on the Draft Policy on Access to Information of the Inter-American Development Bank. December 2022
- IDB began public consultation for the new Information Access Policy – Fundeps
- Proposal for a new Access to Information Policy – IDB
- Consultation Plan- IDB
- Update of the Information Access Policy – IDB
Contact
Gonzalo Roza, gon.roza@fundeps.org
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship is coordinating the process of preparing a National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights. What are the progress so far and the next steps?
“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.
What are the National Action Plans on Business and Human Rights?
The National Action Plans on Business and Human Rights (PNAEDH) are transversal public policies whose objective is to address the obligation of the State to protect, respect and enforce human rights with respect to the negative consequences of business activities. Through these plans, governments seek to commit to the implementation of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP), as well as other business and human rights and Responsible Business Conduct (CER) standards.
The PNAEDH contribute to achieving greater coherence and coordination between the different regulatory frameworks and public policies with an impact on the issue of business and human rights, and contribute to the detection of obstacles and gaps. This makes it possible to establish priorities and commitments for action. Given its transversal and collaborative nature, its preparation requires the representative, broad and plural participation of multiple actors: State agencies, civil society organizations, academia, companies, business and worker organizations, indigenous peoples and potentially affected communities. , among others.
First steps
Argentina, based on recommendations received in the framework of the Universal Periodic Review of the Human Rights Council, assumed the commitment to prepare an Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, a fact that took place in view of its re-election to the Human Rights Council Human Rights on October 14, 2021. For the coordination and leadership of the process of elaboration of the Plan, the Human Rights Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship of the Nation (MRECIC) was appointed.
Regarding the actions carried out, one of the first steps consisted in the preparation of a Roadmap, which was validated internally by the MRECIC. Next, according to official sources, a mapping of interest groups and agencies with an impact on the matter was carried out and the initiatives and policies, in the process of execution in the country, with some proximity to the matter of companies and human rights and , Responsible Business Conduct to identify possible alliances within the Government.
Priority areas of the Action Plan and preparation of the National Baseline
The Human Rights Directorate commissioned the National Ombudsman’s Office to prepare the National Baseline (LNB) that will serve as a central input for the design of the First Action Plan on Businesses and Human Rights in Argentina. The LNB is a study that allows evaluating the level of implementation of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights within a State. It is a preliminary diagnosis for the preparation of the Plan and generates the information required for subsequent planning by the person who formulates the public policy.
The National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights will include 11 thematic axes:
- Labor standards (child labor, forced labor, human trafficking, health and safety conditions, freedom of association);
- Gender equality (salary parity, access to hierarchical positions, harassment and violence in the world of work, care tasks, reconciliation of work and family life, etc.);
- Diversity and non-discrimination;
- Environment (environmental protection, participation and access to environmental public information, environmental impact assessment; climate change; energy transition);
- Companies and policies of Memory, Truth and Justice;
- Rights of consumers and users;
- Corporate governance (due diligence and remediation in companies – political commitments of companies on issues of human rights and good governance, business policies and international standards of business and human rights, sustainability reporting, risk management);
- Technology, personal data and privacy;
- Access to information and public participation in general;
- Promotion of the human rights of groups in situations of vulnerability and/or historically discriminated against (persons with disabilities, migrants, Afro-descendants, boys, girls and adolescents, LGBTIQ+ people, older people, people deprived of their liberty, indigenous peoples, defenders or others) and,
- Public Governance (ethics, integrity, transparency, access to information, anti-corruption, public procurement, management of public companies).
A participatory process
The process of elaboration of the National Base Line must be participatory and offer the possibility that the different parties related to the subject, as well as those people who have an interest, can collaborate. Within this framework, at the beginning of November 2022, in response to an invitation received, we sent inputs and recommendations on five of the aforementioned thematic axes: Environment, Rights of consumers and users, Corporate governance: due diligence and remediation in companies, Access to information and public participation in general, and Public Governance.
