Making Sustainable Development the Key Focus of the BRICS New Development Bank

The paper argues that the New Development Bank (NDB) lacks a clear, shared definition of sustainable development and suggests that South Africa could lead the BRICS group in establishing a holistic framework. Drawing on stakeholder interviews and international best practices, the authors recommend that the NDB prioritize social and environmental safeguards, move away from coal and extractive industries, and establish formal dialogue mechanisms with civil society to ensure transparency and pro-poor outcomes.

• The BRICS group and the New Development Bank (NDB) have not yet established a common, articulated position or a clear working definition of 'sustainable development', nor a shared position on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• There is a tension in the NDB's early project focus; while reports suggest renewable energy may make up 60% of its initial portfolio, the bank has also indicated openness to coal-based electricity and large hydro projects, such as the Grand Inga Dam, which many other DFIs are now rejecting.
• South African stakeholders and NGOs express concern over a lack of transparency and public consultation regarding the NDB's project selection, noting that the process has been driven primarily by political stakeholders in the Presidency and Treasury.
• The paper recommends that the NDB adopt a three-pronged approach to sustainability—balancing economic, environmental, and social factors—and integrate established global norms such as the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) and the principle of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC).
• South Africa's Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme is cited as a successful model for the NDB, having procured over 6,000MW of renewable electricity and facilitated more than ZAR 168 billion ($11.6 billion) in infrastructure spending.

APA

Bertelsmann-Scott, T., Friis, C., & Prinsloo, C. (2016). Making Sustainable Development the Key Focus of the BRICS New Development Bank. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Occasional-Paper-230.pdf

Chicago

Bertelsmann-Scott, Talitha, Canelle Friis, and Cyril Prinsloo. Making Sustainable Development the Key Focus of the BRICS New Development Bank. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2016. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Occasional-Paper-230.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Bertelsmann-Scott |first1=Talitha |last2=Friis |first2=Canelle |last3=Prinsloo |first3=Cyril |title=Making Sustainable Development the Key Focus of the BRICS New Development Bank |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=May 2016 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Occasional-Paper-230.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{bertelsmannscott2016making, author = {Bertelsmann-Scott, Talitha and Friis, Canelle and Prinsloo, Cyril}, title = {{Making Sustainable Development the Key Focus of the BRICS New Development Bank}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2016}, month = may, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Occasional-Paper-230.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }