Tag: Indigenous Peoples Rights International

Principles and recommendations to guide the IFC/MIGA Sustainability Framework review

October 6, 2026

Civil society organisations have set out key principles and recommendations for the IFC/MIGA Sustainability Framework review

The IFC/MIGA Sustainability Framework includes the environmental and social safeguards designed to prevent development projects financed by these institutions from causing harm to people and the environment.

The Framework is currently up for review, with disclosure of the first draft expected in November–December 2026 alongside the launch public consultations.

In September, 116 civil society organisations – including the 19 publishers of these briefings – wrote to the World Bank Group Board outlining four core principles that should guide the review.

The four principles are:

  1. Alignment with best available practice and human rights norms
  2. Non-regression from existing policies
  3. Improved implementation
  4. Meaningful consultation of affected communities and dedicated, rights-based engagement with Indigenous Peoples

The first briefing explains the four core principles in more detail, with reference to other international standards used by peer institutions and the private sector.

The second briefing provides detailed recommendations on priority issues that must be addressed in the revised Sustainability Framework, including recommendations on existing and new Performance Standards, the Access to Information Policy, and cross-cutting issues such as gender.

These briefings are co-published by Recourse with AIPNEE, Arab Watch Coalition, Bank Climate Advocates, Bank Information Center, Bretton Woods Project, Centre for Financial Accountability, Friends of the Earth US, Inclusive Development International, Industrious Labs,  Indigenous Peoples Rights International, OECD Watch, Oxfam, SIRGE, Tallgrass Institute, International Trade Union Confederation, Stop Financing Factory Farming (S3F), and Urgewald.

Four principles to guide the Sustainability Framework review

It has been almost 15 years since the IFC/MIGA Sustainability Framework was last updated. While the 2012 Framework represented an important step forward at the time, developments in human rights norms and environmental and social approaches mean that the IFC/MIGA safeguards are no longer the leading standards they once were.

Civil society is calling on the World Bank Group Board to ensure that the revised Sustainability Framework:

  • aligns with best available practice and human rights norms
  • does not weaken existing environmental and social safeguards (non-regression)
  • addresses persistent gaps in implementation
  • ensures meaningful consultation with project-affected communities and dedicated, rights-based engagement with Indigenous Peoples.

Civil society recommendations for the IFC/MIGA Sustainability Framework

Civil society also provides detailed recommendations covering environmental and social risk assessment, labour and working conditions, climate and pollution, community health and safety, land acquisition and resettlement, biodiversity, Indigenous Peoples, financial intermediaries, stakeholder and rightsholder engagement, gender and access to information.

Read the briefing Four principles to guide the IFC Sustainability Framework review

Read the Civil society recommendations for the IFC/MIGA Sustainability Framework

Case Study: Tourism and Indigenous Peoples’ Rights in Nepal

November 1, 2023

Tourism industry plays and can further play a significant role for Nepal’s economy and prosperity, including in terms of environmental conservation. However, the industry has often entrenched marginalization of Indigenous Peoples in the country and resulted in violations of their rights, including in the context of establishment of protected areas, tourism establishments and businesses as well as representation of Indigenous image.

On many occasions, Indigenous Peoples have suffered loss of traditional lands and other violations of their rights in favor of tourism projects, which directly affects their lives and livelihoods. Particularly relevant is the establishment of protected areas, which have been mostly created by displacing Indigenous communities from their lands and resources. Concerningly, Indigenous communities have even been subjected to wide range of abuses, including killings, torture, arbitrary detentions, mistreatment, harassment as well as sexual violence against women at the hands of army, forest rangers and others in the context protected areas set up for environmental conservation and tourism.

Tourism establishments and business have also encroached upon lands and sacred sites of Indigenous communities in various parts of Nepal. Indigenous defenders and activists have faced retaliations and reprisals for raising their voices against violations of their rights and those of their communities in the context of such tourism undertakings, including at the hands of businesses.

more “Case Study: Tourism and Indigenous Peoples’ Rights in Nepal” …