ISLP will extend its assistance to civil society organizations in the Andean Region and East Africa to help them participate and advocate in favor of communities impacted by Chinese investment.
With the support of a new grant from one of our main funders, ISLP will be able to supply a level of legal expertise and understanding that expands the range of tools available to civil society organizations to participate in and address the development of Chinese-financed projects.
Chinese investment overseas differs in key respects from that of Western countries, and local communities affected by Chinese investment projects have struggled to voice their concerns and advance their interests. ISLP will provide legal resources aimed at equipping civil society to advocate for the rights of development-impacted communities, thereby leveling the playing field between communities and civil society organizations on the one hand, and project proponents on the other.
ISLP’s lawyers, working on a pro bono basis and under the guidance of ISLP’s staff, will build the capacity of its partners to understand and utilize the legal framework that governs Chinese investments overseas. Through this work, ISLP also intends to help communities monitor investors’ compliance with social and environmental regulations and enable the development of effective engagement strategies with project proponents to advance stronger democratic accountability.
This project is part of ISLP’s Community Inclusive Development Program, which aims to empower development-impacted communities to ensure that their needs and rights are respected, and to promote sustainable practices around large-scale development.