JBIC Watch (English) provides essential information that the
Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) has failed to
provide to people affected by the projects it finances. Much
of the information that JBIC provides about projects that it
is considering financing is only in Japanese. JBIC-Watch (English)
provides such information in English so that project-affected
people and concerned groups may access and use the information.
Under the social and environmental guidelines for its operations,
JBIC is obligated to disclose certain kinds of information
to stakeholders, including a list of projects that JBIC is
considering financing. Until as late as October 2005, JBIC
provided such a list on its website only in Japanese. But
how many project-affected people and concerned groups in developing
countries, even those with internet access, can read Japanese?
JBIC Watch (English) provides information contained in JBIC's
project list in English. The information includes the name
of the project, the degree of environmental and social impacts
that is expected, and the approximate date that JBIC began
considering financing for the project. We hope that by using
JBIC-Watch, people will have initial information on the kinds
of projects JBIC is considering financing in their countries.
JBIC Watch (English) also contains other information about
JBIC such as its social and environmental guidelines and complaints
mechanism. Please take a look, and feel free to contact us
for more information. (send email to jbwatch@jbic-watch.net)
Update
After repeated demands from Japanese NGOs, JBIC began to
release limited information in English about projects under
its consideration. JBIC currently provides information on
projects whose environmental category was classified after
October 2005 (http://www.jbic.go.jp/english/environ/joho/).
JBIC has yet to provide information in English on projects
that were classified before September 2005. We will continue
to press JBIC to release such information in English.
|
