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Monitoring ADB’s actions in Asia-Pacific to fight harmful projects, protect communities, and ensure sustainable, people-centered development. ธนาคารเพื่อการพัฒนาเอเชีย (ADB) Project Monitoring Energy Campaign Safeguards Public Information Policy Accountability Mechanism Strategy 2030 การตรวจสอบโครงการ SOUTH ASIA Read More SOUTHEAST ASIA Read More MEKONG Read More CENTRAL ASIA Read More

The NGO Forum on ADB is an Asian-led network of civil society organizations (CSOs), based in Asia and the Pacific region. ธนาคารเพื่อการพัฒนาเอเชีย (ADB) Project Monitoring Energy Campaign Safeguards Public Information Policy Accountability Mechanism Strategy 2030 การตรวจสอบโครงการ Letter on ADB’s flawed July 22 CSO consultation Two decades in ADB’s ACEF: a race away from 1.5°c - NGO Forum on ADB Statement on the ADB Asia Clean Energy Forum 2025 Forum Network urgent concerns on ADB Energy Policy Review 2025 Forum Network Letter – Concerns on ADB CM2CET Value Chains Approach Unpacking ADB and AIIB’s false narrative in COP29 Re: Climate-Smart Mining for a New Climate Economy (Project 57273-001) Latest News Latest Events/Activities

The NGO Forum on ADB is an Asian-led network of civil society organizations (CSOs), based in Asia and the Pacific region. ธนาคารเพื่อการพัฒนาเอเชีย (ADB) Project Monitoring Energy Campaign Safeguards Public Information Policy Accountability Mechanism Strategy 2030 การตรวจสอบโครงการ ADB Safeguard Spotlight The Story of ADB Safeguards Related Documents ADB Project Tracker COVID19 Loan Tracker In 2024, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is amidst Phase 3 of its process for revising the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF), presenting the first draft of the W paper after two years of consultations. However, the draft falls significantly short of expectations, failing to ensure robust environmental and social safeguarding. The draft ESF’s ‘Vision’ does not commit to the fundamental principle of ‘Do No Harm’ in ADB operations. This omission reflects the disregard for feedback from consultations. Terms like 'materially consistent', 'timely', and 'where applicable' are used ambiguously throughout the document, undermining environmental and social safeguarding accountability. These terms should be replaced with clear, mandatory, and time-bound standards. Despite investing over 40 million USD in Country Safeguard Systems over the past decade, the ADB has not demonstrated successful application of these systems for SPS 2009 implementation. This underscores the need for stringent implementation of the SPS 2009 and the new ESF. Financing should not be approved if borrower systems are less stringent, and any flexibility in applying these systems must be revoked from the ESF. The ESF should prioritize avoiding harm and restoring affected communities and environments to pre-project conditions or better. Its objective should not be aligned with green economic growth, which other ADB policies cover. The ESF must act as a safeguard to prevent and mitigate environmental and social risks comprehensively and on time. The draft ESF introduces the Mitigation Hierarchy without definition and omits critical components such as Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Social Impact Assessment (SIA). These assessments are central to the SPS 2009 but are absent in the 170-page document, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the proposed framework. The ESF draft fails to clarify the ADB Project Cycle and its approach to addressing project-related harms. The proposed Common Approach for Co-Financing with other Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) lacks commitment to the highest safeguard standards, potentially allowing lower standards to prevail. ADB must ensure the highest social and environmental standards for both standalone and co-financed projects. The draft includes problematic provisions like the treatment of Associated Facilities (AF), which are allowed to circumvent the ESF, contrary to the SPS 2009 policy. Moreover, the ESF is gender-blind, failing to address the fundamental rights and risks faced by women in project-affected areas. Binding language is needed to ensure gender safeguarding from the project design stage throughout the project cycle. Given these significant shortcomings, a full overhaul of the current draft ESF is essential. The ADB Board and Management must revisit the drawing board before finalizing the policy. The subsequent sections of this critique provide detailed analysis and specific concerns raised by civil society and labor organizations, urging a more robust and effective ESF. This comprehensive critique underscores the urgent need for the ADB to strengthen its commitment to environmental and social safeguarding in its revised ESF to ensure sustainable and equitable development outcomes.

