Tag Archive for: Social and Environmental Standards

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The IDB approved its new Environmental and Social Policy Framework

The process of modernizing the IDB’s environmental and social policies began in January of this year with the first stage of face-to-face and virtual public consultations in the different countries. In Argentina, the face-to-face consultation was held in March in Buenos Aires and the process for submitting comments ended in mid-April. From Fundeps, we prepared and presented to the IDB a document with comments to the MPAS from a gender perspective. In addition, with more than 50 civil society organizations in the region, we sent the IDB a document with recommendations to the MPAS.

“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 mid-July, the IDB published the second draft of the MPAS and began the second stage of virtual consultations for a period of 30 days. In this second stage of consultations, we sent a new document with comments on the second draft of the MPAS from a gender perspective.

The process of modernizing the Bank’s environmental and social policies ended on September 16 when the IDB’s Board of Executive Directors approved the new Environmental and Social Policy Framework -MPAS-. From now on, the IDB begins a period of one year to prepare clients for the implementation of the new framework.

With the new MPAS already approved, it is pertinent to analyze which have been the main modifications incorporated during the process, based on the intervention and active participation of an important group of civil society organizations in the region.

Thus, according to the analysis carried out by the Bank Information Center, the main modifications incorporated in the new Framework have been, in part, the product of the recommendations and suggestions made by the CSOs that make up the Working Group on the IDB. In general terms, one of the main changes in the MPAS Political Declaration stands out as the Bank’s commitment to improve stakeholder participation in accordance with the obligation to respect the right of access to information, participation and justice in environmental issues consistent with the principles of the Escazú Agreement.

Another positive point is the incorporation of the principle of “doing good beyond causing harm” which implies increasing the benefits of sustainable development by asking the borrower to report how the project design will improve the environment and the social issue. In addition, the Bank will carry out its own due diligence taking into account the commitment, history and capacity of the borrower in the development and implementation of the financial operation.

In terms of supervision and monitoring, in the event of noncompliance with social and environmental performance standards, the IDB will work with the borrower by providing technical assistance and greater monitoring of the Bank and stakeholders to achieve compliance with the standards of MPAS performance. On the other hand, regarding the complaint and accountability mechanisms, the Bank added a new provision to the MPAS in which it undertakes not to tolerate any type of retaliation against those who express their opinion and / or opposition to a project financed by the IDB. Thus, a complaint mechanism is established at the project level, in which the borrower must take into account physical, sensory, and cognitive needs of the people who participate.

An important addition to the new MPAS is the exclusion list of activities consistent with the commitments adopted by the IDB to address climate change, that is, it will not finance activities that involve the exploration of oil and gas or the production of energy from the use of the Coal.

Main additions to performance standards

General and gender modifications are highlighted in the Performance Standards (ND), namely:

