When I arrived for the first time in San Salvador de Jujuy in early 2014, I was immediately struck by the beauty and wildness of this region. The colorful mountains of the Seven Colors Hill enveloped the village of and pristine rivers and salt flats lined the valley. With this as our backdrop, I was looking forward to the next couple of days discussing a new project with the … [Read more...] about Should we let a river run dry?
Environmental and Social Safeguards
Three ways communities can help monitor projects
In our previous post we noted how participatory monitoring helps generate more trust between communities and companies with potentially controversial projects. But there are right ways to carry out these joint monitoring exercises. We’ve boiled down our experience at the IDB into three key tips that can provide a starting point for participatory monitoring. Don’t … [Read more...] about Three ways communities can help monitor projects
What is participatory monitoring and how does it help prevent conflicts
The first part of a two-part blog series on using community members to monitor projects. Participatory monitoring is the term used to refer to engaging community members in overseeing the projects that impact their lives. It is typically used in projects that: Can potentially have significant negative environmental and social impacts (i.e. projects in the extractive … [Read more...] about What is participatory monitoring and how does it help prevent conflicts
How to reach the middle ground between indigenous worldviews and development practice
Every year, the United Nations celebrate the International Day of the World's Indigenous People on the 9th of August. This is not only an opportunity to take stock of the many challenges that development poses to indigenous people, but also of the ways that indigenous peoples themselves are challenging traditional development practices and promoting their own approaches. The … [Read more...] about How to reach the middle ground between indigenous worldviews and development practice
The benefits of drilling inland as if it were offshore
The Amazon Basin is becoming a hot spot for oil and gas exploration. New developments are mostly found in the Amazon Headwaters, extending in an arc from Venezuela through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, western Brazil, and Bolivia. These discoveries bring great promise for economic development. Yet they also pose grave threats to indigenous forest dwellers and to the incomparable … [Read more...] about The benefits of drilling inland as if it were offshore