The NGO Forum on ADB is an Asian-led network of civil society organizations (CSOs), based in Asia and the Pacific region. ธนาคารเพื่อการพัฒนาเอเชีย (ADB) Project Monitoring Energy Campaign Safeguards Public Information Policy Accountability Mechanism Strategy 2030 การตรวจสอบโครงการ Latest News ADB Project Tracker Media Sign the 1M Petition WATCH Information Disclosure of Multilateral Development Banks in the New Era 6 May 2017 | Yokohama, Japan

ADB Energy Policy Countdown Letters to ADB Board Members This campaign unites local groups and allies to send coordinated, collective letters to ADB Board members as part of the ongoing Energy Policy review. By acting together, we create visible pressure on decision-makers, showing that concern for responsible energy policy is widespread and urgent. This pressure is crucial because it encourages the Board to prioritize public interest, climate action, and accountability, increasing the chances that the draft will reflect these priorities before it is finalized. Send Your Letter 1. Choose and download the letter that fits your focus Depending on your campaign focus, you can target your letter to the most relevant decision-makers at the ADB. This could be the Executive Director (ED) and Alternate Executive Director (AED) representing your country, or the ED and AED responsible for the specific project you are monitoring. Selecting the right recipients ensures that your message reaches the people with the authority to influence the policy or project, making your advocacy more effective. By Country (for Board of Directors and their alternates) Australia / Azerbaijan / Cambodia / Georgia / Hong Kong, China / Kiribati / Federated States of Micronesia / Nauru / Palau / Solomon Islands / Tuvalu Canada / Denmark / Finland / Ireland / The Netherlands / Norway / Sweden Austria / Germany / Luxembourg / Turkey / United Kingdom Armenia / Cook Islands / Fiji / Indonesia / Kyrgyz Republic / New Zealand / Niue / Samoa / Tonga Republic of Korea / Papua New Guinea / Sri Lanka / Taipei, China / Uzbekistan / Vanuatu / Vietnam Kazakhstan / Maldives / Marshall Islands / Mongolia / Pakistan / Philippines / Timor-Leste Belgium / France / Italy / Portugal / Spain / Switzerland/Israel Japan Afghanistan / Bangladesh / Bhutan / India / Lao People's Democratic Republic / Tajikistan / Turkmenistan Brunei Darussalam / Malaysia / Myanmar / Nepal / Singapore / Thailand United States People's Republic of China By Theme. You can select a letter based on the specific theme or issue you want to emphasize. Each letter is addressed to the Board of Directors, ADB, but you can choose which individual Board member(s) to send it to—whether it’s your country’s ED and AED or those responsible for a project you are monitoring. The available themes are Nuclear Energy Critical Minerals False Energy Solutions & Energy Transition Mechanisms (ETM) Strengthening Coal Prohibition Waste-to-Energy 2. Customize Your Letter. Fill out the two sections below the PDF and click Save. 3. Copy and paste the text below into your email - Dear Executive Director/Alternate Executive Director, We are writing to share our letter regarding the ongoing ADB Energy Policy review. We hope that you will take our perspectives into account as the Board considers the draft policy. Thank you for your time and attention to this critical matter. 4. Attach your PDF Letter 5. Send your letter to your intended recipient using your organization’s (or your own) official work email. Send us a short email letting us know which ADB ED or AED you want to send your letter to, and we will provide you with the correct contact address. Do not share the ADB Board of Directors’ emails publicly—unauthorized circulation may violate privacy rules. The information is intended for your personal use only to ensure your letter reaches the right decision-maker. Don't hesitate to get in touch with Denn (dennis@forum-adb.org ) or Jen (jen@forum-adb.org ), and they will give you the information. Send your letters by October 3, 2025 — when the Board will review the Draft ADB Energy Policy for approval

The NGO Forum on ADB is an Asian-led network of civil society organizations (CSOs), based in Asia and the Pacific region. ธนาคารเพื่อการพัฒนาเอเชีย (ADB) Project Monitoring Energy Campaign Safeguards Public Information Policy Accountability Mechanism Strategy 2030 การตรวจสอบโครงการ Latest News Latest Events/Activities The Forum network takes the position that locking member countries into reliance on new fossil fuel infrastructure, subject to volatile international markets, is no less than an environmentally, socially, and economically irresponsible investment choice given the ADB's limited resources (both in terms of financing for direct projects and technical advice as well as intermediary financial support). The network remains vigilant that the ADB will now target problematic projects such as large hydro, waste-to-energy incinerators, and geothermal for future finance. The Forum also advocates for restricting the criteria for financing Large hydro projects which have severe impacts on local communities in terms of displacement and environmental destruction.