  • PS 1 Evaluation and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts: must be applied to all projects financed by the IDB. In addition, the borrower must consider risks and impacts related to human rights, gender, natural hazards, and climate change. In identifying risks and impacts, the borrower has to consider the direct, indirect and cumulative environmental and social impacts of the project. It must also identify the various historically disadvantaged cross-cutting groups in Latin America and the Caribbean, such as women, people of diverse sexual and gender orientation, people with disabilities, Afro-descendants, and indigenous peoples, and implement measures to avoid differentiated impacts on them. The description of the types of risks that the standard makes is highlighted, since by mentioning each of the possible risks, it helps to make them visible and makes the borrower responsible for taking action in this regard.
  • PS 2 Work and Working Conditions: special measures for protection and assistance were incorporated and to address violence, harassment, intimidation and exploitation towards women and people with different sexual orientations and gender identity, people with disabilities, children and migrant workers . In addition, the borrower has the obligation to provide a grievance mechanism for workers in which they can express their concerns and so that they can make complaints of sexual and gender-based violence. On the other hand, this standard, despite the recommendations made, is narrated from an androcentric perspective that does not integrate the needs of girls, adolescents, women and LGTTTBIQ + people. This highlights the lack of a gender perspective that is transversal to all performance standards.
  • PS 3 Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention: greater emphasis is placed on the mitigation hierarchy and the “polluter pays” principle. The concept and practice of the circular economy is also recognized. On the other hand, this norm recognizes the disproportionate impact that pollution has on women, children, the elderly, and the poor and vulnerable, however, it continues without making reference to norm 9 on gender equality.
  • PS 4 Community Health and Safety: includes the requirement for the borrower to perform a more detailed analysis of the risk assessment and make adjustments to prevent injuries and illnesses when there are risks that may be adverse to the health, safety and well-being of the people. Regarding gender, the standard refers to PS 9 regarding the requirements to address the risks of sexual and gender-based violence in cases of communal conflict and influx of external workers.
  • PS 5 Land Acquisition and Involuntary Resettlement: in the case of this rule, there is inconsistency with respect to the concept of involuntary resettlement found in the glossary and the one described in the rule. The definition of the glossary is the product of the recommendation made by CSOs where it is defined as “involuntary resettlement when the people affected by the project do not have or cannot exercise the right to reject the acquisition of land or restrictions on the use of land that resulting from a physical or economic displacement ”, on the other hand, in this PS it is defined as“ involuntary when the people affected by the project do not have the right to reject the acquisition of land… ”. On the other hand, the recognition of women as owners in the event of displacement has been an advance. Another limitation in the regulation is that it should not be limited to considering the requirements related to Indigenous Peoples, gender equality and stakeholder participation in accordance with PS 7, 9 and 10, but must include them.
  • PS 6 Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources: highlights that PS 1’s risk and impact identification process must consider project-related cumulative impacts on biodiversity and the ecosystem and identify any significant residual impacts . In addition, it provides a more complete definition of critical habitat as it includes legally protected areas or internationally recognized areas of high biodiversity value. Regarding the issue of the gender perspective, this standard continues to require its mainstreaming and the incorporation of the reference to PS 9.
  • PS 7 Indigenous Peoples: is aligned with internationally recognized standards. In addition, it adds that the borrower must respect the rights of indigenous peoples in accordance with national legislation, international law, or indigenous legal systems. On the other hand, in accordance with participation and consent, the requirement is included to use indigenous consultation and participation protocols to ensure their representation as well as that of indigenous women and people of diverse sexual orientation and gender identities. Also, in the evaluation and documentation of the resources of the indigenous communities affected by a project, it is required that it be inclusive in gender and consider the role of women in the management and use of resources.
  • PS 9 Gender Equality: the term Gender Violence was replaced by a more comprehensive and comprehensive term: Sexual and Gender Violence. The recognition that unpaid care work falls on women is highlighted, which hinders the achievement of gender equality and the economic empowerment of women. Another point to note is that the borrower should evaluate the project for potential gender-based impacts and risks that disproportionately affect women, girls, and sexual and gender minorities, and if risks and impacts are identified, the borrower should conduct a Gender Analysis as part of environmental and social due diligence. On the other hand, regarding consultations, the borrower is required to identify and address the obstacles faced by women and people of different sexual orientation and gender identities, ensuring equitable participation.
  • PS 10 Stakeholder Participation and Disclosure of Information: the new PS 10 is consistent with the implementation of rights of access to environmental information, public participation in environmental decision-making as well as access to environmental justice of the Escazú Agreement. Like PS 1, this rule should be applied to all projects financed by the Bank. Regarding gender, the incorporation of PS 9 is considered a great advance in mainstreaming the gender perspective.

The balance that can be made with respect to the new IDB Environmental and Social Policy Framework, compared to the initial version proposed by the Bank at the beginning of the review process, could be considered quite positive, since it is widely incorporated of the recommendations made by CSOs to MPAS during the consultation process. This, despite the shortcomings and problems presented by the public consultation process carried out by the Bank and which was repeatedly highlighted by CSOs in the region as a necessary aspect to improve.

It remains to be seen whether the positive changes introduced in the new MPAS will effectively result in a strengthening of the institution’s social and environmental standards, a necessary issue due to the context of weakening environmental and social standards that the region is going through, and the challenges and threats looming in this regard in a context of post-pandemic Covid-19 economic reactivation. In this sense, the way in which this new framework is implemented and how its application will work in practice will be key. In this regard, it is a priority for the Bank to improve the way in which it engages and relates to civil society and affected communities, and makes them active participants in the process of implementing the new environmental and social framework.

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Author

  • Sofia Brocanelli

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Nuclear cooperation between Argentina and China advances

In November, the Argentine government plans to move forward with the signing of the contract for the construction of the fourth Hualong-type nuclear power plant, with Chinese financing.

“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 government of Alberto Fernández advances in the signing of the contract for the fourth nuclear power plant with the Asian giant. The preliminary agreements signed in 2014 and 2015 included the construction of two nuclear reactors. One of the reactors would be made of Candu-type natural uranium, a technology that Argentina handles, and the other reactor would be Hualong-type enriched uranium, of Chinese origin.

However, in the Macri government modifications were made to the agreements with China and in 2018 it was decided to build only the Hualong-type reactor, a model that is planned to be built in this administration. This type of reactor will require an investment of USD 8 billion and for this Argentina will have to import the fuel for the plant to function, which implies that the country depends on foreign suppliers. Several specialists such as José Luis Antúnez, Andrés Kreiner, Gabriel Barceló and Eduardo Barreiro are against this type of reactor and insist on the need to continue with the natural uranium technology that uses the Candu model.

On the other hand, proponents of the construction of the Hualong reactor such as Sabino Vaca Narvaja and Isidro Baschar see its construction as a smart partnership with China that will help strengthen national development. Also, they are negotiating the possibility of the country producing the nuclear fuel that this reactor model needs and thus avoiding dependence on foreign suppliers. In addition, they highlighted that the plant will have a Chinese loan of USD 7,900 million that will begin to be paid when the reactor generates electricity, that is, in 8 years. Regarding the cancellation of the construction of the Candu reactor, Vaca Narvaja and Baschar argued that the Ministry of Energy is working to reactivate it.

Regarding the choice to build nuclear power plants instead of opting for renewable energies such as wind and solar, it raises concern not only because of the higher construction cost but also because of the risks that nuclear energy implies. Detractors of the Hualong nuclear power plant maintain that it would not even be useful to develop the scientific-technological system, that if it occurs in other types of reactors such as the Candu.

The moment chosen to advance in the construction of the nuclear power plant is also questioned since, due to the context of the economic crisis and the restructuring of the debt in which Argentina finds itself, it would not be opportune to take on debt nor is energy necessary nuclear since at present the country has no deficit in energy production.

It should be noted that the commitment to greater nuclear development is closely linked to the type of energy matrix and the development model promoted by the country. In turn, it involves and affects, directly or indirectly, a wide variety of actors. Therefore, from Fundeps we consider that this type of decision should necessarily include a deep debate at the social level, with the necessary transparency and participation of the different social actors involved. Unfortunately this does not appear to be the case.

Author

Sofia Brocanelli

Contact

Gonzalo Roza, gon.roza@fundeps.org

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The United States candidate, Mauricio Claver-Carone, was elected as the new president of the IDB

Through a virtual meeting, the Board of Governors of the IDB elected the North American candidate, Mauricio Claver-Carone, as president of 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”.

On September 12, the members of the IDB Board of Governors met virtually to elect Mauricio Claver-Carone as the new president of the Bank for the next 5 years. Despite the fact that at the beginning of the election process several candidates presented themselves, the pressure exerted by the United States led the candidate Laura Chinchilla from Costa Rica to step down and later, one day before the elections, the Argentine candidate did, Gustavo Béliz. The strategy of not giving a quorum in the election planned by some of the countries in the region opposed to the North American candidate and the break with the historical tradition in the presidency of the IDB also failed.

Claver-Carone will replace Luis Alberto Moreno on October 1 of this year and will be the fifth president of the Bank. In addition, he will be responsible for the operations of the IDB Group, that is, the IDB, IDB Invest and IDB Lab. The president-elect serves as Deputy Assistant to the President of the United States and Senior Director of Western Hemisphere Affairs in the Security Council of The US was also the US Representative to the IMF and Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary for International Affairs in the US Department of the Treasury.

For a candidate to be elected president of the IDB, they must receive the majority of the total votes of the countries that are members of the IDB (48 member countries in total) and the support of at least 15 of the regional member countries (with Canada and USA the total of regional member countries is 28). In this case, Claver-Carone won with 67% of the shareholders in total and with the support of 23 of the 28 members of the region. The president is elected by the Board of Governors, the highest authority of the IDB. Each member country of the Bank has a Governor whose voting power is proportional to the capital that his country has in the IDB. Governors are generally the finance ministers, central bank presidents, or other public officials of member countries.

From civil society organizations, last month we issued a statement to the Bank’s Governors where we expressed our concern about the presidential elections of the Institution, the rejection of the nomination of the North American candidate and the lack of opening of the election process since the participation of social organizations and communities was considered. In the statement, we also highlighted the conditions that the new president should have, such as:

  • Strong commitment to multilateralism.
  • Extensive experience and knowledge of the context of Latin American and Caribbean countries.
  • Clear commitment to transparency, accountability and the participation of all communities and civil society in the Bank’s actions.
  • Knowledge and experience in development agendas that show a commitment to the public interest, the protection and promotion of human rights, gender equality, the need to quickly face the effects of climate change and implement a sustainable development model focused on indigenous peoples and communities.

What remains to be known is whether the president-elect, Mauricio Claver-Carone, meets all the aforementioned conditions and whether he will be able to distinguish himself from the presidency of Luis Alberto Moreno, marked by the lack of dialogue with civil society and affected communities. Will Claver-Carone be capable of opening spaces for dialogue with civil society and communities as well as responding adequately to the demands of Latin American and Caribbean countries in the context of the economic, social and climate crisis they are experiencing?

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Author

Sofia Brocanelli

Contact

Gonzalo Roza, gon.roza@fundeps.org

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Regional statement regarding the IDB presidential elections

Through a statement addressed to the Governors of the Inter-American Development Bank, civil society organizations, peasant communities, indigenous peoples and Afro-descendants and people with disabilities in Latin America and the Caribbean, we express our concern regarding the presidential elections of the Institution. In particular, we express our rejection of the decision of the United States government to present a North American candidate to preside over the Bank, and of the election process itself, which does not give rise to the participation of social organizations and 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”.

On September 12 and 13, the Inter-American Development Bank -BID- will elect a new president who will replace Luis Alberto Moreno, after 15 uninterrupted years of management. The elections will take place through an extraordinary meeting of the Board of Governors to be held virtually. Different countries in the region have nominated candidates, such as Argentina, which nominated Gustavo Béliz, and Costa Rica, Laura Chinchilla. However, what is causing concern in the current IDB presidential selection process is the nomination by the US of candidate Mauricio Claver Carone. This, in addition to going against the unwritten IDB rule that the Institution must be led by a Latin American representative, threatens the decision-making capacity of the Bank’s borrowing countries, given that the United States has the highest percentage of capital and votes within the Institution.

In a context marked by the crisis of multilateralism that the world is going through; the socio-ecological and climatic crisis that has a particularly serious impact on Latin America; the historical problems of inequity, inequality and poverty in the region; and the economic, social and health impacts and repercussions that the Covid-19 pandemic is generating, the transition in the presidency of the IDB is key for the future of the region.

Therefore, today more than ever the IDB requires a qualified leader who is capable of critically positioning himself with regard to the role that the Institution plays in the face of the complex panorama that the region is experiencing, and who is predisposed and capable of promoting a model different development. In this sense, the person appointed to the presidency of the IDB should necessarily meet a series of requirements that include, among others, the following:

  1. A clear and express commitment to multilateralism, at a time when the legitimacy of international institutions is being questioned and attacked;
  2. Extensive experience and knowledge of the reality of the countries of the region and the challenges they face in the current context;
  3. A clear commitment to transparency, accountability and the participation of communities, indigenous peoples and civil society in the actions of the Institution;
  4. Knowledge and experience in development agendas that reflect a commitment to the public interest, the protection and promotion of human rights, gender equality, the need to immediately face the effects of climate change and to bet on a model truly sustainable development focused on communities and indigenous peoples.

