ADB admits mistakes over controversial railway project in Cambodia
In a rare admission, the Asian Development Bank has surprisingly acknowledged its own shortcomings following a controversial railway rehabilitation project in Cambodia that sparked complaints from thousands of displaced local residents affected by forced resettlements, insufficient compensations and neglect of their human rights. The concerns were confirmed by the Compliance Review Panel, the bank’s internal review team, asserting that the program, which started in 2006, was non-compliant with the standard operational procedures and safeguards in its development projects, which include resettlement and public communication policies — something considered “damning” by a local NGO. … The findings of the CRP report published on Friday outline the bank’s mishaps, particularly in managing the damaging effect of the project suffered by the local residents in Cambodia. It added: “The CRP concluded that these problems were the result of failure to implement ADB operational policies and procedures. The project was noncompliant with ADB’s involuntary resettlement and public communication policies, and its guidelines on operational procedures.” This is on top of other issues, including the death of three children in one of the resettlement sites in Battambang and Poipet. … The lessons learned, according to CRP, include the need for a stern message to ADB management that public disclosure, consultation and resettlement should be taken seriously, importance of having competent staff, and effective and independent project monitoring and evaluation. …
Lean Alfred Santos
https://www.devex.com/en/news/adb-admits-mistakes-over-failed-railway-project-in/82809
