"Annex II: The Benefits of Integrating Human Rights Risk Information into the World Bank’s Due Diligence," 15 Mar 2016

Human rights risks arise frequently in relation to investment projects supported by multilateral development banks (MDBs)…Human rights risks have often been serious and irremediable, undermining investment project objectives, blowing out remediation and administrative costs…and causing reputational harm to both the Borrower and the lender…This Annex seeks to illustrate in practical terms how human rights risk information could be integrated more explicitly and systematically within the investment project cycle…While this discussion focuses mainly on the Bank’s due diligence responsibilities, it is also relevant to the duties of Borrowers to take human rights risk information into account as part of their social and environmental assessment and risk management responsibilities…Case studies of MDB-supported investment projects carried out by OHCHR illustrate the seriousness and potentially irremediable nature of human rights risks that may arise…[T]imely and systematic integration of human rights risk information within the Bank’s due diligence responsibilities may help to minimise adverse impacts and contribute to the success and sustainability of investment projects…