A development project meant to benefit many, may actually cause great harm. Designed and funded often without a community’s knowledge or input, these projects are made possible through banks financed by member countries, regularly with the expressed goal to eradicate poverty. For a local community, access to information, prior, free and informed participation and transparency thorought are crucial.
In fact, development finance institutions, national governments and corporations have obligations to ensure adequate and often full participation of the communities likely to be impacted. However, in practice, communities are often not informed at all, let alone consulted about the development they want for their communities. Even if they are informed, living in a closed or closing space for civil society, which is managed by the very governments who want to move their own development priorities forward without intervention, limits how communities receive information, mobilize and respond. In this reality, community-led experiences and expertise in development is incredibly valuable.
