17 November 2008
ADB consults with civil society organizanizations this week on their social and environmental lending criteria. Critics worry that the strategy will not reduce poverty in the region.
On Tuesday, November 17, 2008 in Manila, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will begin consultations with civil society organizations on their second draft plan of their social and environmental lending criteria.
ADB's first draft, published a year ago, received harsh criticism from several activists and analysts, and so there is an even greater pressure on ADB this time around to create a sound policy draft. Onlookers say that this strategy will determine ADB's commitment to defending the region's poorest people.
While ADB's president, Haruhiko Kuroda, insists that there will be no dilution of the safeguards, which cover the environment, involuntary relocations and indigenous people, many of those attending the consultations this week are not so optimistic. They suggest that the new policy draft does not respond adequately to previous criticisms, especially with respect to private sector modalities and the fact that the ADB's three sectors' operation manuals are being distilled into one. Ted Downing, the president of the International Network on Displacement and Resettlement, has commented that this overhaul could result in the impoverishment of millions.
Source:
Reputation on line over bid to update criteria, John Aglionby, November 17 2008 (FT website)
More resources:
BIC's ADB safeguards policies update page (BIC website)