Dive into AIIB-funded infrastructure projects across Southeast Asia with analysis from NGO Forum on ADB, focusing on project monitoring, community rights, environmental impacts, and civil society efforts to promote transparency, accountability, and just development. ธนาคารเพื่อการพัฒนาเอเชีย (ADB) Project Monitoring Energy Campaign Project-affected People's Mechanism (PPM) AIIB Annual Meeting การตรวจสอบโครงการ North Dhaka Waste to Energy Project COUNTRY: Bangladesh APPROVED FUNDING: USD100 million FINANCING TYPE: Nonsovereign The North Dhaka Waste-to-Energy Project is a 42.5 MW incineration facility situated near the Amin Bazar landfill, co-financed by the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) with a $100 million non-sovereign loan, and the New Development Bank (NDB), aiming to process municipal solid waste into energy through four 750-ton/day incineration lines and twin 35 MW turbo-generators connected to Savar’s grid. It is Bangladesh’s first large-scale waste-to-energy venture, categorized as AIIB Environmental & Social Category A, necessitating an ESIA, ESMP, and corrective action plan to address legacy land-acquisition issues and ongoing environmental risks. However, civil society watchdogs like CLEAN and urgewald have raised alarm over potentially higher greenhouse gas emissions (estimated at 8.3 million tons CO₂ equivalent over 25 years), toxic air pollutants (dioxins, heavy metals), and poor waste-quality control, which may undermine Bangladesh’s climate commitments. Critics also point out that weak waste collection systems could threaten plant operations, while energy tariffs set at over twice the current cost may burden taxpayers. Local environmental groups have emphasized deficiencies in public consultation, community grievance mechanisms, and transparency—citing AIIB’s historical track record of excluding affected communities during project approvals. As Bangladesh seeks sustainable waste solutions, the North Dhaka WtE project's technical ambitions must be balanced with stronger social and environmental accountability to ensure it genuinely serves both urban sanitation and climate-resilient development. Read the AIIB Observer Volume 3 Balakot Hydropower Development Project COUNTRY: Pakistan APPROVED FUNDING: USD250 million FINANCING TYPE: Sovereign The Balakot Hydropower Project in Pakistan is a 300 MW run-of-river initiative on the Kunhar River, financed by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) with a $250 million sovereign loan alongside a $300 million loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), intended to boost renewable energy generation (1143 GWh annually) and local employment. Despite its clean energy aims, the project has drawn widespread local backlash: residents and local councils are protesting ongoing land acquisition practices, demanding that affected families receive fair compensation, employment opportunities, and respect for ancestral sites—threatening to block major roads in response. Authorities have reportedly demolished structures and deployed police to protect Chinese engineers and workers amid community tensions. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has also issued delay notices to contractors due to slow progress. Critics contend that although AIIB and ADB classify the project as environmentally sound under their frameworks, on-ground realities suggest weak community engagement, inadequate grievance redressal, and contested livelihood impacts. As such, Balakot offers a cautionary tale: major hydropower projects financed by global banks must pair technical and environmental standards with meaningful local accountability to avoid marginalizing host communities. Read the factsheet . Bangalore Metro Rail Project - Line R6 COUNTRY: India APPROVED FUNDING: USD335 