IN a significant move, the World Bank has decided to suspend funding for a $150 million tourism project in Tanzania after reports surfaced detailing the suffering of local villagers due to severe rights abuses. The decision comes following persistent advocacy by the Oakland Institute, a California-based rights group, urging the global lender to take action against the project.
According to a statement released by the Oakland Institute on Tuesday, the World Bank’s suspension of the project, named REGROW (Remote Growth and Wilderness Recovery), was deemed ‘long overdue.’ The institute highlighted that the bank’s delay in action had led to serious harm inflicted upon local communities.
‘This decision to suspend funding for a dangerous project is a victory for marginalized communities,’ stated Anuradha Mittal, Executive Director of the Oakland Institute. ‘It sends a resounding message to the Tanzanian government that there are consequences for its rampant rights abuses.’
The REGROW project, initiated in 2017, aimed to enhance the management of natural resources and tourism assets in a remote region of southern Tanzania. Despite over $100 million being disbursed for the initiative, concerns regarding human rights violations persisted.
The Oakland Institute had extensively documented abuses, including disappearances, extrajudicial killings allegedly carried out by park rangers, and sexual assaults against women, all linked to the expansion of Ruaha National Park—an objective of the REGROW project. The group’s report in November accused the World Bank of failing to hold Tanzanian authorities accountable for these atrocities.
In response to mounting pressure, the World Bank had initiated a review following the Oakland Institute’s complaints. Recent correspondences obtained by The Associated Press confirmed the bank’s decision to suspend further disbursements until compliance with environmental and social standards is assured.
Meanwhile, Tanzania heavily relies on tourism to finance its national budget, and efforts to develop extensive national parks have been underway to attract more visitors. However, these initiatives have often resulted in clashes with local communities, with reports of abuses spotlighting civilian rights violations.
The government’s actions, including the eviction of 70,000 Maasai from grazing lands in the Loliondo area for trophy hunting, have drawn international scrutiny. Amnesty International and other rights groups have condemned these measures, emphasizing the need for accountability and the protection of indigenous communities affected by such projects.
Efforts to obtain a comment from Tanzanian authorities regarding the World Bank’s decision were unsuccessful at the time of reporting. The suspension of the REGROW project underscores a broader challenge facing development initiatives in Tanzania, highlighting the imperative of upholding human rights standards in the pursuit of economic growth.