Bread for All & Bread for All | September 2016

The weakest should not bear the risk

Holding the Development Finance Institutions responsible when private sector projects fail. The case of Addax Bioethanol in Sierra Leone.

Following the financial and food crisis in 2008 the phenomenon of land grabbing through large-scale investments in land leading to forcible displacement of rural population, increasing their food insecurity and disregarding Human Rights became a hot topic on the global agenda. At the same time it became clear, that more investments were needed into the agricultural sector to increase food security and secure agricultural productivity.

Under what conditions and if at all profit-oriented investments can lead to sustainable development and durable benefits for rural population is still under discussion. The most important question is which sort and form of investment is needed and by whom? Can there be  responsible investment from profit-oriented investors and what are requirements for those? Who is accountable to whom, for what and for how long?