Land acquisition and resettlement practices vital to sustainable cross-border connectivity infrastructure growth were highlighted during a virtual workshop on 6 December, co-organized by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF), Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Asian Development Bank (ADB), and World Bank.

Experts from International Financial Institutions (IFI), government agencies, and client entities shared experiences and lessons on engaging stakeholders in land acquisition for connectivity projects in Asia and ensuring the process is equitable and responsive to local communities.

“The importance of effective stakeholder engagement in infrastructure development cannot be overstated,” explained MCDF Senior Environment and Social Development Specialist Ines Fejzic, who moderated the workshop. “It is the bedrock upon which equitable and successful projects are built.”

“Deepening understanding of good international practices and stakeholder engagement as part of the land acquisition process through collaboration is crucial for addressing the complexities of infrastructure development and a primary goal of MCDF and its partners,” Fejzic continued.

Representatives from AIIB, ADB, and the World Bank described how principles and requirements of their IFIs’ environmental and social frameworks practically apply to stakeholder engagement in land acquisition and resettlement and its importance for sustainable connectivity infrastructure projects.

Participants later presented case studies from Asian countries that described connectivity infrastructure project land acquisition impacts, the design and implementation of stakeholder engagement in land acquisition and resettlement, and related outcomes.

The case studies included a road project in India, an urban development project in Viet Nam, a rail project in the Philippines that examined grievance redress mechanisms, and a broader look at how Georgia has addressed land acquisition and resettlement complaints.

The workshop concluded with a panel discussion that explored the effectiveness of country systems on stakeholder engagement in land acquisition and resettlement, actions countries can take to attain IFI compliance, and imperatives for improving country systems and IFI policies.

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