Tag Archive for: Social and Environmental Standards

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We send observations to the IDB to strengthen its link with civil society

In the framework of the review process of the second Action Plan of the IDB Group-Civil Society (2022-2024), more than 20 civil society organizations sent a letter to the President of the IDB, Claver-Carone, with observations and recommendations to strengthen the IDB’s relationship with civil society and affected communities.

“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”.

While we welcome the fact that the IDB is reviewing the Action Plan to strengthen the relationship with civil society and affected communities, we believe that the way the review is being structured inhibits civil society participation in the process. For this reason, the recommendations sent to the President and his Executive Secretary are oriented in two ways:

  • On the one hand, the Bank is asked to provide specific spaces and complete and accessible information so that civil society, including indigenous peoples, local communities, people affected by IDB Group projects (including MICI applicants), and organizations critical to the IDB can participate and get involved effectively. In this sense, it is essential that agendas begin to be built in a participatory way, that invitations to consultations are at least 30 days in advance and that they include a wide range of stakeholders. The optimization and adjustment of public consultation processes is also necessary, since they are currently excessively rigid and do not promote a meaningful or direct discussion between the parties, ultimately generating low-productive inputs that continue to weaken transparency and accountability in the Bank.
  • On the other hand, it is emphasized that after the consultation or dialogue, the IDB must guarantee continuous communication that keeps the interested parties informed and provide information on how their contributions influenced the decisions taken.

We believe that the IDB Group’s commitment to civil society and communities affected has been and continues to be worryingly weak compared to other peer institutions. The IDB president has the opportunity to lead the change towards a more responsible bank and must foster an institutional culture in which it is accepted that the Bank makes mistakes and is more responsive not only to interactions and constructive criticism from external actors, including civil society and affected communities, but also to their internal accountability mechanisms.

To access the complete letter sent to the IDB, access here.

More information

How can the IDB Group strenghthen engagement with civil society and projects affected communities? – Bank Information Center (BIC)

Carta Grupo BID-Relacionamiento con Sociedad Civil

Recommendations to strengthen the IDB Group’s relationship with civil society and affected communities – Coalición para los Derechos Humanos en el Desarrollo

Author

Camila Victoria Bocco

Contact

Gonzalo Roza – gon.roza@fundeps.org

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Civil society responds to the MICI evaluation

Last April 2021, the Office of Evaluation and Oversight (OVE) of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB Group) published the Evaluation of the Independent Consultation and Investigation Mechanism (MICI). After the evaluation, the MICI has modified its policy, excluding the clause that prevents the registration of complaints that are part of open national judicial processes.

“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 evaluation carried out tried to determine if the MICI is effective and efficient in three areas: (1) the resolution of complaints, (2) the promotion of institutional learning, (3) accessibility, objective independence, impartiality and transparency. Finally, OVE made 5 general recommendations on how the Board, the Bank, and the MICI can improve the application of the IDB’s social and environmental safeguards.

In general, the document identified elements that impede the effective functioning of the MICI, including accessibility barriers, unnecessary limitations to its independence, and a systemic lack of remediation by the IDB Group when projects do not comply with safeguards. Fundeps, together with other civil society organizations, decided to publish a response and send recommendations / comments to the MICI.

Below, we summarize our points of discussion and concern for each of the recommendations made by OVE:

Recommendation # 1 – Implement and improve the Bank’s management system for environmental and social claims: We agree with OVE’s findings that show that the requirement for communities to make prior contact efforts with the Administration is a problematic barrier for access to the MICI. Affected persons who present complaints to the MICI have experienced first-hand the ineffectiveness of presenting certain complaints to the Administration. However, OVE’s proposal to establish a Bank’s own management mechanism is a measure that we consider incomplete. To ensure the effectiveness of the mechanism and the Bank, it would be best to remove the requirement that the communities first contact the Administration.

Recommendation # 2 – Repeal the legal exclusion: The report’s findings on the impropriety of the legal exclusion, and its severe restriction on accessibility, are clear. We applaud the report for mentioning that the legal exclusion should be removed. The role of an accountability mechanism within an institution is unique and different from judicial procedures. A mechanism should examine compliance with the institution’s own standards, a mandate that does not overlap with the courts or tribunals. With the approval of the OVE Evaluation by the Board, the decision to remove the legal exclusion becomes effective as of July 1, 2021. However, the resolution approving the removal of the legal exclusion should be publicized or published. to ensure that the decision to remove this requirement is widely known.