million FINANCING TYPE: Sovereign The Bengaluru Metro’s ORR–Airport Line (Phases 2A and 2B), stretching 58.19 km from Central Silk Board to Kempegowda International Airport via KR Puram, is a transformative infrastructure project aimed at easing urban congestion and improving airport connectivity. Funded by a mix of public and external sources—including the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and controversially, the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)—the project has drawn scrutiny from civil society organizations like Growthwatch, which have raised concerns over AIIB’s opaque financing practices and lack of strong accountability safeguards. While ADB has provided a $500 million loan and a $2 million grant to support inclusive, transit-oriented development, and JICA has offered ₹3,717 crore, AIIB’s growing footprint in Indian infrastructure is criticized for prioritizing geopolitical interests over local participation and environmental transparency. Construction began in 2021, with official targets set for completion by 2026, though delays—especially in Phase 2B—remain a concern. Growthwatch has also flagged issues with land acquisition, labor conditions, and the need for greater community consultation. Despite these challenges, the metro line is expected to benefit over 1.6 million daily commuters and reduce dependence on road transport. However, as Bengaluru’s transport infrastructure grows, the role of financial institutions like AIIB must be critically examined to ensure democratic oversight, equity, and long-term sustainability in urban development. Read - Growthwatch Letter to AIIB Derailed by the Accountability Ciap The Students of the Technical Training Centre for the Deaf (TTCD) in Bangalore, India Impact assessment of Bangalore Metro Rail Project (Reach 6) on vulnerable communities at the Cantonment Metro station BMRP & TTCD Narrative Bangladesh Bhola IPP COUNTRY: Bangladesh APPROVED FUNDING: USD60 million FINANCING TYPE: Nonsovereign The Bhola Independent Power Producer (IPP) project in Bangladesh is a 220 MW combined-cycle gas-fired power plant developed on Bhola Island by Nutan Bidyut (a subsidiary of Shapoorji Pallonji) under a Build-Own-Operate (BOO) model to address the country’s chronic power shortages. Co-financed by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)—which approved a $60 million non-sovereign loan in 2018—alongside the Islamic Development Bank and local financiers, the project was expected to generate over 1.3 TWh of electricity annually and began commercial operations in late 2019. While AIIB classified the project as Category B, implying limited environmental and social risks, and adopted frameworks for resettlement and stakeholder consultation, civil society organizations have strongly contested this assessment. In particular, CLEAN (Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network), working with BWGED and NGO Forum on ADB, has played a central role in documenting serious harms caused by the project—including coerced land acquisition, destruction of farmland, waterlogging, river siltation, loss of grazing lands, and the absence of meaningful consultation or grievance redress mechanisms. In 2022, CLEAN co-filed the first formal complaint to AIIB’s Project-Affected People’s Mechanism, directly challenging the bank’s risk classification and safeguard enforcement. These findings have been echoed by international media, including Climate Home News, which criticized AIIB’s continued investment in fossil gas projects like Bhola IPP while sidelining renewable alternatives. Beyond research, CLEAN has also mobilized civil society campaigns and public actions urging AIIB to stop fossil fuel financing and adopt community-driven, sustainable energy models. Critics argue that