The focus

Despite the progress on the discussions about the role of MDBs, they continue to implement policies and promote the financing of highly problematic projects from the social and environmental point of view. In Latin America, the ability of civil society to hold the banks accountable is weak, and despite policies that are designed to increase citizen participation, protect the environment and enhance social development, the projects will be subjected to only minor environmental and social analysis.

In South America, there are multilateral funding for projects includes the regional financial agencies the Fonplata and of the CAF (detailed in the list attached to this proposal). These agencies are currently resurrecting the project of the Paraná-Paraguay Hidrovia  and are promoting the IIRSA (Regional Infrastructure Integration in South America). These programs will cause irreversible damages in the Amazon, for it will allow the progress of wood-extraction fronts and the implementation of agriculture and cattle-raising activities in indigenous regions as well as in areas of great environmental importance.

Another important consideration, which emphasizes the urge of this project is that, this year, the Inter-American Development Bank will start to implement its new sectored strategy and also promote the review of country assistance strategies. This constitutes a good opportunity for civil society to influence in the institution's policies.

Given the major infrastructure developments envisioned within the Hidrovia and IIRSA integration programs, Rios Vivos considers this to be an urgent situation, which requires clear strategies and more coordinated actions with other networks and groups which are active in the regions where the organizations of the Coalition are. The proposed instruments are studies, researches, advocacy, information dissemination, capacity building of organizations and mobilization.

Programs and policies

-  Integration of the regional infrastructure in South America - IIRSA.

-  Participation mechanisms.

-  Formulation of the country assistance strategies.

-  Influencing the development of new IDB strategies for modernization; social development; integration and of the environment.

-  The private sector of the Inter-American Development Bank - PRI.

-  Pantanal Program.

Projects

-  Yacyreta Dam.

-  Paraná-Paraguay Hidrovia and the construction of harbors in the Paraguay River.

-  Corpus, Garaby and Salto Chico dams' projects.

-  Dam projects in the Tocantins and Araguaia Rivers and the Strategic Environmental Evaluation.

-  Prodetur Sul and Nordeste II - Brazil.