Phenix Center for Economic & Informatics Studies Phenix Center for Economic & Informatics Studies
PhenixCenter for Economic and Informatics Studies and CEE Bankwatch Network held a workshop last week to introduce Multilateral Development Banks (MDB) and opportunities of Jordanian civil society organizations to influence its policies and investments.
A number of representatives of civil society organizations participated in the one day-long workshop, whereby operations of European development banks and multilateral development banks in Jordan and the Middle East were highlighted. Ahmed Awad, Director of Phenix Center for Economic and Informatics Studies said: “focus concentrated, in cooperation with CEE Bankwatch Network, on importance of projects carried out by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the extent of their compliance with priorities of the national economy as well as challenges it faces; in addition to the extent of its contribution to finding solutions to economy impasses”.
Awadreiterated that focus concentrated on the importance of these projects in terms of its contribution to creating job opportunities, particularly in Governorateslacking major projects which generate job opportunities leading to engaging in the overall development and fair distribution of its gains on all citizens in various Governorates.
TheCEE Bankwatch Network monitors activities of the European and MultilateralDevelopment Banks. Bankwatch leads a number of campaigns against environmentally or socially destructive projects funded by these institutions. It is a collection of social organizations from Central and Eastern Europe, with a mission of preventing environmentally and socially harmful impacts of international development funding, and undertakes to promote alternative solutions and public participation.
The workshop covered a number of topics such as investments of MultilateralDevelopment Banks (MDB) in Jordan including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European Investment Bank, and EU Accession Funds. It also focused on social and environmental impacts of these investments, procedures of public participation in these institutions, as well as chances to influence projects of Multilateral Development Banks (MDB); in addition to reviewing experiences gained by civil society organizations from previously launched campaigns on projects and policies of Multilateral Development Banks (MDB).
The workshop also focused on ways and means of how attending civil society organizations may cooperate in monitoring and take part in campaigns directed against Multilateral Development Banks (MDB).