the Bhola IPP reflects deeper structural issues in AIIB’s development approach—namely, opaque financing, weak local accountability, and inadequate environmental and social protections—particularly in contexts where civic space is limited. As such, the Bhola case serves as a warning of how large-scale, fossil-intensive energy infrastructure can disproportionately burden marginalized communities, underscoring the urgent need for transparent, inclusive, and rights-based alternatives in global energy investment. Read: Lessons learned: Filing Bhola IPP complaint in AIIB’s project affected people’s mechanism Unique Meghnaghat IPP COUNTRY: Bangladesh APPROVED FUNDING: USD110 million FINANCING TYPE: Nonsovereign The Unique Meghnaghat Power Plant in Bangladesh is a 584 MW combined-cycle gas-fired facility located along the Meghna River near Narayanganj, developed to strengthen the country’s electricity supply. While framed as a modern and “transition-ready” energy project—with features like hydrogen capability—it has faced criticism from civil society groups due to its environmental and social impacts. The project involved the acquisition of more land than officially reported, including agricultural fields and riverside areas crucial to local fishing communities. Many affected families reportedly received compensation far below market value, and the construction has led to issues like sand deposition on farmland, blocked grazing routes, and restricted river access. Although supported by international lenders under the banner of clean and reliable energy, the project has raised serious concerns about long-term fossil fuel dependency and the marginalization of local voices. Critics argue that the plant represents a continuation of top-down energy planning that prioritizes investment returns over community well-being and ecological sustainability. Read: The Meghnaghat Power Plant: A Looming Burden on Bangladesh

Explore key terms used in the Forum Network infographics on ADB energy projects. This glossary explains financing modalities, grants, loans, equity investments, and technical assistance in simple terms. Glossary of Terms in the Forum Network Infographics on ADB Energy Projects This glossary provides key terms used in the Forum Network infographics on ADB energy projects. These terms describe various financial instruments and approaches used by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in its operations. E (Equity Investment) | Direct investment in a company or project, making ADB a shareholder to support development goals. Financing Modality | The specific method or instrument used to fund development projects and programs. Grant | Financial aid that does not need to be repaid, typically used for projects that support low-income countries, environmental sustainability, or social development. Loan | Borrowed funding that must be repaid, used to finance development projects in ADB member countries. Modality | ADB's financing or operational approach for projects, programs, or technical assistance, tailored to the needs of member countries. TA (Technical Assistance) | Support for capacity building, policy advice, and project preparation in member countries, often provided through grants or expert guidance.