At the same time, the statement, to which more than 50 organizations joined, emphasizes that the election must go beyond voting and open spaces for dialogue between candidates and civil society and communities. After 15 uninterrupted years under the leadership of a presidency that impregnated particular characteristics, and in many cases questionable, the management and actions of the Bank, a unique opportunity is presented to learn more about the positions and proposals of the different candidates. facing the concerns and demands of communities and civil society; and in relation to the prevailing context in the region.

We hope that the IDB will rise to the current circumstances and take advantage of this opportunity to ensure that whoever becomes president of the Bank is truly the most qualified and appropriate person to lead it in the face of the complex moment the region is going through.

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Contact

Gonzalo Roza, gon.roza@fundeps.org

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Comments on the second draft of the IDB Environmental and Social Policy Framework, from a gender perspective

On Tuesday, August 5, we sent the IDB a new document with observations and comments on the second draft of the Environmental and Social Policy Framework from a gender perspective.

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 December 2019, the Inter-American Development Bank -BID- published the draft Environmental and Social Policy Framework -MPAS- to modernize its environmental and social policies. In January of this year, the face-to-face and virtual public consultations began, where Fundeps was present. In April, we sent a document with comments and observations on the draft MPAS from a gender perspective, which had the input of other civil society organizations. In this document we point out, above all, the lack of mainstreaming of the gender perspective in all the performance standards of the draft MPAS.

At the beginning of July, the Bank published the second draft of the MPAS in which it incorporated some of the recommendations sent by stakeholders (civil society, indigenous communities, Afro-descendant community) and began the second phase of the process for sending comments that It ended on Tuesday, August 5. From Fundeps, we analyzed this second draft of the MPAS and sent a new document with observations and comments from a gender perspective, with the aim of incorporating issues that we consider fundamental when considering the human rights of girls, adolescents, women and LGTTTBIQ + people. in the new social and environmental framework of the IDB.

Among the main points identified, we find positive aspects that have been incorporated as the reference to the Performance Standard -ND- 9 on gender equality in PS 1 (Evaluation and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts), PS 2 ( Labor and Working Conditions), PS 5 (Land Acquisition and Involuntary Resettlement) and PS 10 (Stakeholder Engagement and Disclosure of Information). Another aspect to highlight is the incorporation of ILO Convention 190 against violence and harassment in the workplace and Convention 100 on Equal Remuneration.

However, there are still many aspects to be incorporated that we believe are essential to guarantee gender equality and the mainstreaming of the gender perspective in the projects financed by the Bank. Among the necessary issues to be added to the new MPAS is the Bank’s duty to explicitly and transversally incorporate current and future international Treaties, Agreements and Conventions that contemplate the rights of girls, adolescents, women and LGTTTBIQ + people. In addition, the Bank as the main person in charge must mainstream the gender perspective throughout the Framework to avoid gender blindness.

A worrying issue is the replacement of the Policy on Gender Equality in Development by PS 9. Here the Bank should maintain the validity of the Policy as a complement to PS 9 on Gender Equality. Finally, we emphasize the need for the IDB to incorporate the great diversity of gender-gender identities, since the MPAS does not mention LGTTTBIQ + people, but rather identifies them as sexual and gender minorities. Therefore, we insist that LGTTTBIQ + people are specifically enunciated to ensure visibility and recognition of their existence and rights.

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Observations on the second draft of the IDB Environmental and Social Policy Framework from a gender perspective

In early July, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) published the second draft of the Environmental and Social Policy Framework -MPAS- and began the second phase of the 30-day consultation process. This document was produced within this framework and contains observations and comments on the second draft of the MPAS from a gender perspective.