Recommendation # 3 – Strengthen the independence of the MICI: The importance of the independence of the MICI, as well as other accountability mechanisms, cannot be stressed enough. Independence is an essential condition for other attributes such as objectivity, impartiality, and transparency. The report finds the need for the MICI to ensure the approval of the Bank’s Board of Directors before starting the investigations, as a major problem that has generated “situations that compromise the independence of the mechanism.” From civil society we believe that to ensure its independence, the MICI should have the authority to determine when to initiate an investigation without approval from the Board. This is a good practice that, as noted by the report, is adhered to by many other mechanisms. As an alternative to the current policy, to mitigate the detrimental effect on the independence of the MICI, the policy should be updated by specifically and closely outlining the technical reasons for the Board to review the MICI’s decision to initiate an investigation.

Recommendation # 4 – Ensure corrective action when there are findings of non-compliance and associated damage: The Evaluation clearly stated the lack of remedy for cases of verification of compliance being that “they have not had concrete results for the applicants, despite the findings of non-compliance and related damages established by the MICI ”. We have seen this in our case work. The recommendation of the Evaluation so that all the actors – the Board of Directors, the Administration and the MICI – adhere to the practice of consistently providing corrective actions, is a step in the right direction. However, this result would be best achieved with a clear change in the policy that includes points such as: (a) Consultations during the development of corrective action plans, (b) approval of action plans based on their sufficiency, (c) monitoring compliance with action plans, and (d) alerting the Board of Directors in cases of non-compliance with the plans. Finally, while OVE’s assessment documents multiple instances in which communities have been left without remedy, despite compliance verification reports finding a cause of harm in the Bank’s non-compliance, unfortunately no recommendation is provided for these communities.

Recommendation # 5 – Strengthen the internal capacity of the MICI: One of the focuses of the MICI Evaluation of its internal functioning is the dependence on the model of consultants for the staff. The importance of MICI staff in relation to their effectiveness in resolving complaints is evident. The Bank should commit to providing the human and financial resources necessary to implement this change and avoid that the lack of human resources translates into delays during the complaint processes. The Bank should also ensure the increase of its capacity in terms of resources as necessary.

Now, from civil society we consider that public and inclusive consultations are required for the implementation of all the recommendations. Likewise, we believe that the implementation of these recommendations will require changes to the MICI policy. The steps taken to ensure compliance with social and environmental safeguards and accountability in cases of non-compliance should be reported by those affected by the projects (who live and work in the implementation sites). To hear from those affected and their representatives, the IDB and the MICI should consult publicly about their plans to implement the
OVE recommendations.

The MICI plays a fundamental role within the IDB, providing a channel for the people affected by the projects, beneficiaries of the Bank’s work, to file their claims in search of remediation. However, as OVE’s Evaluation makes clear, there are gaps in the current practices of the MICI – and related practices of the Board and Management – that prevent the effectiveness of the mechanism. To ensure the legitimacy of the MICI, the Bank has to act to address these issues fully.

More information:

Internal IDB evaluation raises the need for reforms in the operation of the MICI

Autora: 

Agustina Palencia

Contacto:

Gonzalo Roza – gon.roza@fundeps.org

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Internal IDB evaluation raises the need for reforms in the operation of the MICI

On April 1, the Office of Evaluation and Oversight (OVE) presented an evaluation report of the Independent Consultation and Investigation Mechanism (MICI) corresponding to the period 2015-2020. The evaluation examined the Mechanism’s policy and its application, with the aim of informing the Boards of the IDB and IDB Invest on the extent to which the MICI has been an effective and efficient mechanism in the resolution of claims associated with environmental and social impacts of projects financed by 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 its report, the Office of Evaluation and Oversight (OVE) determined that the current MICI policy corrected important issues identified in its last evaluation of 2012. Among the main advances, it highlighted the solution to the problems of accountability and associated conflicts of interest. to the previous organizational structure, as well as the duplication problems of the eligibility instance; the establishment of deadlines for the management of requests; and the creation of instances for the participation of the administration. Likewise, he highlighted a greater consistency between the policy, the guidelines developed, and the associated processes.

