Several African civil society organizations, including groups representing the
Ogoni and Twa peoples, refused to attend the International Finance Corporation
(IFC) Safeguard Policy Review Consultation, which took place in Nairobi, Kenya,
from November 29 to 30. The protesting organizations said the IFC did not give
them adequate information about the review process nor allow enough time for
the review to be effective.
The IFC Safeguard Policy, instituted in 1998, identifies and addresses environmental and social risks of the private sector operations financed by the IFC.
The organizations also issued a statement criticizing the IFC for doing little
to reduce poverty through sustainable development projects. According to the
statement, the investments made in extractive projects by the IFC have resulted
in "the destruction of community livelihood sources, human rights violations,
and violations and abuse of power, created social conflicts and systemic corruption,
degraded the diversity of the environment and undermined democracy in many
respects."
