Call for transparency and robust social and environmental protections
As government ministers from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa gather in Washington, DC for the third board of governors meeting of the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) April 13 and 14, civil society groups in BRICS countries appealed to their governments and NDB management to operate transparently and to work with civil society to develop adequate social and environmental standards.
In an April 4th letter to Bank officials, the groups stressed concern that the Bank is operating without meaningful engagement with civil society and appears to be selecting projects without the necessary policy framework to identify social and environmental risks and prevent harm. “As civil society groups, we are definitely concerned, as so far, we have absolutely no idea what the various policies of the Bank are regarding project selection and criteria,” explained Srinivas Krishnaswamy, Director, Vasudha Foundation, India. “We do hope that the NDB operates in a more transparent and inclusive manner, and in line with the overall theme of this year’s BRICS Summit – ‘Building Responsive, Inclusive, and Collective Solutions.’”
The Bank, which plans to finance infrastructure and sustainable development activities in BRICS countries and in other developing and emerging economy countries has declined requests to meet with civil society representatives prior to the Board of governors meeting. “This is an unhappy beginning for a development institution,” stated Bonita Meyersfeld Director of the Centre for Applied Legal Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. “Given the hope and aspirations of the BRICS NDB to advance economic development of the BRICS states, it is seminal that it embrace the transparency, openness and commitment to human rights indispensable to stable and sustainable investment projects.”
In the letter, groups called on the NDB and their national governments to ensure that a robust policy framework is developed through meaningful consultation with civil society prior to approval of project loans. “Infrastructure projects, even those deemed sustainable, can generate adverse impacts, and thus should be subject to environmental and social assessment prior to their approval, as well as supervision and management throughout implementation,” explained Caio Borges, a lawyer with the Brazilian organization, Conectas Direitos Humanos. “If the NDB wants to develop a new approach to environmental and social impact assessment, it should do so by learning from past experiences of other multilateral development banks and listening to different perspectives, not by undermining social participation in this stage of policy development.”
“Transparency is like a road marking on the path to sustainable development. Locals have to know which projects may come and which effects may emerge and last.” said Alexander Kolotov, Director of the Russian Krasnoyarsk regional public environmental organization, Plotina. “These shouldn’t be surprises – the local communities to be potentially affected should receive all necessary information in advance.”
Coalition for Human Rights in Development
