Development policies of ADB face scrutiny at Tbilisi gathering
Placid ADB Meetings Disrupted by Criticism
Usually, the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) annual meetings are calm events, allowing stakeholders to showcase achievements and discuss future challenges. However, this year's gathering, held in Georgia, was far from tranquil. Facing heated criticism from non-governmental activists across Eurasia, the ADB was accused of propping up authoritarian regimes through suspect development policies.
It may have been ironic that the four-day event occurred in Georgia, a nation eagerly looking towards the West and aiming for European Union membership, yet with a government embracing illiberal policies, including legislation that threatened LGBTQ rights. Tbilisi has seen protests against other government bills perceived to muzzle NGOs and the press.
Under the theme of "Bridge to the Future," the roughly 3,000 participants discussed expanding trade via the Middle Corridor route, which traverses Central Asia and the Caucasus. Woochong Um, the ADB's managing director, also mentioned another goal was to highlight Georgia's growing partnership with the ADB and affirm its commitment to regional development. Operated by 68 shareholding states, the United States is the largest.
Despite Georgian Dream's stated ambition to boost trade, an NGO coalition criticized the bank's negative impact on communities, environments, and civic spaces. The activists alleged that the bank was disregarding its obligations to meet Environmental and Social Safeguarding (ESF) standards, arguing that the bank's draft ESF, released in October 2023, failed to meet the highest standards.
The coalition also took issue with the bank's policy of largely overlooking laws adopted by Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and potentially Georgia, which expanded authorities' power to restrain watchdog activities conducted by non-profit organizations and news outlets.
Manana Kochladze, an activist connected to the CEE Bankwatch Network, expressed concerns that the "foreign agents" laws undermined the ADB's sustainable development objectives in various areas, including climate resilience.
"These laws have a chilling effect not only on media outlets and civil society organizations but also worsen the investment climate, increase corruption, and deteriorate governance indicators," Kochladze noted.
Another coalition of rights and watchdog NGOs in Kyrgyzstan issued a separate appeal, urging the ADB to take a firm stance on foreign agents laws, similar to those implemented in April in Kyrgyzstan. The Kyrgyz activists suggested the ADB establish a new consultative mechanism to discuss and evaluate policy and legislation impacting civil society space and media freedom.
They also called on the ADB to voice concerns over the shrinking civic space with the government of Kyrgyzstan to ensure that civil society and independent media remained accessible in the Kyrgyz Republic.
Criticism of the ADB's policies often centers around its support for projects in countries with authoritarian regimes, where civil society and media freedom are limited. Although the bank does not aim development initiatives at specific countries like Georgia or Eurasia, its broader approach can be questioned for potentially negative impacts in these regions.
In regions where authoritarian leanings are evident, the ADB's approach can be seen as insufficient in addressing the challenges faced by civil society and independent media, perpetuating restrictive conditions rather than promoting democratic governance and strengthening civic society.
The heated criticism directed at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) during its annual meetings in Georgia focused on accusations that the bank was propping up authoritarian regimes through suspect development policies. This points to a concern that the ADB's policies may be insufficient in addressing the challenges faced by civil society and independent media, particularly in regions where authoritarian leanings are evident.
The NGO coalition's allegation that the bank was disregarding its obligations to meet Environmental and Social Safeguarding (ESF) standards, and their concern over the implementation of "foreign agents" laws, highlight the impact of the bank's policies on communities, environments, civic spaces, media freedom, and sustainable development objectives.
