Research Janet Sego

Abstract

While large scale development projects in various sectors such as transport, energy and urban development may result in a number of benefits to the wider public, involuntary and arbitrary displacements that may result from such projects remains to be the most significant adverse impacts of development projects that potentially affect the enjoyment of human rights by the people (in)directly affected by development projects. And noting that large scale development projects usually involve multiple actors ranging from host country's government entities, financiers, project developers and international investors among others, there is need to analyze the duties of each of the actors towards the project affected persons. Apart from host States which bear primary responsibility for protection of its people against displacement, tracing responsibility for human rights violations against the affected communities arising from such projects in a web of actors is usually complicated task thus often leaving such violations unaddressed. The research seeks to analyze the role of Development Finance Institutions in preventing or mitigating impacts of displacements caused or likely to be caused by their financed projects in the Global South. The project uses select countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and European Development Financing Institutions as case studies.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Erdem Türkelli Gamze
• Fellow: Sego Janet

Research team(s)

• Law and Development

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) act as interlocutors and catalyzers to foster the private sector growth in developing countries through the use of bilateral development assistance to finance their projects. DFIs may be fully or partially state-owned and are often themselves set up as private sector companies in their countries of origin. Multiple DFIs operate in the same developing country settings, often deploying different governance norms. They also conclude different private contractual arrangements in financing the private sector. Although they have broad reach with respect to the sectors that they finance, which include manufacturing and infrastructure but also health care, education, agricultural production, they do not always have mechanisms to keep track of their impacts on people, planet and prosperity. This research project seeks to understand how different DFIs factor in accountability around people, planet and prosperity in their work and identify shortcomings based on real life experiences on the ground. It also aims to make a normative contribution to international law scholarship by evaluating whether and how international law can accommodate obligations incumbent upon hybrid public-private actors and their responsibility under international law.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Erdem Türkelli Gamze
• Fellow: Sego Janet

Research team(s)

• Law and Development

Project type(s)

• Research Project