Campaign Victory: World Bank Suspends Funding for REGROW

Campaign Victory

On April 18, 2024, the World Bank suspended financing to the Resilient Natural Resource Management for Tourism and Growth (REGROW) project in Tanzania after a year of relentless advocacy by the Oakland Institute on behalf of communities facing evictions and egregious human rights abuses as a result of the project.

This rare decision by the Bank is a critical step towards justice for the millions of Indigenous victims of forced evictions and abuses for the sake of tourism revenue.

Timeline of Events

December 2022

Communities in Southern Tanzania facing violence, evictions, and livelihood restrictions because of the government’s plan to expand Ruaha National Park – financed by the World Bank through the REGROW project – seek support from the Oakland Institute.

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April – May 2023

Field research uncovers Tanzania National Park Authority (TANAPA) paramilitary rangers are implicated in violence – including murders of several villagers – and that the government plans to evict over 20,000 people. The Oakland Institute informs the World Bank about the violation of its safeguards. The Bank fails to take action.

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June 2023

Impacted communities submit a request for inspection to the Inspection Panel. Requesters’ identities are kept confidential due to fear of retaliation. The Oakland Institute acts as the advisors and makes the submission on their behalf.

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July 2023

The Inspection Panel registers the request for inspection.

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September 2023

The Institute releases Unaccountable & Complicit, putting a global spotlight on the World Bank for enabling the violent tactics of the Tanzanian government to boost tourism revenue.

The Panel submits its report to the Board on September 19, 2023 and recommends “an investigation into the Bank’s review and due diligence of the capacity and processes of one of the Project’s lead implementing agencies, i.e. TANAPA.”

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November 2023

Following a lengthy delay, the Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approves the recommendation to investigate the project. Villagers send a letter to the Board calling for the suspension of financing.

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December 2023

Communities reject the dispute resolution mechanism and the Inspection Panel commences its investigation.

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January 2024

The World Bank is informed that the government is advancing eviction plans while TANAPA rangers escalate violence and livelihood restrictions to force villagers from their lands.

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February 2024

A petition signed by nearly 80,000 people is delivered to the President of the World Bank calling for an immediate stop to the funding of the project.

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April 2024

The World Bank suspends disbursements for the project, citing deep concern about the “allegations of abuse and injustice related to the project.”

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