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The Role of Latin America in the Belt and Road Initiative

The objective of this document is to analyze the strategy, objectives and political motivations of the People’s Republic of China in Latin America and the Caribbean. This analysis seeks to complement the previous analysis carried out by the Regional Group on Financing and Infrastructure (GREFI) based on the Asian giant’s commercial and investment strategy in LAC, which led to the publication of “General Overview of Chinese Investments in America Latina: The cases of Argentina, Colombia, Mexico and Peru ”in 2016. The document analyzes the Chinese political strategy in LAC by analyzing the relationship framework in certain multilateral and bilateral spaces in which China is present in the Region and in which it even exercises a leadership role. And special emphasis is placed on the Belt and Road Initiative promoted by China, and the role that the LAC region has to play in it. (Only in Spanish)

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Joint presentation: Document with Recommendations and comments on the draft of the Social and Environmental Policy Framework (MPAS) proposed by the IDB

On the occasion of the process of modernizing the environmental and social policies of the Inter-American Development Bank, more than 50 civil society organizations in the region made a document with recommendations and comments on the draft of the new IDB Environmental and Social Policy Framework to avoid corrosion of social and environmental standards. The following document sent to the IDB is in Spanish and English.

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We send recommendations regarding the possible dilution of the IDB’s socioenvironmental

In the framework of the public consultation process on the review of IDB environmental and social safeguards policies, together with a group of more than 50 civil society organizations in the region, we made comments and observations on the draft of the new Policy Framework. Environmental and Social, through a document that was sent to the Bank on Monday, April 20.

“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 18, 2019, the Executive Board of the Inter-American Development Bank -IDB- approved and published the draft of the new Environmental and Social Policy Framework -MPAS- on the occasion of the modernization of its environmental and social policies that govern the operations that lead to out the bank.

The proposal of this policy differs from the previous ones, since this draft Framework seeks to integrate environmental and social policies into a single policy. Thus, the draft of the MPAS is structured in two parts. In the first, it presents the Policy Statement that addresses the IDB’s responsibilities and roles and relevant issues such as human rights, gender equality, non-discrimination and inclusion, rights of Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendants and other traditional peoples, participation of interested parties. , reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and protection of Biodiversity, and natural resources and ecosystem.

In the second part of the draft, the ten environmental and social performance standards that must be met by the borrowers throughout the project life cycle are detailed. In addition, for the Bank, the Standards will serve as guides for risk assessment, classification, due diligence, monitoring and management.

The 10 Performance Standards are as follows:

  1. Assessment and management of environmental and social risks and impacts.
  2. Work and working conditions.
  3. Efficiency in the use of resources and prevention of contamination.
  4. Community health and safety.
  5. Land acquisition and resettlement.
  6. Conservation of biodiversity and sustainable management of natural resources.
  7. Indigenous villages.
  8. Cultural heritage.
  9. Gender equality.
  10. Stakeholder Participation and Disclosure of Information.

Following the Bank’s Public Consultation Plan, the public consultation process on the MPAS began in January through face-to-face consultations scheduled by the IDB in different parts of the world. It was not only possible to participate through face-to-face consultations, virtual consultations were also enabled through the sending of comments through the Bank’s website or through an e-mail address. This first phase of virtual consultations ended on April 20.

It was in this framework that more than 50 civil society organizations that we have been working collaboratively and jointly since last year, prepared and sent to the IDB a document with a large number of comments and observations on the draft of the new MPAS.

The document, with more than 80 pages, is structured in general comments and specific comments on each performance standard found in the framework, and not only identifies in detail each of the problematic aspects that we identified in the draft, but also provides particular recommendations to correct them. In this way, it seeks to avoid the evident dilution of environmental, social and human rights standards that would entail the approval of the draft of the new MPAS as it stands. The document was sent on Monday, April 20, the date on which the first phase of virtual public consultations on the draft of the new MPAS ended.

At the same time, from Fundeps, and with the support and collaboration of a group of civil society organizations specialized in gender issues, we sent particular comments regarding the draft MPAS from a gender perspective. In this document, we raise the need for the IDB not only to avoid weakening its current Gender Policy, considered one of the most advanced in the matter in relation to the rest of the IDB-related Financial Institutions, but also to decide to put itself decisively at the forefront In this matter, for which it must necessarily carry out a process of mainstreaming the gender perspective in all its financed policies and projects (See document).

