Global Project Finance, Human Rights and Sustainable Development

Many infrastructure projects around the world are funded through the project finance method, which combines private financing with public sector backing from multilateral finance institutions such as the World Bank. This examination of the theoretical and practical implications of such funding begins with a discussion of the relationship between the financial structuring of these projects and finance, policy and legal disciplines, especially in the form of investment law, human rights and environmental law. A number of case studies are then examined to provide practical insights into the application (or otherwise) of human rights and sustainable development objectives within such projects. While these theoretical perspectives do not conclude that the project finance method detracts from the application or implementation of human rights and sustainable development objectives, they do highlight the potential for the prioritisation of investment returns at the expense of human rights and environmental protection standards.

'Thanks to the wealth of information and analysis put into the contributions and the high standard [of] editorial coordination, which has avoided the usual problems of collective works, Global Project Finance, Human Rights and Sustainable Development represents essential reading in the field and is, therefore, warmly recommended.' Riccardo Sciaudone, Journal of Energy and Natural Resource Law

Sheldon L. Leader is Professor in the School of Law, University of Essex and Director of the Essex Business and Human Rights Project. He works at the intersection between human rights law, areas of law governing economic actors, and legal theory. He has focused on the human rights impact of investment strategies, most recently in Kosovo working with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). David M. Ong is a Reader at the University of Essex Law School, UK where he teaches and researches in the fields of Public International Law and Environmental Law. He has served as a technical expert and resource person for United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) activities on Oil- and Gas-Producing Developing Countries, as well as the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Mission in Kosovo, alongside Professor Leader.