EBRD-CSO Newsletter Keeping you up to date with the EBRD

The 2017 Civil Society Programme April-June 2017 at the EBRD Annual Meeting in Cyprus Welcome to the The role of Cypriot civil CSO Newsletter society in promoting In this issue we economic development report on the for reconciliation 2017 Civil Society Programme, held as The first event of the CSP was organised 48 part of the EBRD’s on Tuesday 9 May by the civil society Annual Meeting and organisation NGO Support Centre, who Business Forum in Nicosia, Cyprus on were selected following a competitive 9-11 May. You can also read about call for proposals. The discussion was The 2017 Civil Society Programme (CSP) a workshop for IFIs’ accountability hosted at the H4C in the UN Buffer Zone took place on 9-11 May in Nicosia, mechanisms and CSOs in the SEMED in Nicosia, a unique site for civil society Cyprus. The Programme featured multi- region, a workshop for Self-Funded dialogue and peace-building. The panel stakeholder panels on the role of civil Communities in Istanbul as part brought together representatives from society in supporting transition resilience of the EBRD’s refugee response, the business world, academia, civil and in promoting green cities, in line with and the Bank’s support of safe and society and journalism to discuss the the EBRD’s updated transition concept. sustainable transport in . role of Cypriot civil society in promoting A CSO-led panel, hosted at the symbolic economic development for reconciliation. Home for Cooperation (H4C), also explored As always, we bring you the latest The panellists presented innovative the topic of a long-term sustainable news about the Bank’s dialogue with programmes that have been mounted by reconciliation process in Cyprus through CSOs on country strategies, recent civil society in order to create stronger the engagement of civil society. As every projects and initiatives. socio-economic ties between the Greek year, the CSP represented an opportunity Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities for CSOs to discuss strategic issues as well on the island, including initiatives aimed as investment projects with EBRD staff, at engaging young people by the Stelios senior management, the President and Philanthropic Foundation and Civic Space. Board of Directors. This year the project Representatives from both chambers of For more information visit: discussions focused on the following commerce also shared their vision for a www.ebrd.com/who-we-are/ topics: EBRD investments in the Power & à solution to the Cyprus dispute which builds civil-society/news-and-events Energy Utilities, Natural Resources, on stronger economic integration between Transport, and Agribusiness sectors. In the two communities. addition, participants had an opportunity to discuss recent EBRD initiatives in the open format of ‘World Cafe Roundtables’. The Civil Society Programme is the flagship event of the EBRD’s engagement with civil society and takes place every May alongside the EBRD’s Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors and Business Forum.

April-June 2017 EBRD-CSO Newsletter 1 Civil Society Programme at the 2017 Annual Meeting (continued from page 1)

The role of civil The panellists examined the link Participants also discussed the Bank’s between civil society development and Green Cities Programme: this offers a society in promoting the sustainability of reforms in various holistic approach to a city’s challenges, transition resilience countries, with a focus on central and combining a creative financial product with eastern Europe. They also gave their views technical assistance, donor support, as The 2017 CSP featured a panel discussion on what civil society can do to promote well as strategic planning. Green City Action on the role of civil society in promoting transition resilience and minimise the risk Plans (GCAPs) are designed with CSO transition resilience. Transition is not of backtracking in the Bank’s region. engagement opportunities at many stages a linear process and there have been and thus ensure that community priorities set-backs and reversals along the way Civil society and are correctly reflected and help determine in the EBRD region. Transition resilience the target areas of municipal infrastructure refers to the stability of economic and green cities investments. The panellists concluded political reforms, which is directly related that the challenges cities face can only be The final panel discussion of this year’s to a societal buy-in for reforms and local addressed by aligning all stakeholders’ CSP was dedicated to the role of civil ownership of transition. Civil society, efforts in improving the quality of urban society in contributing to successful operating in the space between the public services and infrastructure, providing green urbanisation that helps cities, and private sectors, can play an important enabling environments for innovation and which represent a significant source of part in this process. ultimately improving citizens’ quality of life. environmental impact, to maximise their potential as drivers of climate-resilient Through its representation, intermediation growth. CSOs can promote behavioural and social service provision functions, change towards innovative green economy civil society can reach out to the more practices and also play a crucial advocacy vulnerable groups in society and role for improving municipal regulations promote democratic participation, policy and national legislation. accountability and good governance.

Workshop: IFIs meet with civil society About 30 representatives of local CSOs CSOs often support communities in raising from Jordan participated in a workshop their concerns with the financiers of organised by the EBRD’s and EIB’s projects. The IAMs regularly conduct public Complaint Mechanisms with the support outreach sessions in collaboration with of the Phenix Center for Economics & CSOs in the areas where the multilateral Informatics Studies. The workshop, held in financial institutions are active, in order to Amman on 24 May, provided an opportunity raise awareness of their services among for CSO representatives to learn about civil society networks. how the Independent Accountability Mechanisms (IAMs) can help people that This workshop provided the IAMs and CSOs are potentially affected by IFI-funded with an opportunity to exchange views on projects. issues related to public and private sector development projects in Jordan. CSOs from The IAMs receive complaints and Jordan learned how to file a complaint, address grievances from project-affected which complaints are eligible and what they people about environmental and social should expect as a result of a complaint. impacts and access to information projects financed by the IFIs. IAMs have Workshop participants stated that addressed a range of issues, including communities in Jordan face challenges compensation for resettlement and arising from the pace of economic growth, livelihood restoration, impacts on culturally competition for natural resources and significant landscapes, engagement with climate change risks. IAMs together with local communities, environmental impacts, CSOs have a major role to play in ensuring concerns over community health and that IFIs meet the highest standards safety, and labour issues. of transparency and accountability.

