Advocacy for Accountability and Transparency of the International Financial Institutions in Asia

About this grant

Mekong Watch was established to address and prevent the negative impacts of development projects funded particularly by official Japanese development assistance. To achieve this goal, the grantee undertakes research, policy dialogues, and other education and information activities. During the grant period, Mekong Watch will: 1) continue its work to raise awareness about the new environmental and social guidelines of the official Japanese development assistance agencies, including the Japanese export credit agency; 2) begin the dialogue to establish safeguard policies at the Japan External Trade Organization similar to environmental and social guidelines of the Japanese international financial institutions; 3) support initiatives by affected communities in the Mekong region to use the newly established compliance mechanisms of Japanese international financial institutions and the Asian Development Bank; 4) undertake research and analysis of emerging public financial institutions in China and Thailand in order to establish a foundation for future Mekong Watch activities related to these institutions; and 5) commission an independent assessment of its work in these areas.