Multilateral Financial Institutions Program

About this grant

This grant will support the efforts of Both Ends Foundation to improve the environmentally and socially harmful policies and practices of international financial institutions by assisting non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in developing countries and Central/Eastern Europe. In light of the World Bank’s announcement of its intention to resume financing large-scale infrastructure projects, which often lead to high risks and damaging impacts, and the International Finance Corporation’s – the private-sector lending arms of the World Bank – proposal to replace its system of mandatory safeguard policies with a set of flexible performance standards, the ability to hold these institutions accountable for negative environmental and social impacts will be considerably weakened.Multiyear funding will enable Both Ends Foundation to promote a strong and vocal global civil society movement; build the strength and capacity of local NGOs regarding their rights and their ability to enforce such rights; and work to reform international financial institution policies and projects to better respond to local needs and foster sustainable poverty alleviation.During the past two years, Both Ends Foundation worked to develop a link between local communities and international policymakers; contributed to the establishment of national and regional NGO networks and reform efforts; and participated in the Dutch Multilateral Financial Institutions Information Center.