The evaluation also highlighted the progress made in the internal functioning of the MICI, as a result of the restructuring of the mechanism, as well as the process of consolidation and institutional learning. The mechanism has been able to define its work plan and manage its human and budgetary resources independently of the IDB Group administration.

However, judicial exclusion, a key issue, remained pending. It is one of the exceptions of the internal policy to the eligibility of applications and establishes that those matters raised in an application that are being the subject of arbitration or judicial processes in a member country of the IDB Group are not eligible.

Although judicial exclusion was identified by OVE in 2012 as a limiting factor for the effective and independent functioning of the MICI, it was maintained in the reformulated policy in 2014. Likewise, there are other limitations that have emerged in the application of the policy in recent years. 5 years but that, to a large extent, have been paid for by the MICI. This shows that there is sufficient margin for the mechanism to manage the limitations of the current policy.

Access to the MICI

Regarding access to the mechanism, OVE identified that the MICI is not yet well known among applicants. Realizing that between the different institutional levels there is a lack of consensus on the importance of publicizing the mechanism and the way to achieve it. An issue that should not be overlooked, since access to the MICI depends on the knowledge that people have about the existence of the mechanism.
For their part, those who were able to access the MICI found that their applications were not registered due to the difficulty in complying with some requirements. In this regard, the IDB Group does not have a claims management system, which makes it impossible to know the number of concerns that the administration receives.

Case management

Regarding case management, although the MICI is operating in accordance with the principles established in its policy: independence, objectivity, impartiality, transparency and efficiency; Their ability to act independently is affected by being subject to the decisions of the Board of Executive Directors.

In accordance with its policy, the Board controls the possibility of initiating an investigation in the Compliance Verification Phase (FVO) and decides whether or not to approve the recommendations of an MICI investigation. Originally, the approval of the Board of Directors to continue with an investigation was thought as a short procedure but it has come to be conformed as a contentious procedure affecting the independence of the MICI.

Finally, many ongoing investigations have presented delays related to the complexity of the projects and themes. Complaints were also filed by the applicants about the length and slowness of the processes in the Compliance Verification Phase (FVO), which reduces the possibilities of effective redress.

Recommendations

After identifying the main difficulties in the current operation of the mechanism, OVE proposed a series of recommendations to be adopted by the MICI. Among the main ones, in the first place, the elimination of judicial exclusion and the strengthening of its internal capacities stand out. In turn, OVE highlighted the need to reinforce the independence of the mechanism and ensure the adoption of corrective measures when there are findings of non-compliance with the policies and related damages.

Remembering that one of the main objectives of the IDB Group is to improve the quality of life in the region, monitoring its policy is a key tool to guarantee compliance with socio-environmental safeguards and transparency in the development of projects. funded. If the recommendations made by OVE are applied, it would imply a declaration of commitment by MICI to the users, who, among other complaints, have systematically insisted on an improvement in the conditions for accessing the mechanism.

Based on this evaluation, one might wonder if the limitations of the current policy can be rectified by incorporating OVE’s recommendations or if these limitations, on the contrary, make a new comprehensive review of the policy necessary, a measure that has been ruled out by OVE until the moment.

At Fundeps, we consider that there are still many obstacles to overcome to guarantee an effective and independent action of the mechanism, especially regarding the need to nullify judicial exclusion. However, we highlight the importance of these types of entities that are beneficial for both the public and private sectors, and especially for the communities affected by IDB Group investments.

More information:

Authors:

Clara Labat 

Julieta Boretti

Contact:

Gonzalo Roza, gon.roza@fundeps.org

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Negotiations between Argentina and China continue for the construction of Atucha III

Argentina and China are advancing in the negotiations for the construction of Atucha III, the fourth nuclear power plant in our country, with Chinese technology and financing. US officials expressed their concern to the President of the Nation on a recent visit.

“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 Ambassador of Argentina in China, Sabino Vaca Narvaja, the Secretary of Energy of the Nation, Darío Martinez, and the director of Nucleoeléctrica Argentina, Isidro Baschar, held, on April 6, a meeting with the directors of the National Agency for Energía de China (NEA) and the China Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), in which they agreed to boost negotiations for the construction of the fourth nuclear power plant in Argentina.

