(Phnom Penh) – Inclusive Development International has launched an innovative pilot program that utilizes sophisticated digital tools to uncover the financial backers of land and resource grabs in the Mekong region.
The Follow the Money initiative uses these findings to advise affected communities on how best to pursue justice through advocacy and other proven means. The program is being funded by Mekong Regional Land Governance, the SAGE Fund and Planet Wheeler Foundation. If the Mekong pilot proves successful, IDI plans to expand it globally.
IDI unveiled the Follow the Money program at an inception workshop in Phnom Penh on January 12-13. Representatives of local organizations from Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar that will collaborate closely with IDI on the project attended the event.
In addition, students from Columbia University’s Business and Human Rights clinic, who are providing research assistance to the project traveled to the event from New York. Five of the students presented initial findings from research they’ve conducted on problematic projects in the region.
“We’re thrilled to launch Follow the Money, which we believe can change the game for communities harmed by land and resource grabs,” said David Pred, Managing Director of IDI.
Follow the Money addresses a lack of transparency surrounding the backers – many of them international – of land and resource grabs. Often, these actors have reputations to protect and are acting in violation of laws or their own social and environmental standards, making them potential pressure points for advocacy. But due to the opaque nature of global financial and trade flows, these actors are often hidden, denying affected communities an important avenue for justice.
“For too long, financiers and traders have hidden behind a veil of secrecy. Working with our partners, we will expose these actors and help affected communities secure justice,” Pred said.
Follow the Money responds to requests from communities in the Mekong region for investment chain mapping of harmful investments. Mapping an investment chain involves uncovering all of the upstream actors – such as banks, shareholders and parent companies – and downstream actors – such as buyers and distributors – connected to a harmful land project. In September, IDI and IIED published Follow the Money: An Advocate’s Guide to Securing Accountability in Agriculture Investments, which details how to map an investment chain, identify points of leverage and pursue multi-faceted advocacy strategies.
Follow the Money researchers utilize financial databases and publicly available sources of information, including company financial reports, import data and shipping manifests, to map investment and supply chains. The project summarizes this information for requestors, in addition to providing an analysis of pressure points and potential advocacy strategies.
In certain cases with high potential, IDI will, upon request, provide additional support to requestors to execute legal, advocacy and negotiation strategies or refer cases to partners with the skills and capacity to provide needed support.