Accountability Counsel

Programs: Communities our lawyers assist communities to effectively use accountability offices to defend their rights and remedy harm caused by internationally-financed projects. We use our expertise with these offices to add value to locally-led strategies for human rights and environmental justice. Program accomplishments include: supporting nomadic herders in mongolia throughout a complex dispute resolution process that resulted in a series of agreements to remedy harm; assisting tea workers in india with complaints that led to independent investigations that vindicated their concerns; and helping a collective of farmers in haiti initiate a dialogue process to negotiate redress for project-related harm.

policy advocacy we advocate for complaint offices that are accessible, independent, transparent, fair, and effective tools for justice. We also advocate for new offices where none exist. Our advocacy has contributed to a new complaint office at the green climate fund based on international best practice, as well as stronger environmental and social policies at the overseas private investment corporation. We have been instrumental in ensuring that key stakeholders strengthen complaint offices at the world bank, european bank for reconstruction and development, and other financial institutions.

research & resources we provide trainings and tools for communities and their advocates to understand how complaint offices work, we collaborate with a network of global accountability advocates, and we track data and trends within the accountability field. Program accomplishments include: hosting a retreat for 40 advocates from around the world where we shared experiences and lessons learned from our collective case advocacy; production of a report called mapping accountability that is being used to show the data underpinning our advocacy; and continued development of our database of every case submitted to an accountability office that allows us to expose patterns in our field and show advocates, policymakers, investors, and the institutions themselves best practice and where improvement is needed most.