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 Supported142
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 Influenced162
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 Tracked2,000+
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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18 June, 2025Mutual reliance should balance efficiency with accountability
The Civil Society Policy Forum (April 22-25) at this year’s World Bank Group-International Monetary Fund Spring Meetings hosted panel discussions that clarified and often challenged the policies and approaches of international financial institutions. Among the highlights was the session “Ensuring Accountability: The Challenges and Opportunities Posed by the Full Mutual Reliance Framework (FMRF),” which attracted a packed room of attendees. -
12 June, 2025Advancing an Important Conversation on Environmental and Social Accountability in the Financial Services Sector
The Global Reporting Initiative recently concluded its public comment period to develop sustainability reporting standards for financial service organizations that exist to channel and intermediate funds to support business activity and transfer risk. With an appreciation of the wide-ranging impacts that the financial services sector can have on the environment and people at local and global scales, Accountability Counsel contributed our perspective rooted in the challenges of securing engagement, response, and remedy for harm caused by internationally financed projects and programs. -
3 June, 2025The hidden harms of road projects
Roads may seem like routine infrastructure, but they account for more accountability complaints than any other development investment. This article explores why road projects so often go wrong — and what must change. -
12 May, 2025When Development Finance Does More Harm than Good: The Case of Indorama Agro in Uzbekistan
In January 2025, Indorama Agro abruptly prepaid its loans and walked away from its contractual obligation to implement the EBRD’s E&S standards in Uzbekistan. -
9 May, 2025World Bank launches historic framework addressing harms from development projects
The World Bank has released the first-ever framework to address environmental and social harms caused by projects the bank financed through its private sector branches, including the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
