Accountability Counsel amplifies the voices of communities around the world to protect their human rights and environment. As advocates for people harmed by internationally financed projects, we employ community driven and policy level strategies to access justice.
Impact
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Communities Supported132
Our impact includes redesigned projects that now reflect community needs, harm stopped and prevented to defend water resources, and agreements resulting in compensation.
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Institutions Influenced95
We advocate for investors to create accountability offices that are independent, transparent, fair, and effective. We have improved policy and practice at development institutions, commercial banks, UN agencies, and within the OECD.
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Complaints Tracked1,801
We created and maintain the Accountability Console, a comprehensive database of community complaints filed with independent accountability mechanisms about the impacts of internationally financed projects.
News
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14 January, 2025Joint Civil Society Statement Opposing Amendments to the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, and Taxonomy Regulation
In November 2024, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced she would introduce a proposal to amend three key pillars of the European Green Deal through an Omnibus law: the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, and the Taxonomy Regulation. As members of civil society, human rights and environmental defenders, trade unions and climate activists, we call on the European Commission to actively protect these EU corporate accountability laws, reaffirm the official timeline for their transposition and implementation, and be fully transparent about the Omnibus process. -
14 January, 2025World Bank Announces Changes to its Accountability System
Accountability Counsel welcomes the World Bank Board of Directors’ recent announcement on changes to the Bank’s accountability system. The changes, which reflect Accountability Counsel and partners’ recommendations, aim to create an institutional structure that allows the Inspection Panel to independently investigate allegations of harm to communities and the Dispute Resolution… -
10 January, 2025EBRD Safeguards Break New Ground, but Remedy and Accountability Concerns Remain
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has finalized its new Environmental and Social Policy (ESP). The policy makes several key improvements, including the creation of safeguards around previously unaddressed harms. However, the EBRD’s roles in contributing to remedy and addressing reprisals remain inadequate. -
23 December, 2024Five years in, DFC navigates growth, reform, and global competition
The U.S. development finance agency has invested nearly $50 billion in the past five years and tripled its staff as it has grown up, restructured, and grappled with its multiple mandates -
18 December, 2024Grievance Redress and Remedy Featured Among Newly Released Core Human Rights Principles for Private Conservation Organizations and Funders
As recognized under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, a human rights-based approach is integral to halting and reversing nature loss in a sustainable manner. Those seeking to deliver on nature-positive impacts now have access to instruction on how to protect the rights of local communities and Indigenous Peoples in the endeavor–the Core Human Rights Principles for Private Conservation Organizations and Funders. The set of ten principles reflect and clarify existing international human rights norms and standards applicable to private conservation efforts, including the responsibility of taking action to prevent and remediate adverse human rights impacts. -
17 December, 2024New DFC Accountability Mechanism Procedures Include Stronger Provisions on Remedy, But Accessibility and Independence Challenges Remain
Nearly five years after the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation became operational, its independent accountability mechanism finally has terms of reference, or procedures, to guide its work addressing complaints from communities harmed by DFC’s financing. Although the TOR include many strong provisions that align with international good practice for IAMs, the TOR fail to address crucial accessibility and independence challenges.
