STATEMENT FROM NGO FORUM ON INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT
Brussels, 19 May 2001
(check against delivery)
A. The development and maintenance of infrastructure in LDCS
Infrastructural development goes beyond
mere construction. It has to do with the provision of basic social services,
which have to do with human rights and people's development.
Problem:
1. The colonial approach to infrastructural development was based on special economic
interest, disregarding social, economic and environmental consequences.
2. Infrastructural development is incompatible with the current population
trends in LDCS.
3. The maintenance and development of existing infrastructure is inadequate or non-existent
in many ways.
Suggestions:
1. Undertake proper feasibility studies
in all areas of infrastructural development with sustainability in focus.
2. Ensure that policy formulation, implementation and monitoring
are done based on results of the feasibility studies.
3.Regional network plans for infrastructural development be
undertaken by LDCS.
4. Mobilisation of genuine international support for the fruition
of proposals for infrastructural development.
5. Publicly available data base for planning be established.
B. Export Credit Agencies (ECA) and other International Financial
Institutions:
These organisations are contributing to a level of miss-development by
financing projects, which do not take social, human and environmental rights
and extensive debt prevention safeguards into account.
Problems:
They are one of the largest sources of
finance for infrastructure and development projects but have gone in relative secre::.~
with no transparency or safeguards to human rights. They compete with each
other often times, on the basis of weakest social, human rights or environment
policies. And their projects often have a negative, or no relationship to
development.
Suggestion:
Currently negotiations at the OECD on potential common environment
policies are being held. These should be broadened to include social human
rights and development policies and to create some binding standards that
require transparency and consultation with affected communities. Organising
smaller players in LDCS to be strong partners within the ECA framework.
Development of infrastructure had not involved civil society.
Psychologically they do not own anything and therefore have no interest in
protecting or maintaining them.
Problem:
Lack of knowledge about the legal implications of infrastructural
development among members of civil society. Destruction of public property
during unrest/civil conflict.
Suggestions:
1. Raising awareness about maintenance and the importance of public
structures and the need for culture of peace.
2. Civic education on issues of public concern.
3. Equitable distribution of infrastructural development.