We also participated virtually in the first meeting with civil society and academia, organized by the National Ombudsman’s Office, for the preparation of the National Base Line for the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights. Likewise, in the month of September, we were at the multi-stakeholder discussion table, organized by the CERALC project in Buenos Aires, in which the challenges, opportunities and prospects for advancing due diligence for responsible business conduct in Argentina were discussed. . It is worth mentioning that, from the beginning of the development of the PNAEDH, the Directorate has the support and technical advice of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) within the framework of the CERALC Project.
Next steps
According to the work calendar estimated by the national government, the process of elaboration of the Plan is divided into 4 main stages, each one of them with specific activities. The first is the preparation of the National Baseline. Then, as a second instance, capacity building for key actors. As a third stage, the drafting and approval of the PNAEDH is estimated, from January to March 2023. Finally, the publication of the PNAEDH is expected, approximately in June 2023.
Activities and estimated dates
- Participatory spaces coordinated by the Ombudsman’s Office – September to October 2022
- Preparation of the National Baseline by the National Ombudsman’s Office – July to November 2022
- Trainings – October to November 2022
- Drafting of PAN – January to March 2023
- Consultations based on the draft PAN – March to May 2023
- Presentation and publication of PAN – June 2023
Source: https://www.cancilleria.gob.ar/userfiles/recursos/plan-de-trabajo.pdf
The implementation of the business and human rights agenda represents an opportunity to which all stakeholders are called to contribute. It is time for an urgent, deep and real discussion that increases the chances that this global debate will be taken seriously, and evaluated from the perspective of public policies so that a very sober and voluntary National Action Plan is not their single destination.
More information
- National Business and Human Rights Plan | Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship
- Workplan
- United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs)
- Responsible Business Conduct Project in Latin America and the Caribbean – Office of the united nations high commissioner for human rights
- Why Argentina still does not have a National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights? – Fundeps
- When the discourse is diluted: human rights and transnational companies – El Entramado
- Argentina: Government presents National Human Rights Plan and announces Action Plan on business and human rights – Business & Human Rights Resource Center
Authors
Camila Victoria Bocco
Camila Busso
Contact
Gonzalo Roza, gon.roza@fundeps.org
*Photo taken from the official website of the Argentine Foreign Ministry
On November 20, the Board of Governors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) appointed Brazilian candidate Ilan Goldfajn, former president of the Central Bank of Brazil and current director for the Western Hemisphere of the IMF, as its new president. After withdrawing the candidacy of Cecilia Todesca, the government of Alberto Fernández supported the candidate promoted by Brazil.
“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.
On September 26, following the recommendations of the Board of Executive Directors, the Board of Governors of the IDB announced the termination of the executive functions of Mauricio Claver-Carone. After the announcement, and through an official statement, the selection process of the person in charge of the next presidency of the institution began.
The Board of Governors, the IDB’s highest authority, is made up of representatives of the 48 member countries, whose voting power varies according to the capital that the country subscribes to the institution. According to the organization’s press release, “to be elected, the candidate must obtain a majority of the voting power of the IDB member countries, as well as the support of at least 15 of the 28 regional member countries.”
In this way, the candidate must consecrate himself with the majority of the voting power of the member countries to be elected. Voting power fluctuates according to the number of shares owned by each state. The largest investor is the United States, which with 30% of the total funds has a key role in the election. They are followed by Argentina and Brazil, with 11.3% each. Mexico accounts for almost 7.3%, Japan 5%, Canada 4%, Venezuela 3.4% and Chile and Colombia 3.1%. The rest is divided into small percentages from different countries.
The new president of the Bank will assume his functions for a period of five years with the possibility of being re-elected only once, and will be responsible for managing the daily affairs of the Bank, as well as managing its operations together with the Presidential Office. The president also formulates proposals on the Bank’s general policy and presides over the meetings of the Board of Directors, being able to vote only in case of a tie.
The alliances behind the election
The new president-elect was consecrated with 80.8% of the votes, and was proposed by the government of Jair Bolsonaro in view of a candidate who would bring consensus to the region after turbulent periods for the Bank, following the dismissal of the former president Mauricio Claver-Carone for violations of the code of ethics. In this way, and thanks to the support of the United States, Canada, and at the last minute from Argentina, Ilan Goldfajn managed to position himself as the new president of the IDB.
