MDBs are active across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, investing in policy reform, job creation, post-conflict reconstruction, and food and water security. These operations often come with significant environmental and social risks in a context where civic space restrictions can limit civil society’s capacity for independent monitoring and accountability. Operations taking place in fragile and conflict-affected situations face additional challenges and risks.
Our MENA program partners with civil society organizations (CSOs) in the region to monitor and influence MDBs, with a focus on the World Bank Group. We amplify the voices of affected communities to hold MDBs accountable and advocate for strong implementation of MDB policies, particularly the environmental and social safeguards, on the ground.
Our program provides civil society partners with information, strategic advice, and connections to MDB decision-makers so that those impacted by MDB investments can voice their concerns. CSOs and local communities are vital to the development process, and we support them in monitoring the environmental and social impacts of MDB investments in the Middle East and North Africa.
BIC works closely with regional civil society partners and networks, including Arab Watch Coalition. Through these partnerships, we support efforts to improve transparency, accountability, and civil society engagement in MDB operations.
We support our partners in combining research, monitoring, and strategic engagement to track project implementation, amplify community concerns, and push institutions to address gaps and risks.
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