Inclusive Development International

Inclusive Development International Inclusive Development International is a non-governmental advocacy organization focused on advancing human rights, corporate accountability, and equitable development outcomes for communities affected by extractive industries and large-scale infrastructure projects. Founded in the early 21st century, the organization engages in strategic litigation, policy advocacy, and coalition-building to challenge impunity and promote reparative remedies for affected populations. Its work intersects with transnational litigation, human rights mechanisms, and international finance institutions.

History

Inclusive Development International was established by a cohort of lawyers, activists, and researchers who had previously worked on cases before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, European Court of Human Rights, and national courts such as the High Court of Justice and the Supreme Court of the United States. Early campaigns drew on precedents from litigation against multinational corporations in forums like the Alien Tort Statute cases, and collaborations with organizations familiar from the International Criminal Court advocacy networks. The organization expanded partnerships with groups involved in campaigns around the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Over time it developed expertise in leveraging mechanisms such as the World Bank Inspection Panel, complaints under the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and engagement with the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Mission and Objectives

The stated mission emphasizes strategic use of law and policy to secure justice for communities harmed by projects financed or operated by multinational firms and international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group. Objectives include advancing accountability through litigation in venues like the International Court of Justice and domestic tribunals, shaping standards influenced by instruments such as the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the Montreal Protocol-era environmental precedents, and driving reforms in institutions including the European Investment Bank and the Asian Development Bank. The organization aims to strengthen remedial systems connected to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and regional human rights systems like the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.

Campaigns and Programs

Inclusive Development International has run campaigns addressing extractive projects linked to companies headquartered in jurisdictions including London, Paris, New York City, and Toronto. Programs focus on strategic litigation, community-led advocacy, and policy reform, often in coalition with actors such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Oxfam International, and national groups like Center for Constitutional Rights and Public Interest Law Center. Campaigns have targeted projects financed by institutions like the International Finance Corporation and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and companies associated with supply chains involving ports such as Rotterdam and Hambantota Port. The group has also engaged with forums like the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights and worked on standards influenced by the Paris Agreement negotiations and environmental rulings such as Massachusetts v. Environmental Protection Agency style jurisprudence.

Legal and Policy Advocacy

The organization deploys strategic litigation before courts and non-judicial grievance mechanisms, filing complaints with bodies like the World Bank Inspection Panel and invoking instruments such as the Aarhus Convention where relevant. It has contributed to litigation referencing doctrines developed in cases before the European Court of Human Rights, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, and domestic decisions from the Supreme Court of India. Policy advocacy includes submissions to the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights, participation in consultations with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and advocacy for mandatory due diligence laws inspired by measures in jurisdictions like France and Germany. The group also engages in precedent-setting suits that draw on frameworks from the Alien Tort Statute era and modern approaches seen in cases litigated in California and England and Wales.

Organizational Structure and Funding

Inclusive Development International operates with a small professional staff including litigators, policy analysts, campaign strategists, and regional coordinators who liaise with partners in contexts such as Colombia, Indonesia, Kenya, and Fiji. Governance is typically overseen by a board composed of practitioners from institutions like the Open Society Foundations, academic affiliations with universities such as Harvard University and University of Oxford, and seasoned advocates from networks including Global Witness and Transparency International. Funding sources have included philanthropic foundations, litigant contributions coordinated with groups like Earthrights International, and grants from entities similar to the Ford Foundation and the MacArthur Foundation, while maintaining independence from corporate donors implicated in its cases.

Impact and Notable Cases

The organization has influenced outcomes in notable disputes involving extractive projects, infrastructure developments, and transnational corporate conduct, contributing to remedies and policy shifts in instances comparable to landmark actions against firms tied to projects in Guatemala, Nigeria, Peru, and Mozambique. Its interventions have helped secure reparations, project suspensions, and policy reforms before institutions like the World Bank Group and national courts, informing debates in international fora including the UN Human Rights Council and the European Union. Notable collaborations have paralleled cases and campaigns associated with actors such as Milieudefensie and strategic litigation strategies seen in the work of organizations like the Southern Africa Litigation Centre.

Category:Non-governmental organizations