Urgent letter to World Bank
On July 23rd the World Bank board of directors will discuss the Bank’s safeguards review: In the coming months, the World Bank revises its social and environmental safeguards and according to Both ENDS programme officer Pieter Jansen this offers opportunities to encourage the Bank to strengthen them . This would improve the level of protection of people and the natural resources they depend on in World Bank projects. But if the Bank decides to make the safeguards more flexible instead, its investments could have more negative consequences for local populations and their habitat. Civil society organisations have repeatedly expressed their concerns, and since it’s almost the 23rd, Pieter makes a last attempt to make the World Bank aware of its responsibility: on behalf of Both ENDS he sent a letter with recommendations to Frank Heemskerk, the Dutch executive director at the World Bank. Pieter explains.
Why was it necessary to send this letter?
“Traditionally the World Bank is a frontrunner in the field of safeguards and often an example for other development banks. But currently this position is under pressure. The World Bank is no longer the only source of financing for developing countries; development banks from countries like China and Brazil have entered the scene. These banks’ safeguards and criteria are much weaker, and consequently their loans are more attractive for governments, project developers and companies: they don’t have to comply with the same level of rules and regulations. Despite all this, we want to encourage the World Bank to implement strict rules and to keep setting the benchmarks for other development banks”
What do you hope to achieve with this letter?
“The executive directors of the World Bank, like Frank Heemskerk, will most likely now start to define the broad framework of the new safeguards policy. I hope that this letter will help achieve that the Netherlands –preferably in close cooperation with other European countries – takes the opportunity to translate its commitments to sustainable development into concrete measures. Therefore we made a number of recommendations. From our point of view, for example, the safeguards should apply to all loans and grants from the World Bank. Also, we think that every loan and grant should guarantee the respect for human rights. If the executive directors of the World Bank take up our advice, we can trust that the safeguards will get stronger. We would like to see the Netherlands advocate these ambitious goals.”
What is Both ENDS’ role?
“Both ENDS, together with partner organisations from the South, has been committed for years already to promoting policies that enable poor communities to participate in decision-making. We believe that communities should have a say in how land or water resources can be managed in a sustainable way. Strict social and environmental criteria can help to make sure that funds from development banks will only be channeledto projects that do no harm. Strong safeguards are an important aspect of our work .”
The letter to Frank Heemskerk, the Dutch executive director of the World Bank
Read more about this subject
-
Instalink / 21 November 2024
-
Blog / 19 November 2024
Building Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning systems based on mutual accountability and trust
Just before summer, on June 27th we participated in a panel discussion on inclusive conservation in a learning event organized by WWF Netherlands. Several organizations joined in a discussion on inclusive, decolonial, rights-based, and community-led approaches in conservation. We discussed the barriers, gaps and opportunities in how power is shared, inclusion promoted, and accountability practiced in our work. The question raised was: as Dutch-based organizations, are we doing enough to really work inclusive? In 2023 Both ENDS started an Examination of Power process to research how power is experienced in our partnerships. I share a couple of practical tips and insights that I feel might benefit the greater conversation around Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) in our sector.
-
Instalink / 18 November 2024
-
Blog / 18 November 2024
The global rise of authoritarian regimes demands global strategies
The global funding landscape for civil society movements is changing, and is increasingly faced with policies that restrict funding streams, limit philanthropic work, and silence critical voices. These are not incidental shifts but part of a broader pattern that erodes the support for those international networks and movements under the guise ‘necessary financial cuts’, ‘aid reform’ or ‘efficiency’.
-
Publication / 18 November 2024
-
Instalink / 16 November 2024
-
Instalink / 15 November 2024
-
Event / 15 November 2024, 12:50 - 16:45
#BothENDSatCOP29 Side Events
Both ENDS’ participation at COP29 includes three critical side events that will highlight gender-just climate finance, locally-led adaptation, and multilateral approaches to a just energy transition and industrialisation in the Global South.
-
Instalink / 14 November 2024
-
Instalink / 13 November 2024
-
Instalink / 12 November 2024
-
Press release / 12 November 2024
Ruling climate case Shell: "Shell has an obligation to protect human rights."
The Hague, 12 November 2024 - The court has ruled in Shell's appeal in the Climate Case that Milieudefensie won against Shell in 2021. The Court of Appeal has ruled that the oil and gas giant has a responsibility to reduce its emissions, but has not imposed a reduction obligation.
-
Instalink / 12 November 2024
-
Instalink / 11 November 2024
-
Press release / 11 November 2024
Both ENDS's response to government letter on future cooperation with civil society organisations
DEN HAAG, 11 November 2024 - Today, the Dutch government published its policy on future cooperation with development organisations, both in the Netherlands and abroad. PVV minister Reinette Klever is putting the axe to this funding: she has decided to cut the budget for aid to international civil society by more than two-thirds: from roughly €1.4 billion to €0.4 billion in the period 2026 to 2030. This has major implications for critical voices at home and abroad, at a time when civic space for organisations around the world is already shrinking. Karin van Boxtel, director of environmental and human rights organisation Both ENDS: ‘This is an unprecedented step in exactly the wrong direction. Civil society organisations are essential for sustainable and social change worldwide. International movements fulfil multiple, indispensable roles: as a watchdog of the rule of law, as a driver of change, and as a counterforce against authoritarian tendencies. The weakening of support for these roles is a telling signal.’
-
News / 11 November 2024
Kenya Terminates Bilateral Investment Treaty with the Netherlands
The government of Kenya has officially terminated its bilateral investment treaty (BIT) with the Netherlands, marking a significant win for economic justice and environmental protection. Kenya’s decision reflects a growing global trend of rethinking outdated treaties that often prioritize corporate interests over public welfare. The Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development recently confirmed that Kenya unilaterally ended the treaty in December 2023, rendering it inoperative from 11 June 2024. Kenya now joins South Africa, Tanzania, and Burkina Faso as the fourth African country to terminate its BIT with the Netherlands.
-
News / 9 November 2024
Why is the Dutch climate case against Shell important to our partners in the Global South?
On November 12th, a new ruling will be issued by the Court of Appeal in The Hague in the climate case against Shell, in which Both ENDS is a co-plaintiff. Ahead of this ruling, we asked our partners why this Dutch lawsuit is important for the Global South.
-
Instalink / 3 November 2024
-
News / 1 November 2024
Both ENDS at COP29: advocating for gender just climate finance
On November 11th, the 29th UN Climate Conference will start in Baku, Azerbaijan. Just like previous years, Both ENDS will be there to advocate for local access to climate finance, and to support our partner organisations in their advocacy work. How do we do that, and what are our hopes (and worries) about this 29th edition of the UNFCCC COP? We asked Marius Troost, who will be joining COP29 together with Daan Robben.
-
Instalink / 31 October 2024