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Tackling ADB Financial Intermediary Investing: Why does it matter?

Updated: May 18, 2022


There has been a significant clamor across multilateral development banks in “unlocking”, “catalyzing” and “mobilizing” private sector resources for development. In the case of ADB, this is embedded in its Strategy 2030 with a target that the bank will expand its private sector operations to reach one – third of its total operations in number by 2024. Emphasis is given on profitability, commercial sustainability and expansion in so – called new and frontier markets in the fragile, conflict and small island developing states. Financing modalities such as private equity funds to scale up public – private partnerships is one of the proposed mechanisms in mobilizing financial resources for development. Some of these projects are categorized as financial intermediary (FIs) or third party lending with limited ADB supervision. The shifts and changes in these new lending modalities have led to a more diverse portfolio which also poses more complex social and environmental risks and harm.


Lack of information disclosure, accountability, meaningful consultation and risky sub – projects without adequate MDB oversight are some of the issues being raised by CSOs. As compared to the traditional lending modalities, there are a lot of unknown variables when dealing with financial intermediation. The World Bank’s private sector arm, the International Finance Corporation invests over half of its total portfolio in FIs. Inclusive Development International (IDI) and partners were uncovered more than 150 projects and companies funded by IFC intermediaries that are causing or are likely to cause serious environmental harms and human rights violations. There are valuable lessons that can be replicated from over a decade of campaigning by CSOs on financial intermediation on IFC and other MDBs to ADB. In 2019, a complaint was filed to ADB on a USD 400 million FI loan to support PPP projects including a road sub – project mired with various labor, occupational health and safety issues. The complaint was unfortunately deemed ineligible but this also served as a reminder for the Forum to take stock, have a better understanding on these lending modalities and ultimately strengthen its support to communities.


Currently, ADB’s 2009 Safeguard Policy Statement is being reviewed. One of the upcoming safeguards consultations pertain to “Safeguards in the Private Sector Operations” scheduled on June 21 - 22, 2022. Accordingly, CSOs are encouraged to present their perspectives on how ADB implements the environmental and social safeguards in private sector operations which include investment projects, funds channeled through financial intermediaries, corporations, equities, and guarantees. It is also part of the broader intent of this knowledge sharing activity to generate an initial consolidation of issues and position to take for the said consultation.


Objectives:
  1. For social, economic, gender, environmental and climate justice advocates concerned about MDBs particularly ADB's opaque FI portfolio.

  2. To learn more on FI lending at ADB and other MDBs in terms of what worked and did not work.

  3. To serve as an initial platform to discuss broader ADB FI campaign building.

Download the reading list here | Download program here | Answer Quick Pre-Session Questionnaire here

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