For decades, river communities have suffered from a top-down, profit-driven development model that exploits them without input or accountability. The profits flow outwards and away – to urban centers, elites and foreign investors – while local people and ecosystems suffer the adverse impacts.

Our Work to Elevate Grassroot Power
We believe that communities must have a say in how their river systems are governed, managed, developed and protected. In supporting local movements, we prioritize guidance from indigenous and ethnic minorities and develop inclusive strategies to ensure gender equity. We support indigenous and local communities’ rights to FPIC with lawsuits and public actions.
As a result, our regional and international networks have become some of the most effective, sustained civil society movements in the world. Our most notable river protection victories have been collective achievements, strengthened by these vibrant and interconnected movements.
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Latest News
- Finance in Common Summit shows reality is not meeting rhetoric when it comes to support for human rights and civic spaceBy: Josh Klemm, Co-Executive Director of International Rivers Earlier this month, I had the chance to attend the fourth annual Finance in Common (FIC) Summit in Cartagena, Colombia. A relatively … Read more
- Protect Rivers, Support Women: Unleashing the Success of the Women and Rivers AcceleratorThree thousand miles apart, Nirmala’s and Violet’s experience led them both to the same calling: to protect the rivers in their communities. Growing up on a farm in rural Kenya … Read more
- PRESS RELEASE | Anchicayá Dam: Colombian Constitutional Court decides in favor of justice for Anchicaya Communities after 22 YearsAfter conducting an extensive study, Colombian Constitutional Court ruled to protect the fundamental rights of Anchichayá Dam affected communties Final judgment will be released no later than September 2023. FOR IMMEDIATE … Read more
- Rivers Unite Us! Highlights of the 26th Anniversary Day of Action for RiversBy Bonnie Barclay, Global Communications Manager for International Rivers On March 14th for the 26th annual International Day of Action for Rivers, people all over the world gathered to protect … Read more