Follow the Money

Logging for the World Bank's Nam Theun 2 Dam in Laos

Dams are a risky business – for affected people, the environment, and investors. Technical problems, opposition by affected people and corruption can derail multi-billion dollar projects. Due to the big risks, finance is the weakest link in many dam projects. Funders often decide which projects go forward, and which standards they have to meet.

Traditionally, the World Bank has been the most important financier of large dams. In recent years, Chinese financial institutions have taken over this role, and have triggered a new boom in global dam building. Other funders – regional development banks, export credit agencies and private banks – also play a role.

Corruption is a frequent problem in large dam projects

International Rivers holds public and private funders accountable for the dam projects which they finance. We work to dry up the funding for projects which violate social and environmental standards. We make sure that funders and governments have keep the promises which they have made on critical projects. And we promote stricter standards which can redirect resources from destructive dams into benign alternatives.

More information:

Multilateral Development Banks' Water and Power Pipelines, a quarterly report on new proposed projects from the Asian Development Bank, Inter-American Bank, African Development Bank, and the World Bank.

LATEST ADDITIONS:

World Bank's Program-For-Results Loan Instrument: Good Intentions?

Hydroelectric power: Spate of dam building meets resistance

World Bank to Lead Climate Finance Without Energy Strategy?

Belo Monte Dam Does Not Meet Equator Principles, Say Rights Groups

World Bank, Climate Change and Energy Financing: Something Old. Something New?

Peter Bosshard
peter [at] internationalrivers [dot] org
+1 510 848 1155

Zachary Hurwitz
zachary [at] internationalrivers [dot] org
+1 510-848-1155