CEE Bankwatch Network campaigns to prevent environmentally and socially harmful impacts of international development finance, and to promote alternative solutions and public participation. It unites 16 member groups in 14 countries in Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Russia. Our headquarters are located in Prague, Czech Republic, but our staff is based in offices across the region. We work with partner organisations ranging from Africa to Central Asia, monitoring public finance projects and promoting environmentally, socially and economically sustainable alternatives. Our diverse staff and its expertise enable Bankwatch to work on a wide range of issues ranging from air pollution to land rights and EU decision-making.
Hydropower Campaigner (southeast Europe focus)
Based in: Central Eastern/Southeast Europe
The campaigner will work as a member of a team focusing on hydropower, mainly in the Western Balkans. The goals are to prevent financing of damaging hydropower projects by European public banks by improving their safeguard policies; to halt subsidies for hydropower and other unsustainable energy by pushing for the application of EU State aid rules, and to push for stronger legislation to prevent subsidies for unsustainable renewable energy at the EU and Energy Community Treaty level.
Bankwatch has, together with its local and international partners, exposed the damage wrought by hydropower in the Balkans and Georgia, prevented financing for several highly damaging hydropower plants, and successfully pushed for tighter provisions in European public banks’ policies. Improvements are still needed though, and the availability of operating subsidies in the Western Balkan countries continues to fuel a boom in small hydropower plants. The current position opening is expected to assist with our work within the region and at the EU level.