It is worth noting the late support of Alberto Fernandez to back the candidacy of the Brazilian; despite his intention to position Cecilia Todesca Bocco as the first woman and the first Argentine to preside over the IDB. However, as a result of the change in its position and the support for Goldfajn, Argentina managed to keep three positions: the Vice Presidency of Sectors, the Infrastructure Management, and a new Institute of Gender and Equality, which will be part of the new management of the IDB.
With annual loans of around 14,000 million dollars, the IDB is the largest source of financing in the region and the change of leadership is essential for the institution to refocus its attention on Latin America after two years of a US presidency.
Prior to the appointment of Goldfajn, from Fundeps and together with a group of civil society organizations in the region, we present an open letter in which we urge those who make up the Board of Governors of the IDB to ensure a transparent selection process and urge the Bank to ensure that the designated person has:
- Knowledge of the region and experience working with its institutions and communities.
- Commitment to human rights, sustainable development and the work of human rights defenders.
- Comprehensive experience and vision on sustainability and environmental protection.
- Commitment and openness to include civil society and communities affected by the projects.
- That it prioritize the discussion for the development of a framework for reparation to the affected communities.
- Lead by example and act in accordance with the highest ethical standards.
- Commitment to regional and international agreements and treaties that address climate change, the protection of biodiversity, the defense of human rights and sustainable development.
It remains to be seen if Goldfajn, in the course of his tenure, manages to live up to and meet at least part of these requirements. In any case, we believe that a historic opportunity has been wasted to finally position a woman in the presidency of the Bank, a pending account of this type of multilateral institutions. Beyond the progress made by the IDB in generating job opportunities for women and their number in management positions, it is estimated that 3 out of 14 seats on the executive boards are occupied by women; in the alternate executive directorates, out of 12 chairs, only one is occupied by a woman. What gives rise to the claim to this type of organizations to promote specific spaces for participation for women and dissidence in the most hierarchical positions, which allow breaking the glass ceiling.
More information:
- Declaración sobre la presidencia del Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo – BID
- Ilan Goldfajn fue elegido nuevo presidente del BID con el apoyo de la Argentina, que retiró la candidatura de Cecilia Todesca – La Nación
- Open letter to the IDB for the election of a new presidency – Fundeps
- IDB: the president was dismissed and the possibility opens for a Latin American woman – Fundeps
- ¿Dónde están las mujeres en las Instituciones Financieras Internacionales? – El Entramado
Authors:
Candela Jauregui
Clara Labat
Contact:
Gonzalo Roza, gon.roza@fundeps.org
Given the opening of a new election process for the presidency of the IDB group, civil society organizations in the region and communities affected by projects, we sent an open letter with recommendations on the profile of who will preside over the Bank.
“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.
In the letter we urge those who make up the Board of Governors of the IDB to take advantage of this opportunity so that the person who is selected is someone with probity, capable of leading the transformations that the institution requires today and of effectively facing the emergencies and environmental and social challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Likewise, we consider that the job description must be clear, the selection process transparent, and we urge the Bank that the person who is selected have:
- Knowledge of the region and experience working with its institutions and communities. Commitment to human rights, sustainable development and the work of human rights defenders.
- Comprehensive experience and vision on sustainability and environmental protection. Commitment and openness to include civil society and communities affected by the projects.
- That it prioritize the discussion for the development of a framework for reparation to the affected communities. Lead by example and act in accordance with the highest ethical standards.
- Commitment to regional and international agreements and treaties that address climate change, the protection of biodiversity, the defense of human rights and sustainable development.
The election is scheduled for November 20, with voting power varying according to the number of shares held by each member country. The person who is finally appointed to the presidency of the IDB Group has the opportunity to lead a Bank that is stronger, more responsible, more effective and, above all, closer to the peoples of the region, leading the way towards truly sustainable and inclusive development.
- Open Letter from Civil Society groups regarding the election process of the future president of the IDB Group.
Contact
Gonzalo Roza – gon.roza@fundeps.org