Which are the next steps? The IDB will prepare a second draft of the MPAS in which it must incorporate the recommendations and observations received from civil society during the consultation process. However, previous experience in recent consultation processes carried out by the IDB shows that the Bank is unlikely to incorporate and take into account the most important recommendations provided by civil society. We hope that in this case this trend will be reversed.

When the Executive Board approves the second draft, the IDB will publish it on its website and begin the second stage of the consultation process, which will be virtual and for a period of 30 days. Once this period has ended, it will produce the final version of the Framework and a document with the response to the comments received. The approved MPAS would take effect in January 2021.

From civil society, we hope that the IDB will take into consideration the comments and observations that have been made not only to avoid dilution of the institution’s social and environmental standards, which have been built together with civil society in recent decades. , but also to take advantage of the opportunity to advance and strengthen them. Something that becomes even more necessary in a regional context marked by the weakening of the national socio-environmental framework in most countries.

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We make comments and observations on the IDB’s Environmental and Social Policy Framework from a gender perspective

From Fundeps, together with the participation of some international civil society organizations, we sent the IDB a document with comments and observations on the Environmental and Social Policy Framework from a gender perspective.

“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 December 2019, the Inter-American Development Bank -IDB- published the draft of the Environmental and Social Policy Framework (MPAS) in order to modernize its environmental and social policies. What does this MPAS mean? These are the requirements in environmental and social policy that the Bank or the Bank’s borrowers must meet when carrying out a project. In this statement, the Bank maintains a commitment to environmental and social sustainability, translated into a series of requirements and recommendations ordered in ten Performance Standards to be met in each project.

In January 2020, on-site and virtual public consultations began, in which Fundeps participated by presenting a review of what was proposed in social and environmental safeguards policies. This month, we led a document with specific comments and observations to Rule 9, on Gender Equality, and its lack of mainstreaming towards the rest of the MPAS Rules. This document was formulated together with another group of NGOs that adhered to the recommendations and together it was presented to the IDB. This work involved analyzing the entire draft of the Framework from a gender perspective and also contrasting it with previous gender policies published by the Bank.

As mentioned, the first shortcoming identified is the loss of mainstreaming of gender policy in project financing requirements. Taking into account that such projects directly and indirectly affect local communities, we demand that the Gender Equality Standard dialogue with other approaches such as race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, profession / activities, geographic location, among others. In other words, we demand that the problems be addressed from an intersectional vision, recognizing the coexistence of different vulnerabilities.

Regarding its conceptualization of gender equality, some inequalities of women with respect to men are mentioned, along with possible violence against trans people, so its approach in relation to LGBTTTIQ + people is scarce and superficial. Although it refers to ‘gender empowerment’ instead of ‘women empowerment’, there is no specific mention of gender, which manifests the reproduction of a binary, exclusive and regressive approach in terms of human rights. Furthermore, this means -not specifically mentioning the genres- the lack of incorporation of LGBTTTIQ people in the requirements to be met by the projects.

In its implementation measures, we note that the approaches proposed by the international human rights treaties for girls, adolescents, women, and LGBTTTIQ + people are not incorporated. On the other hand, the implementation measures required of borrowers do not include a proactive policy to advance on gender equality, as it was included in previous Bank gender policies. We continue with a preventive policy, although we identified an absence of a gender perspective in the design of strategies to mitigate and prevent violence, discrimination and inequalities.

In order to materialize progress regarding human rights in IDB-financed projects, we raise the need to strengthen the Bank’s commitment to the gender perspective, such as incorporating it at the internal level of its organizational structure. Taking into account the Bank’s ability to generate public policies through its choice of financing, we conclude that it must develop robust frameworks, operational policies, and accountability mechanisms that incorporate the gender perspective cross-sectionally and ensure the informed participation of affected people at all stages of all projects financed and undertaken by the Bank.

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Comments and observations on the draft IDB Environmental and Social Policy Framework from a gender perspective

This document makes comments and observations on the draft of the IDB’s new Environmental and Social Policy Framework from a gender perspective. The comments and suggestions have been made with the aim of strengthening the Bank’s commitment to the gender perspective and its internal incorporation into its organizational structure. It also seeks to avoid the continued violation and corrosion of the rights of women and LGBTTTQ + people.

