Page Tools

 

In the past decade, export credit agencies (ECAs) have supported in developing countries and countries in transition a significant volume of projects that are considered by many to be harmful to both the environment and to the communities in which the projects are located. With the help of a recent Mott grant, Pacific Environment, an organization that informs non-governmental organizations, policymakers and the general public on potentially harmful ECA projects and champions ECA reforms, will be able to conduct its efforts more efficiently.

The $150,000 grant will enable Pacific Environment to, among other things, maintain, update and expand internal and external communications outreach and functions, including maintaining and expanding the ECA-Watch Web site. Communications efforts will also include subscribing to and using finance databases for research and for responding to information requests; and identifying and attending key international forums, press events and other opportunities to distribute informational material to key decisionmakers and institutions.

Doug Norlen, Pacific Environment’s policy director, said the ECA-Watch site grew out of a desire on the part of those involved in early ECA reform efforts to provide communications about their efforts.

“ECA reform groups around the world live in vastly different locations, come in many shapes and sizes, and take varied approaches to reform. Such a broad coalition has the benefit of diversity, yet an inherent challenge is to reflect its cohesion and unity,” Norlen said. “ECA-Watch was designed to do this and to draw attention to the activities of campaigning organizations. It also provides an introduction for newcomers on the opaque role of ECAs, and includes news and updates that inform a growing number of NGOs, government officials, media and researchers."

In addition to implementing outreach efforts with the use of tools like eca-watch.org, Pacific Communications will use several other strategies to accomplish its objectives:

• contributing to global ECA reform efforts that are working to ensure the adoption of internationally accepted environmental guidelines for ECAs;
• monitoring policies and potentially harmful projects undertaken by ECAs, multilateral development banks and private investment banks; and
• promoting reform of United States ECAs.

Additional Resouce

Click here to read a related article in our quarterly magazine, Mott Mosaic, about a Romanian village’s efforts to save its ancient ruins from a destructive mining project.