The NGO Forum on ADB is an Asian-led network of civil society organizations (CSOs), based in Asia and the Pacific region. แผนยุทธศาสตร์ปี 2563 ฟอรัม NGO เกี่ยวกับ ADB ถูกกำหนดให้ใช้ "แผนงานในการรณรงค์เชิงกลยุทธ์ 2014-2020: สู่การเปลี่ยนแปลงที่ยั่งยืนและเป็นระบบ" อีก 6 ปีข้างหน้าจะเห็น Forum มุ่งมั่นที่จะทำให้เกิดการเปลี่ยนแปลงอย่างเป็นระบบภายใน ADB และโดยการขยายลูกค้าเพื่อให้ตอบสนองด้วยความรับผิดชอบที่มากขึ้นต่อความต้องการด้านการพัฒนาและบริบทท้องถิ่นของชุมชนเอเชีย ในนามของผู้ที่ได้รับผลกระทบ ซึ่งมีช่องโหว่เพิ่มขึ้นจากวาระการพัฒนาที่เบ้ของ ADB จุดศูนย์กลางสำหรับคณะทำงานและองค์กรสมาชิกคือการเสริมสร้างเสียงและความสามารถของคนยากจน ผู้หญิง กลุ่มชาติพันธุ์ และภาคส่วนชายขอบ กระบวนการวางแผน ฟอรัมเริ่มวางกลยุทธ์เกี่ยวกับกรอบงาน แผนแคมเปญ และการออกแบบองค์กรในเดือนธันวาคม 2555 โดยจัดการประชุมเพื่อเตรียมความพร้อมในกรุงเทพฯ ประเทศไทย หลังจากดำเนินการประชุมระดับประเทศและระดับภูมิภาคแล้ว กระบวนการที่สิ้นสุดในเดือนพฤศจิกายน 2556 ผ่านการประชุมเชิงปฏิบัติการด้านการดำเนินการในเมืองสิลัง เมืองคาวิท ประเทศฟิลิปปินส์ คณะกรรมการระหว่างประเทศ (IC) / คณะกรรมการมูลนิธิและกรรมการบริหารเป็นแนวทางในกระบวนการวางแผนกลยุทธ์ระยะยาว ทีมกลยุทธ์ที่ประกอบด้วยหัวหน้านักยุทธศาสตร์ ผู้ประชุม IC และเจ้าหน้าที่สำนักเลขาธิการ ดูแลการดำเนินการและการวางแผนตลอดทั้งปีให้เสร็จสิ้น ผลลัพธ์สุดท้ายของกระบวนการที่เข้มข้น มีส่วนร่วม และไม่หยุดนิ่งนี้คือ “แผนงาน” ซึ่งเข้ามาแทนที่แผนกลยุทธ์ระยะยาวปี 2549 อย่างมีประสิทธิภาพ ที่ปรึกษาประเทศ การประชุมยุทธศาสตร์จัดขึ้นในอาร์เมเนีย บังคลาเทศ อินเดีย อินโดนีเซีย มองโกเลีย ฟิลิปปินส์ และศรีลังกา มีการปรึกษาหารือระดับย่อยในอินเดียตะวันออกเฉียงเหนือ มีการรายงานสถานการณ์ของประเทศเกี่ยวกับกัมพูชา เมียนมาร์ และเนปาลในการประชุมประจำปี 2013 Forum Forum คณะทำงานระดับประเทศตระหนักถึงมุมมองระดับชาติในการวางแผนกิจกรรมการรณรงค์ที่เกี่ยวข้องกับประเด็นที่เกี่ยวข้องกับ ADB สมาชิกวางกลยุทธ์เกี่ยวกับวิธีการขยายและเปิดใช้งานเครือข่ายให้บรรลุผล เพิ่มแรงกดดันสาธารณะต่อธนาคาร และความยั่งยืนของแคมเปญในประเทศของตน การให้คำปรึกษาระดับภูมิภาค การวางแผนกลยุทธ์เกิดขึ้นในภูมิภาคเอเชียกลางและคอเคซัส (บิชเคก คีร์กีซสถาน) เอเชียตะวันออกเฉียงใต้ (กรุงเทพฯ ไทย) และเอเชียใต้ (ธากา บังกลาเทศ) การประชุมกลุ่มอนุภูมิภาคสำหรับแม่น้ำโขงที่เข้าร่วมโดยผู้แทนจากกัมพูชา เวียดนาม และ INGOs ที่ตั้งอยู่ในภูมิภาคนั้นได้จัดขึ้นที่กรุงเทพฯ ด้วย คณะทำงานระดับภูมิภาคจัดลำดับความสำคัญของพื้นที่เฉพาะเรื่องที่สำคัญ ซึ่งรวมถึงความเชื่อมโยงข้ามพรมแดน ซึ่งสามารถสร้างความสอดคล้องและความสอดคล้องในการสนับสนุนได้ สิ่งนี้ทำให้พวกเขาสามารถพัฒนาแผนปฏิบัติการและการแทรกแซงรวมระยะเวลาห้าปี แผนยุทธศาสตร์ 6 ปี “แผนงาน” เป็นแนวทางในฟอรัมในการดำเนินการแคมเปญเฉพาะเรื่องระดับภูมิภาคที่กำลังดำเนินอยู่และในอนาคต มีกลไกสำหรับการติดตามและจัดการผลกระทบของกระทะสนับสนุน ในทำนองเดียวกัน ฟอรั่มยังทำหน้าที่ในการเรียนรู้เพิ่มเติมของฟอรั่มเทียบกับผลการดำเนินการของฟอรั่ม ฟอรัมกำลังสร้างและเพิ่มมูลค่าให้กับการสนับสนุนในเอเชียกลาง เอเชียตะวันออกเฉียงใต้ และเอเชียใต้ในห้าหัวข้อการทำงาน: น้ำ พลังงาน การเปลี่ยนแปลงสภาพภูมิอากาศ การขยายตัวของเมือง และสิทธิมนุษยชน การป้องกัน (สิ่งแวดล้อม การตั้งถิ่นฐานใหม่โดยไม่สมัครใจ ชนพื้นเมือง) และเพศสภาพได้ระบุว่าเป็นปัญหาข้ามพรมแดน เป็นที่คาดหวังว่าภายในปี 2020 เสียงและหน่วยงานของผู้คนในเอเชีย โดยเฉพาะอย่างยิ่งคนยากจนและคนชายขอบ จะได้รับการยกระดับขึ้นด้วยความสามารถที่ยั่งยืนในการดึงดูด ADB ไปสู่การเปลี่ยนแปลงที่ยั่งยืนและเป็นระบบมากขึ้น เนื่องจากฟอรัมได้ผลักดัน ADB และผู้กู้อย่างมีประสิทธิภาพให้มีความรับผิดชอบ โปร่งใส เปิดกว้างและพร้อมในการเจรจาที่สร้างสรรค์กับภาคประชาสังคมและผู้มีส่วนได้ส่วนเสียอื่นๆ

The NGO Forum on ADB is an Asian-led network of civil society organizations (CSOs), based in Asia and the Pacific region. การตรวจสอบโครงการ Latest News Sign the 1M Petition ADB Project Tracker Media Role of Private Sector and Financial Intermediaries in ADB’s Energy Sector Investments 3 May 2018 | Manila, Philippines ธนาคารเพื่อการพัฒนาเอเชีย (ADB) Project Monitoring Energy Campaign Safeguards Public Information Policy Accountability Mechanism Strategy 2030