The representatives of Argentina and China reviewed the status of the negotiations for the construction of the nuclear power plant in our country with Chinese technology. In addition, they explored the possibility of expanding the bilateral link in other areas of cooperation, such as the Argentine export of services and components for Chinese nuclear projects and the life extension of nuclear power plants in China.

The Secretary of Energy, Darío Martinez, affirmed that “the project of the IV Nuclear Power Plant has the full support of the President of the Nation and is on the list of priority projects between both countries.” Likewise, Sabino Vaca Narvaja explained that “Argentina has a highly developed platform in the nuclear sector with its own developments and a unique scientific base in the region. Achieving our fourth nuclear power plant, in addition to expanding our energy sovereignty, will place us at the forefront of a sector with historical development in our country ”.

For his part, the Deputy Director of the Department of Nuclear Energy of NEA, Qin Zhijun, stressed the importance of nuclear energy in the Chinese development strategy, in particular, considering the need to have a diversified energy matrix, as well as the importance of nuclear energy in the fight against climate change.

Worry in Washington

On April 14, two high-ranking officials of the United States government arrived in Argentina. The Director for the Western Hemisphere of the National Security Council, Juan Gonzalez, and the Acting Undersecretary of the State Department for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Julie Chung, shared a lunch with the President of the Nation, Alberto Fernandez at Quinta de Olivos . Also, in the evening, they shared a dinner with the President of the National Chamber of Deputies, Sergio Massa.

Joe Biden’s government officials asked the Argentine government for “prudence” in relation to China. Likewise, they expressed their concern about the project for the construction of the Atucha III nuclear power plant, with financing and technology from China.

The concern on the part of the United States in the construction of the nuclear power plant with technology and financing from China reflects that Argentina is not exempt from the current political dynamics characterized by competition between the two giants.

Atucha III, the fourth nuclear power plant in the country

The construction of this project is scheduled to be located at the Atucha Nuclear Complex, located in Lima, Zárate district, about 100 km from the City of Buenos Aires. In this same complex are the Atucha I and II nuclear power plants.

According to Nucleoeléctrica Argentina S.A, the negotiations contemplate that the reactor to be built in the new plant is a Hualong HPR1000 Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) of Chinese origin. How do these reactors work? Basically they use enriched uranium as a source of heat (thermal energy), which is transported by high pressure water to a steam generator, which in turn converts that water into steam that drives an electricity generating turbine. This is the type of reactor most used in the world for electricity generation.

With regard to risks, NASA assures that “the safety levels of the Hualong reactor are significantly high and the risks of delay during construction are reduced.”

This new plant would be capable of generating 1200 MWe of gross energy. To put this in perspective, the Atucha I, Atucha II and Embalse reactors generate 362 MWe, 745 MWe and 656 MWe respectively.

Given the characteristics of the project in question, the type of energy to be used, the controversy regarding the technology to be used and its impact on the external positioning of the Argentine Republic in a context of dispute between the United States and China, from Fundeps we propose the need to that the national State faces the negotiation process in a transparent way and provides a broad framework for debate within Argentine society regarding the project and the use of atomic energy.

More information
Authors
  • Mariano Camoletto
  • Andres Paratz
Contact

Gonzalo Roza, gon.roza@fundeps.org

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Argentina seeks to agree with China an investment plan for 30 billion dollars

On the eve of the next trip to China, the Argentine government negotiates infrastructure investment agreements worth close to 30 billion dollars.

“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 President of Argentina, Alberto Fernández, will visit the President of China, Xi Jinping, on May 5. One of the backbones of the meeting will be the negotiations for the entry of the South American nation to the Silk Road project and the landing of 5G technology from the hand of Huawei. In addition, it is expected that other important agreements for the bilateral relationship will be discussed, such as the expansion of the Caucharí solar energy park in Jujuy, infrastructure projects, livestock, investments and financing.

After a 2020 characterized by the health and economic crisis caused by the covid-19 pandemic, the Argentine government advances in investment agreements with China for a value close to 30 billion dollars. Argentina has 15 infrastructure projects on the list to present to China. These agreements are of great importance for the national government, mainly in view of the necessary reactivation of the Argentine economy.

