Facing pressure from rights groups, World Bank suspends funding for Tanzania tourism project
KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — The World Bank has suspended funding for a tourism project in Tanzania that caused the suffering of tens of thousands of villagers, according to a U.S.-based rights group that has long urged the global lender to take such action.
The World Bank’s decision to suspend the $150 million project, which aims to improve the management of natural resources and tourism assets in a remote part of southern Tanzanian, was “long overdue,” the Oakland Institute said in a statement Tuesday, charging that the bank’s “failure to take immediate action resulted in serious harms for the local communities.”
At least $100 million has already been disbursed for the project, which started in 2017. The suspension of World Bank financing took effect April 18.
The Oakland Institute, a California-based rights watchdog whose work focuses on marginalized communities, for years led calls for the World Bank to stop funding the project known by the acronym REGROW, documenting serious rights abuses suffered by Indigenous communities in the area.
Related articles
With Djokovic awaiting the winner, Murray trails Hanfmann at rain
GENEVA (AP) — Needing a win to face Novak Djokovic next at the Geneva Open, Andy Murray was saved by2024-05-21Travel rush has arrived as millions on the move
This photo taken on Sept. 29, 2023 shows passengers at Zhengzhou Railway Station in Zhengzhou, centr2024-05-21Report reveals trends in world tourism
The World Tourism Cities Federation and the Tourism Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Social2024-05-21Spanish travel industry happy to see China's return as major tourist destination
Spanish travel agencies also applaud China's visa-free policy, which is seen as an incentive to revi2024-05-21Supreme Court declines to hear challenge to Maryland ban on rifles known as assault weapons
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday declined, for now, to hear a challenge to a Maryland l2024-05-21I visited a £400 wellness retreat in Wales to try the ancient Japanese art of forest bathing
Walking barefoot down a muddy trail with a group of people I'd met the day before and attempting to2024-05-21
atest comment