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We participate in the consultations of the new IDB Environmental and Social Policy Framework

In the framework of the process of reviewing the environmental and social policies of the Inter-American Development Bank, we participated in public consultations held in the cities of Buenos Aires and Washington DC. Together with a group of civil society organizations, we raised certain concerns and recommendations regarding the review and consultation process, as well as the content of the draft of the proposed Environmental and Social Policy Framework.

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In January, the IDB began the public consultation process on a new Environmental and Social Policy Framework (MPAS), which has included, up to now, face-to-face and virtual consultations in the cities of Brussels (Belgium), City of Panama (Panama), Kingston (Jamaica), Lima (Peru), Buenos Aires (Argentina) and Washington DC (United States). In addition, the reception of a first round of virtual comments regarding the draft is contemplated until April 20.

From Fundeps, we participated both in the face-to-face public consultation carried out on March 10 in the City of Buenos Aires and in the consultation carried out on March 13 in the city of Washington DC. In turn, we plan to send written comments regarding the draft released by the Bank in the framework of a joint work we have been carrying out with a group of civil society organizations in the region.

In general terms, the draft MPAS proposes two different sections: a Policy Statement that basically establishes the roles and responsibilities that will correspond to the IDB in terms of compliance with the socio-environmental provisions and requirements of the new Framework; and a second section that includes the detail of the Environmental and Social Performance Standards with which the borrowers must comply. The draft proposes the inclusion of ten Standards: 1. Assessment and management of environmental and social risks and impacts; 2. Work and working conditions; 3. Efficiency in the use of resources and pollution prevention; 4. Community health and safety; 5. Land acquisition and resettlement; 6. Conservation of biodiversity and sustainable management of natural resources; 7. Indigenous peoples; 8. Cultural heritage; 9. Gender equality; and 10. Stakeholder participation and disclosure of information.

The IDB has argued that the proposed MPAS is based on five guiding principles: the non-dilution of current policies; results orientation (that is, effective implementation); the proportionality of the responsibilities and the established requirements regarding the level of risk of the project; transparency and the idea of ​​”doing good” beyond “doing no harm”.

However, the analysis that we have carried out together with the rest of the organizations involved in this process allows us to glimpse that, at least as proposed, the current draft is far from effectively complying with each of these guiding principles. In general terms, a dilution of policies and socio-environmental protection can be seen in many of the Performance Standards; it is not clear how effective the implementation of said MPAS will be; The idea of ​​proportionality is not reflected in many sections of the draft; and practically no sections can be identified in the draft that propose “doing good” in the sense that the Bank proposes: that of facilitating more sustainable social and environmental results.

In turn, the entire review process being carried out by the Bank is far from being transparent and “offering significant opportunities for participation by all interested parties” as established by the IDB. Precisely, as usually happens with the consultation processes carried out by the IDB, this process has had important shortcomings, especially in the objective of achieving effective participation by stakeholders.

We have duly expressed all these criticisms and problems to the Bank’s representatives in each of the consultations in which we participate and we accompany them with specific recommendations and suggestions that they should take into account when preparing the next draft of the Framework. In addition, these recommendations will be sent in writing in advance before the expiration of the term to send comments virtually.

Having completed the public consultations and once the period for receiving comments and suggestions virtually ends, the Bank must prepare a new draft of the Environmental and Social Policy Framework to be presented to the Board of Directors. Subsequently, the new Draft will be published for a new round of virtual comments for a period of 30 days, according to the Public Consultation Plan approved by the Bank’s Executive Board. Upon completion of this period, the IDB will develop the final version of the Framework that will be submitted to the Policy and Evaluation Committee of the IDB Board for final evaluation.

The IDB is a member of the IDB Group. It is a source of long-term financing for the economic, social, and institutional development of Latin America and the Caribbean and, unlike IDB Invest that invests in private sector projects, the IDB is responsible for investment in the public sector.

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