3.2 International financial institutions International financial institutions (IFIs) such as the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Finance Corporation are directly and substantively involved in both supporting and financing urban redevelopment and the modernisation of agribusiness in Uzbekistan. It is therefore critical that they act immediately to support steps that can address the issues documented in this report. As significant influencers of policy in Uzbekistan, IFIs play a material role in the country’s development through finance, while their symbolic role serves as a bulwark for investor confidence. Set against this backdrop and the findings presented in this report, it is recommended that IFI’s: a) Recognise in their risk assessments the high likelihood that state-organised acquisitions of private property and farm land in Uzbekistan will result in human rights violations, unlawful conduct and the abuse of public power. b) Support and engage with the recommendations made in 3.1 and in particular: • Develop enhanced due diligence that identifies red flags for human rights violations, and abuses of official power. Desist from investing in projects before thorough risk assessment and effective mitigation measures have been implemented. • Conduct retroactive risk assessment of all projects linked to illegal land expropriations, including “voluntary” land lease terminations, and forced evictions documented in this report and immediately suspend loan disbursement to projects until effective mitigation strategies have been implemented and remedy for victims has been provided. 62 A False Sense of Legality • Commit to undertake regular, independent monitoring of high-risk development projects that reflects a rights-based approach and meaningful stakeholder engagement. • Given the persistent restrictions on freedoms of expression and association, IFIs should develop effective strategies to ensure meaningful stakeholder engagement and ensure the ability of project-affected parties to speak out or voice their concerns without fear of reprisal. c) Where IFI financing has had a material role in enabling human rights abuses resulting in violations of private property and land rights, implement concrete measures to provide victims with a remedy. d) Work proactively with victims, civil society actors and domestic and international experts in order to build policies and procedures into development finance that can rigorously address risks in Uzbekistan, such as those highlighted in this report. e) Premise future investments in urban development and sectors such as agriculture, mining and renewable energy where land acquisitions are foreseen on a multi-stakeholder-led roadmap of reforms that will progressively address the risk factors identified in this report and other cognate research.