Follow the AIIB energy campaign led by NGO Forum on ADB and allies, spotlighting civil society efforts to push the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank away from fossil fuels and toward just, community-centered renewable energy transitions. ธนาคารเพื่อการพัฒนาเอเชีย (ADB) Project Monitoring Energy Campaign Project-affected People's Mechanism (PPM) AIIB Annual Meeting การตรวจสอบโครงการ The Forum network maintains that the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank’s (AIIB) ongoing support for fossil gas projects locks member countries into carbon-intensive energy systems and exposes them to global market volatility—an approach that is environmentally and economically irresponsible given AIIB’s limited resources and climate commitments (Urgewald, 2023; CLEAN & Forum on ADB, 2022). The network is also concerned that AIIB may increasingly shift toward high-risk sectors like large hydropower, waste-to-energy incineration, and geothermal, which have significant environmental and social costs. In particular, large hydro projects have a long record of displacing communities, damaging ecosystems, and generating conflict over land and water (International Rivers, 2021). The Forum calls for stricter financing criteria and meaningful consultation to ensure AIIB aligns with the goals of a just, community-centered energy transition. Read - Unpacking ADB and AIIB’s false narrative in COP29 Digital infrastructure for whom? Unpacking ADB and AIIB’s digital push AIIB Climate Advocacy Letter Critical Concerns on the Occasion of AIIB's Annual Meeting 2023 Open Statement on Collective Concerns Re: AIIB’s 2022 Energy Sector Strategy Update Re: Virtual Consultations Hosted by AIIB on the Energy Sector Strategy Update AIIB asked to go green, turn back on fossil fuels AIIB’s Extended Deadline for Public Input on the Energy Sector Strategy Update Collective Statement For the Energy Sector Strategy Update Collective Call for a New Forward-Looking AIIB Energy Sector Strategy Joint Submission by NGO Forum on ADB & Urgewald on the AIIB Environmental and Social Framework

The NGO Forum on ADB is an Asian-led network of civil society organizations (CSOs), based in Asia and the Pacific region. การตรวจสอบโครงการ Latest News Sign the 1M Petition ADB Project Tracker Media Pillars for the Future of Development Finance in Asia After much anticipation, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) recently released Strategy 2030 , its long-term corporate strategy to respond effectively to Asia’s changing needs. As the ADB looks to the future of development finance in Asia, it must keep community engagement, including access to effective remedy, at the forefront. Strategy 2030, then in draft form, was heavily showcased during May’s ADB annual meeting in Manila, Philippines. The strategy includes plans to increase private sector lending as well as the use of country systems in lieu of ADB safeguard policies for public sector operations. Strategy 2030 also cites the bank’s commitment to the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals as the overarching objectives of the strategy document. However according to the joint submission of NGO Forum on ADB , a close partner of Accountability Counsel, Strategy 2030 still lacks adequate guidance on how will ADB concretely contribute in achieving the targets set forth in these key global agreements. Importantly, although Strategy 2030 does contain some commitments to work with civil society organizations (CSOs) in the design and implementation of projects, little mentioned in the strategy is how the ADB plans to ensure that local communities direct the course of development in Asia and have access to accountability and remedy in the event of any negative impacts from financing. Of course, the ADB is not the only actor in the region, and questions about the future of development in Asia span various institutions. China’s “One Belt, One Road ” initiative will pour over $1 trillion dollars into the region and beyond. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, a China-led multilateral bank that opened in 2016, is ramping up operations. How can the ADB and other financial institutions ensure that communities’ rights are respected in the course of undertaking projects in the region? When rights are violated or communities have concerns about projects, how can these institutions ensure that communities have effective venues to raise and address these concerns? Not focusing sufficiently on community input can be disastrous. As Rayyan Hassan from NGO Forum on ADB raised during a session in Manila hosted by the ADB’s independent accountability office , communities often lack information about projects that may negatively impact them, owing to ineffective consultation and information disclosure processes. Fear, insecurity, and anger then build into grievances. Accountability Counsel has seen this scenario play out time and again through our casework, both in Asia and across the world. For example, the World Bank ’s accountability office confirmed that the communities in Sindhuli, Nepal affected by the 220 kV Khimti-Dhalkebar Transmission Line had not received proper information and consultation about the health, safety, and economic impacts of the bank’s project, leading to misunderstanding, violence against peaceful protesters, and significant project delays. Similar concerns are being raised by communities in Lamjung, Nepal who are affected by the European Investment Bank (EIB)-funded Nepal Power System Expansion Project , which is integrated with the ADB’s S outh Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation Power System Expansion Project . Given the local communities’ recent advocacy with the EIB, it appears here again that international financiers have to do more to ensure that their development projects maintain a high standard of information disclosure, consultation, and participation in order to “do no harm” and truly improve lives in Asia. As the ADB and others look to the future of development in Asia, they must put measures in place to ensure that communities’ voices are fully respected in the course of projects. This includes strong environmental and social safeguard policies surrounding project design and implementation. As CSOs highlighted during the ADB annual meeting, strong environmental and social protections are particularly important as these institutions increase the focus on private sector investment, which has historically received less oversight. This also includes comprehensive and accessible project information for communities and ongoing inclusive consultations, right from the project design phase. Crucially, respecting community voices also entails ensuring that communities have access to an effective accountability office to address any project-related harm, including the denial of information and consultation around the project. To be effective, these offices must operate according to principles including legitimacy, transparency, and fairness. The ADB’s accountability office, comprised of the Compliance Review Panel and the Office of the Special Project Facilitator, is well established but could be improved, particularly in the area of structural independence from the ADB. As the ADB rolls out Strategy 2030, the bank should place particular attention on strengthening the accountability office to ensure that it is an effective, legitimate avenue for community engagement and provides a meaningful remedy for the harms communities have suffered or will potentially suffer. Through Strategy 2030, the ADB seeks to achieve a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific. This is only possible if the ADB, and other financial institutions and actors in the region, put communities first. Community engagement, including access to an effective accountability office, is vital for ensuring that future development in Asia reflects the needs and priorities of its people. ธนาคารเพื่อการพัฒนาเอเชีย (ADB) Project Monitoring Energy Campaign Safeguards Public Information Policy Accountability Mechanism Strategy 2030