2 EBRD-CSO Newsletter April-June 2017 CSO Capacity Enhancement Framework

Supporting Self-Funded Communities in Turkey

The civil war in Syria has displaced millions On 7-8 February a workshop on micro of people and placed significant stress savings and loans was held by Jana and on the economies of neighbouring host ACAF in Istanbul for Turkish CSOs and countries including Jordan and Turkey, community centres. The workshop, which where the EBRD invests. In response to a brought together more than 25 participants sudden surge in population in these two from across the country, focused on countries, the EBRD is leading efforts with introducing the Self-Funded Communities host communities and refugees alike to (SFCs) model to CSO representatives. build economic resilience to the challenges SFCs are small communities in which posed by the crisis. In Turkey, the Bank is the partners, usually between 10 and 30 working in partnership with international people, give small amounts of money that and local CSOs to enhance business skills allow them to become shareholders of among those affected by the crisis and to the SFC. For refugees without access to improve access to finance for refugees. formal banking services, SFCs can provide A technical cooperation (TC) project an important source of financial security. implemented by the Spanish Association of Jana and ACAF will work throughout the Self-Funded Communities (ACAF) and the TC project to establish SFCs across Turkey, Turkish CSO Jana, with support from the targeting refugee women and communities EBRD, is providing financial literacy training affected by the crisis, and to build the and building community savings and business skills of the members through loans schemes together with local CSOs in financial literacy training and mentorship. Istanbul and south-eastern Turkey.

Launch of a seatbelt and eco-driving campaign in

The EBRD has launched a new technical In order to lay the groundwork for the cooperation assignment in Tajikistan to campaign, observational surveys on support a campaign to raise awareness of seatbelt equipment and use are being the importance of wearing seatbelts and conducted in Dushanbe, alongside focus the benefits of eco-driving, working with the groups on knowledge and attitudes. The traffic police and civil society in Dushanbe. public awareness-raising campaign, which The campaign is being organised by the will include media broadcasts, will then Young Generation of Tajikistan and EASST, be designed and will run for five months. focusing on young people. There will also be special seminars on the benefits of eco-driving for drivers, In a car crash you are twice as likely to die companies and society as a whole. if you don’t wear a seatbelt, and unbelted back seat passengers can kill drivers during The EBRD is supporting the road safety an impact. Despite this, seatbelt-wearing and eco-driving technical cooperation rates in Tajikistan are low – possibly as assignment as part of its overall low as 5 per cent. Eco-driving also has a commitment to safe and sustainable role to play in road safety: lowering speeds transport, in collaboration with the and smooth, attentive driving reduces road Asian Development Bank (ADB), and as risks. It also reduces wear-and-tear on part of the CAREC Road Safety Strategy vehicles and cuts fuel consumption by up (2017-2030). The campaign will be to a quarter, saving money for drivers, and implemented in relation to the Dushanbe- reduces CO2 emissions. Border Road Improvement Investment Project.

April-June 2017 EBRD-CSO Newsletter 3 IN BRIEF

EBRD signs Accreditation Master Key dates and contacts Agreement with GCF Country strategies: The signing of the Accreditation Master Agreement (AMA) marks the public comment periods final step required for the EBRD to access the resources of the Green Slovak Republic September-October 2017 Climate Fund (GCF) to implement joint projects aimed at combating climate change in the Bank’s regions. The accord underscores the Moldova September-October 2017 EBRD’s position as the largest single recipient of GCF resources. A total of US$ 618 million, or 26 per cent of total GCF resources, have so far been allocated to green EBRD projects. These resources will Poland November-December 2017 flow into renewable energy projects in Egypt, adaptation projects in Tajikistan and Morocco, as well as green lending in several countries Board consultation visits of operations based on the model of credit lines for sustainable energy efficiency. Concessional finance provided through the GCF is crucial for Turkey September 2017 providing additional financing and incentives for EBRD clients to choose investment options that protect the global climate, make climate finance Ukraine September 2017 and technologies more affordable and help with project preparation through, for example, technology transfer, and implement reforms that support green investment. Bulgaria October 2017

Moldova October 2017

Tunisia October 2017

To have your say on strategies visit: www.ebrd.com/strategies-and-policies/ à have-your-say.html

New publication on resettlement Contacts guidance and good practice Civil Society Engagement Unit The EBRD’s recently released ‘Resettlement Guidance and Good Tel: +44 20 7338 7982 Practice’ is the first major guidance on resettlement and livelihood Email: [email protected] restoration by a development bank in over a decade. It provides advice on interpreting and implementing the EBRD’s Performance Requirement European Bank for Reconstruction 5 (PR5): Land Acquisition, Involuntary Resettlement and Economic and Development Displacement under its Environmental and Social Policy. One Exchange Square This guidance document encourages stakeholders to manage London EC2A 2JN resettlement processes in a manner that is tailored to their particular United Kingdom context, because there are as many different resettlement scenarios as Website: www.ebrd.com there are affected people. However, the aim of any resettlement process should be to minimise negative impacts and maximise development opportunities, placing the needs and views of affected people at Follow us on social media its centre.

The guide showcases good practice examples from eastern Europe, and the southern and eastern Mediterranean and provides practical information to help clients determine the best approach to addressing physical and/or economic displacement for their www.youtube.com/ebrdtv specific project. www.facebook.com/ebrdhq The key messages of ‘Resettlement Guidance and Good Practice’ www.twitter.com/ebrd are addressing both physical and economic displacement; livelihood www.linkedin.com/company/ebrd restoration (resettlement often means that people lose land they rely on for their income); making provisions for vulnerable people or groups; www.instagram.com/ebrd_official the process for replacing land and assets; and managing compensation www.flickr.com/photos/ebrd entitlements in a fair and transparent way.

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