The projects that Argentina prioritizes for investment from China are the rehabilitation plan of the San Martín Railway system, improvements to the Roca Railway line, infrastructure works on the Miter and Urquiza railway, the redefinition of the Belgrano Cargas railway network and the incorporation of rolling stock for passengers. In parallel, the installation of smart pig farms is being discussed. It is estimated that the value of the investment would be around 3.8 billion dollars for a period of four years, in addition to the objective of producing 882 thousand tons of meat for a value of 2.5 billion dollars.

Likewise, the landing of Chinese investments in mining is discussed, especially in the production of copper and lithium in northern Argentina. Regarding lithium, Argentina signed an agreement with Jiangsu Jiankang Automobile (JJA) for the production of vehicles and batteries in the country. The list of projects includes the remodeling of the Chaco-Corrientes bridge, the construction of an aqueduct and water treatment plants, road corridors and the development of a logistics hub in Tierra del Fuego.

Regarding investments in energy, the president has in his portfolio five main works that require large investments that he will request from the Asian giant. This plan prepared by the Secretary of Energy, Darío Martinez, and the Minister of Economy, Martín Guzmán, stands out for the non-inclusion of one of the most demanded works by China: the construction of the fourth nuclear power plant in the country with Chinese technology . This works plan includes the construction of the southern gas pipeline, the electric grid in AMBA, the electric grid in Patagonia, the Mesopotamia pipeline and the construction of a thermal power plant.

The construction of the fourth nuclear power plant began to take shape during the government of Cristina Fernández for a value of 12 billion dollars. With Mauricio Macri in power, the cost was lowered to 9 billion. However, with the economic crisis and Macri’s electoral defeat, the project came to a standstill. The arrival of Alberto Fernandez meant for China the possibility of discussing the realization of the project. Another work that does not appear in this plan is the construction of the Chihuido hydroelectric dam in Neuquén. This work claimed by Russia and China would remain in the hands of Germany.

One year after the start of the pandemic in Argentina and the measures that have been adopted to act accordingly, the link with China has deepened. The Chinese market has become the main destination for beef exports from Argentina. Bilateral trade between the two countries, which in 2000 was around 2 billion dollars, closed in 2019 at a value close to 16.3 billion dollars, with Argentine exports for 7 billion dollars and imports for 9 billion dollars. of dollars. In addition, the Argentine government closed an agreement with the pharmaceutical company Sinopharm in early February for the shipment of 1 million doses and the arrival of another 3 million doses is expected at the end of March.

This new boost to the relationship with China is expected to be strategic, commercially balanced and accompanied by the necessary responsibility in environmental and social matters.

More information

Author

Mariano Camoletto

Contact

Gonzalo Roza, gon.roza@fundeps.org

IDB Invest presented a revised version of the Implementation Manual for its Sustainability Policy

Through a virtual session, on February 25, IDB Invest presented the latest revised version of the Implementation Manual for its Environmental and Social Sustainability Policy. The document is key to achieving a correct and effective implementation of the policy approved in April 2020 and which came into effect last December.

“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”

After being approved by the Board of Executive Directors on April 10, 2020, the new IDB Invest Environmental and Social Sustainability Policy came into effect on December 15. The latest revised version of the Implementation Manual for said policy was presented on February 25 through a virtual session in which more than 20 representatives of civil society organizations participated.

The new Implementation Manual is based on the Bank’s Sustainability Framework composed of the Sustainability Policy and the policies and standards that accompany it, such as the Access to Information Policy, the IFC Performance Standards, the MICI Policy, among others. The purpose of this Manual is to guide clients in their actions according to the different factors and environments that may arise, taking into account the principles and requirements of the IDB Invest Sustainability Framework. Also, the Manual addresses, in a general way, the activities that the project cycle contemplates and the accountability mechanisms that people and communities can access in case the project affects them.

On the other hand, it considers the risk factors that may occur or that already occur in the environment where the project is carried out. Among the topics and risk factors mentioned in the Manual are vulnerable groups, human rights, the inclusion and participation of stakeholders in the project, working conditions, among others.

An important advance is the incorporation of the Exclusion List that lists the activities that IDB Invest will not finance due to adverse environmental and social effects.

However, the application of the Manual is not mandatory for clients or the Bank since it constitutes rather a roadmap that contemplates the requirements of the Environmental and Social Sustainability Framework, and international good practices and lessons learned that clients may or may not apply. In addition, although it addresses the options available to the Bank in the event of non-compliance with the Sustainability Policy by its clients, there is little precision regarding the manner and requirements in which these options would be applied.

In this way, it remains to be seen if this manual ends up being really effective in filling the gaps left by the Sustainability Policy in force. Key to this will not only be a strong commitment on the part of the Bank and its clients, but also a work of monitoring and follow-up to the effective implementation of the policy by civil society.

More information

Contact

Gonzalo Roza, gon.roza@fundeps.org

Gender and International Financial Institutions: the case of the Inter-American Development Bank

This document proposes a descriptive and evaluative analysis of the implementation of the Gender Policy in the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and its main objective is to investigate such implementation based on the weaknesses and strengths identified in the Bank’s gender policy. , in order to continue making progress in incorporating elements and tools that guarantee women’s rights and diversity.

Descargar Documento / Download File
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CSOs point out the weaknesses of the new IDB Invest’s Environmental and Social Sustainability Policy

On December 15, the new IDB Invest Environmental and Social Sustainability Policy will take effect. Civil Society Organizations in the region issued a Public Declaration warning about the weaknesses that the new Policy presents.

“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 April 10, IDB Invest approved the new Environmental and Social Sustainability Policy that takes effect tomorrow, December 15. After the process of face-to-face and virtual public consultations that the Bank carried out last year in which civil society organizations, peasant communities, indigenous peoples, and Afro-descendant peoples participated, at the end of May the new policy of the private arm of the IDB Group was presented.

Despite the participation, through the sending of comments, of interested parties in the period of face-to-face and virtual public consultations, in the new Policy there is little or even no incorporation of issues considered relevant. For this reason, and in the face of the weaknesses and limitations that the new Environmental and Social Sustainability Policy presents, the CSOs of the region issued a Public Declaration warning about the precariousness of the policy, the consequences that it would bring to the countries of the region and the setback it means compared to the previous Policy.

Among the main points that we highlight in the Declaration on the limitations of the new Policy are, firstly, the direct adoption of the Environmental and Social Performance Standards of the International Finance Corporation -CFI- dating from 2012, not including changes or adaptations to new realities, making them obsolete in the current context of environmental and social challenges faced by Latin America and the Caribbean.

Another important limitation is the absence of subsidiary and joint liability on the part of IDB Invest regarding the actions of the actors over whom it has influence, that is, it is detached from institutional responsibility in the face of the possible negative impacts that the activities it finances may cause where the responsibility will fall solely on the client. This means the weakening of environmental and social protections created in order to avoid the adverse impacts caused by the projects. Along these lines, IDB Invest omits its duty to “enforce”, which means that it reserves the right to decide in which cases it will apply corrective measures and in which not.

In addition, the Public Declaration highlights the vagueness and ambiguity of the language used in the new Policy since it favors the Bank to act according to what it deems pertinent as well as increases the risk of non-compliance by customers.

Finally, one of the most alarming points are the gaps in the commitments regarding the environment and the social. Regarding the environment, the commitment to mitigation is fragile since there are no express restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions -GEI-, just to mention one case. With regard to social matters, although the policy makes clear its commitment to promote good international practices, in matters such as Human Rights, Retaliation, Gender Risk Management and Equality, as well as Participation of Interested Parties and Disclosure of Information , a superficial and weak commitment is evident when addressing them. For example, in relation to human rights, essential rights such as economic, social and cultural rights or the right to a pollution-free environment are not mentioned.

Then, regarding stakeholder participation, no commitment is made to ensure timely, meaningful and culturally appropriate participation. The Policy undertakes to establish a system for receiving and monitoring complaints of retaliation, it does not detail a procedure to resolve them, nor does it follow the recommendations of the specialized guide prepared by the MICI for the management of retaliation and protection of environmental defenders and activists.

