As the Asian Development Bank (ADB) gears up for its 2026 Annual Meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, the Forum network and its allies are launching a series of reports highlighting community experiences from Indonesia, Nepal, India, and Northeast India.
Titled “Fridays from the Field,” the online series highlights community voices and the real effects of development projects on the ground, especially those funded by ADB.
The series begins on March 27 with the launch of the “ADB Geothermal Debacle in Indonesia” report, which examines the environmental and social impacts experienced by the community living near geothermal power projects.
Indonesia has one of the largest geothermal energy reserves and has become a target for international financing for renewable development, as part of their clean energy transition initiatives. However, local communities have also raised serious environmental and social concerns, and the importance of ensuring that these developments do not come at the expense of local ecosystems and livelihoods.
For communities living near the geothermal facilities, the effects are already deeply felt:
“I have seen what Unit 1 of the Dieng Geothermal Power Plant has done. We have not received any benefits from it; instead, it has harmed us and polluted our environment. I worry about the long-term dangers. The water turned thick like cement and tasted sour, so we could not drink it. In the mornings, a bad smell came from the many well pads around our village,” said a woman from Pawuhan village in the Dieng Plateau, whose community has opposed the expansion of the project, describing how the impacts have affected both their environment and daily lives.
“We used to have plenty of water, but when the geothermal plant runs, the water supply drops. This is even worse during the dry season, when we need more water for farming. With less water, our crops grow less well, and we earn less money—making it harder to sustain our families and secure our future,” she added.
Community members have also criticized the expansion of the geothermal project despite long-standing concerns.
“ADB did not address the negative experiences of communities on the Dieng Plateau during the Dieng Unit 1 GPP and proceeded to plan Units 3 and 4 while considering expanding Unit 2. This ongoing disregard for affected communities’ efforts to protect their land and resources must end. The definition of clean energy has to be redefined to include community perspectives, particularly those of women, regarding their lives, livelihoods, environment, and natural resources, as they are most impacted by these projects,” said Titi Soentoro, executive director of Aksi! for gender, social and ecological justice in Indonesia.
The webinar series will also launch research documenting community experiences in other parts of Asia.
On April 10, a report on the Kolkata Environmental Improvement Investment Program (KEIIP) in India will highlight the experience of small shopkeepers who lost their livelihoods during urban infrastructure construction.
Growthwatch’s research, Fallen by the Wayside: The Human Cost of ADB’s Kolkata Environmental Improvement Investment Project (KEIIP), exposes the real cost of the ADB-funded KEIIP—widespread displacement, the destruction of long-standing livelihoods, and a pattern of failed accountability. “Communities were not properly informed, not meaningfully consulted, and ultimately left without adequate compensation or resettlement. This is not inclusive development—this is development that pushes people aside and leaves them behind,” said Jen Derillo, Deputy Director for Communications at Forum network.
Another session on April 17 will feature the study “Beyond the Dam,” which documents the cultural and spiritual impacts of the Tanahu Hydropower Project on Magar Indigenous communities in Nepal. The research highlights how large dam projects can disrupt traditional governance systems, sacred sites, and cultural practices tied to rivers and landscapes.
The Tanahu Hydropower Project in Nepal reflects the challenges Indigenous communities face when development ignores their rights, said Indira Shreesh of the Indigenous Women Legal Awareness Group (INWOLAG). “Development must respect Indigenous Peoples’ land, identity, and Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC). Without this, projects lead to displacement, cultural loss, and social disruption.
She emphasized that Indigenous women are particularly affected when these processes exclude community participation.
“Indigenous women are particularly affected, as they play a vital role in preserving culture and community resilience, but are often excluded from decision-making. Despite these challenges, communities continue to resist and advocate for justice. Ensuring inclusive, rights-based development that respects Indigenous knowledge and participation is essential for sustainable and equitable outcomes.”
The series will conclude on April 24, with a discussion of the Imphal Ring Road Project in Northeast India and its potential impacts on local communities.
“ADB should desist funding infrastructure, energy, and other unsustainable projects that failed to honor Indigenous Peoples’ Human Rights and the integrity of the environment,” said Jiten Yumnam, Advocacy Coordinator, Center for Research and Advocacy Manipur, India. “ADB-funded projects should not lead to reprisals and harm on Indigenous Peoples’ land, territories, and their lives. ADB should address the concerns raised by communities affected by the Imphal Town Ring Road project in Manipur, North East India.”
Fridays from the Field series aims to connect these local experiences with broader policy discussions on safeguards, energy, accountability, and sustainable development, and to ensure that developmental conversations include the voices of the impacted people.
“At a time when the world is witnessing escalating conflict—from the ongoing US–Israel–Iran war to rising tensions across regions—these stories remind us that people on the ground are always the ones who bear the greatest cost. Development and conflict alike cannot continue to ignore community rights, livelihoods, and dignity. As the ADB convenes its Annual Meeting, it must confront these realities and ensure that its projects do not replicate the same patterns of harm and exclusion we are seeing globally,” said Rayyan Hassan, Executive Director of NGO Forum on ADB.
The public, policymakers, researchers, and journalists are invited to attend the sessions and engage in the discussions.
Register Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSee4NBpEySzCizKUxHek0yr1DnODMP5eUQLj1jEfxGOfxEirA/viewform
Schedule of Sessions:
March 27, 2026: Indonesia Geothermal Projects
April 10, 2026: Kolkata Environmental Improvement Investment Program (KEIIP) (India)
April 17, 2026: Tanahu Hydropower Project (Nepal)
April 24, 2026: Imphal Ring Road Project (India)
