Impact investments by private actors aim to provide positive social and environmental benefits. As the field matures, a few questions have become central: what is the accountability for the impacts of these investments, to whom, and how is it established? The field can learn from the prior experience of development finance institutions, which have developed mechanisms for community feedback and grievance assessment.
Accountability Counsel has gathered significant expertise around the benefits of community feedback mechanisms for investors through years of advocacy and direct work with communities affected by DFI investments. In 2018, Accountability Counsel partnered with the Stanford Law School to focus on accountability for negative consequences of impact investments and how to address them in a proactive and community-oriented manner. This work has led to the development of a fit-for-purpose mechanism for impact investors. In this webinar, we will examine the workings and value of community feedback mechanisms via case studies, followed by a conversation on how the field can develop these mechanisms with Kindra Mohr and Sarah Singh of Accountability Counsel. They will be joined by Joanna Levitt Cea, and advocate and facilitator for investments that honor environmental and human rights and former Executive Director of the International Accountability Project.