Finally, in gender risk management and equality, the Policy does incorporate the promotion of good practices but excludes the IDB Group’s Operational Policy on Gender Equality in Development, a significant setback that will increase inequality and risks for women. women and LGBTQ + people.

Among many other issues that are addressed in the Public Statement, it is extremely necessary for IDB Invest to be relentless in demanding compliance with environmental, social and transparency standards from its clients if it is truly to promote sustainable growth, reduce poverty. and the inequality of the region. With the current pandemic context and looking at the post-pandemic situation, IDB Invest cannot be flexible in the procedures of social and environmental evaluation and due diligence in the approvals of financing operations since this is the only way to achieve sustainable development and reduce the environmental and social crisis in which Latin America and the Caribbean finds itself.

More information

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Analysis of the IDB Invest Gender Risk Assessment Tool

This document proposes a descriptive and evaluative analysis of the recently published (2020) “Gender Risk Assessment Tool” (HERG) of the IDB Invest, which is a gender plan for companies to evaluate the impact of their projects on gender issues and structure prevention processes.

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Analysis of the new Environmental and Social Policy Framework of the Inter-American Development Bank, from a gender perspective

This document analyzes those issues that have been incorporated and the aspects that have not been incorporated and / or modified from the public consultation process carried out by the IDB. In particular, it emphasizes the need to guarantee the rights of girls, adolescents, women and LGBTTTQ + people so that the human rights of all people are effectively respected and guaranteed (Only spanish)

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The First Finance in Common Summit was held, which brought together the world’s public development banks

The Finance in Common Summit, held from November 9 to 12, is the first global summit to be attended by all the world’s development banks and multilateral institutions. Civil society organizations from different regions have demonstrated in the absence of human rights and the voices of the communities on the event’s agenda.

“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 November 9 and 12, 2020, the Finance in Common Summit was held, which was attended by 450 Public Development Banks of the world, multilateral institutions, heads of State, representatives of the private sector, civil society, academia, among others. The event was an initiative of the World Federation of Financial Institutions for Development -FEMIDE- and the International Development Finance Club -IDFC-. It was sponsored by the President of France, Emmanuel Macron and by the French Development Agency -AFD; and counted with the participation of the Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres.

The summit focused on the crucial role that Public Development Banks play as capable and necessary actors to provide a collective response to global challenges, agreeing on short-term sustainable recovery measures on the COVID-19 crisis and with an impact on long-term in the environment and in societies. However, the Summit’s agenda did not address human rights, rights that are constantly violated and violated by the investments of development banks. Thus, indigenous peoples, Afro-descendant communities, local communities, and human rights defenders did not have a space to express their concerns and concerns.

This, despite the fact that in September, more than 200 civil society organizations from around the world sent a letter to the French Development Agency requesting that the principles of development that is focused on rights be included and prioritized. humans. Due to the lack of response, CSOs issued a Joint Declaration calling on Public Development Banks -BPD- to invest their financial resources in building a just, equitable, inclusive and sustainable future for all societies in the world. 

This summit should be an opportunity for development banks to modify the way they operate and place democracy, inclusion, equality, solidarity and the common good as the axis of their actions. It is urgent that PDBs commit to financing for fair, equitable and sustainable development, promoting and guaranteeing human rights for all, without neglecting vulnerable and marginalized communities.

Más Información 

Contact
Gonzalo Roza, gon.roza@fundeps.org
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Virtual meetings on Gender and International Financial Institutions

Two virtual meetings to learn about the world of the IFIs, their accountability mechanisms, and share useful tools with feminist organizations in the region.

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The international financial institutions -IFIs- are one of the most important actors for the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean in terms of project financing. However, it is necessary for the IFIs to have Gender Policies and mainstream the gender perspective in the design, development and execution of the projects they finance, and consider the gender-differentiated impacts they cause.

For this reason, we launched two virtual meetings in which we will learn about the IFIs and share useful tools for organizations made up of diverse and dissident feminities and identities to build capacity to monitor the projects financed by them.

In the first meeting, we will get closer to the world of the IFIs and their accountability mechanisms. It will take place on Tuesday, November 10, at 4:00 p.m. Argentina.

In the second meeting, we will provide tools to obtain information and monitor projects financed by development financial institutions. It will be held on November 17 at 4:00 p.m.

REGISTER