International Rivers 2023 Annual Report

Letter from our Executive Directors

Dear Friends and Supporters,

As we reflect on the past year at International Rivers, we are filled with both a sense of urgency and hope The world's rivers face unprecedented threats from the climate crisis, threats to democracy, and a shrinking civic space, yet we are witnessing growing momentum in the global movement to protect these vital arteries of our planet

Over the past year, we have made significant strides in advancing our mission to protect rivers and defend the rights of the communities that depend on them From the Amazon to the Mekong, our regional offices have worked tirelessly to strengthen grassroots movements, hold corporations accountable, and promote clean and fair finance for energy and water solutions.

We have launched groundbreaking initiatives like the Women and Rivers Leadership Accelerator, which amplifies the power of Indigenous and local women activists in the Global South to catalyze river protection solutions

We have also challenged destructive dam projects in Brazil, Guinea, and Namibia, demonstrating the economic viability of solar and wind alternatives And we have been at the forefront of defending the human rights of river protectors, leading advocacy coalitions to support environmental defenders in Vietnam and beyond

As we look to the future, we recognize that the stakes have never been higher Excessive heat, drought, floods, biodiversity loss, and the global water crisis threaten the very foundation of life on our planet. Yet we also see cause for hope Around the world, a growing chorus of voices is calling for a new paradigm, one that values the irreplaceable role of healthy rivers in sustaining life, livelihoods, and ecosystems

To seize this moment, we are developing a new strategic plan that charts an ambitious course for the years ahead At the heart of this plan is a commitment to advancing permanent legal protections and

restoration for the world's most iconic and vulnerable rivers

As we continue to fight destructive dams, we will promote dam decommissioning and support renewable sources for an energy transition that is just, sustainable, and environmentally sound

To achieve these goals, we are investing in new research to enhance our impact and measure the impact of our interventions From community-based knowledge to geospatial analysis, we are harnessing the power of data and evidence to drive change at the local, national, and global levels

Melina Selverston Chair of the Board of Directors

| 2023 ANNUAL REPORT

None of this work would be possible without the support of our donors, partners, and allies around the world Together, we represent a powerful movement to protect the world's life-giving rivers and the rights of the communities that are their frontline guardians and defenders

As we face these challenges, we invite you to join us in this vital work Together, we can seize this moment to create a more just and sustainable future for all With gratitude,

Isabella Winkler and Josh Klemm Co-Executive Directors

What is a River?

A river reveals complex mutual connections between people and non-human beings Large dams disconnect these vital relations, disregarding the culturally and ecologically specific interactions through which life flourishes

The meaning and message of riversystem loss can't be detached and disembodied from the experiences of people who know, live, and feel as part of rivers

What a river means, the challenges it faces, and the struggle to protect it are most acutely experienced at the local level

This grounded connection creates the possibility for deep understanding, care, and compassion, which are key to the possibility for change

The core of our work is about listening to and serving the connection that local people have with their rivers By recognizing and supporting these vital relationships, we can work towards preserving these essential ecosystems and the communities that depend on them

Our vision:

For 39 years, International Rivers has worked alongside partners around the globe to create a world in which healthy rivers and local river communities are respected, protected and thriving. We envision a world in which water and energy needs are met without degrading nature or increasing poverty, and where people have the right to participate in decisions that affect their lives.

2023 at a glance: social media reach took part in International Day of Action, March 14 605,000

30 IN SMALL GRANTS directly supported local and Indigenous partners around the world quotes and media mentions GROUPS in $480,000+ 188 350+ COUNTRIES publications 13

Building movements andcoalitions

Empowering the Salween's Defenders.

In 2023, International Rivers doubled down on efforts to keep the Salween River wild and free by supporting Thailand’s Indigenous communities who took a bold legal stand to protect the river's future

In October, over 60 plaintiffs from these communities filed an unprecedented lawsuit against Thai government agencies over plans to construct the controversial Yuam/Salween Water Diversion Project This massive project aims to build a dam and tunnel the river's tributaries across western Thailand, irreparably damaging forests and potentially opening the door for further dams along the Salween itself

The Salween is one of the world's last major undammed transboundary river systems For over 2,800 kilometers, its life-giving waters course through the rugged lands of China, Myanmar and Thailand before reaching the Andaman Sea

The Salween's free flow nourishes immense biodiversity and sustains the livelihoods, cultures and ways of life for millions of ethnic minorities and Indigenous Peoples across the regions it traverses

Large hydropower dams and water diversion have been proposed for more than four decades along the Salween's main stem and tributaries throughout China, Thailand and Myanmar Companies and the three governments have long eyed the Salween's raging waters as an untapped resource to be conquered by concrete and conveyors

By challenging the legal basis and environmental impact assessment process for this enormously destructive project, the plaintiffs aimed a pivotal strike against broader dam efforts The lawsuit filed by the Karen Indigenous communities marks a crucial step in the fight to protect the Salween, but the battle is far from over As the legal process unfolds, International Rivers is committed to amplifying the voices of those on the frontlines and mobilizing global support for their cause.

Protecting rivers

Advocating for Permanent Protections for Brazil's Rivers

International Rivers ramped up efforts in Brazil to secure permanent legal protections for the country's rivers and the communities who depend on them This work became more urgent as destructive infrastructure and extractive industry projects threatened the Amazon Basin

International Rivers played a leading role in the Brazilian Coalition for River Protection, which advanced draft legislation for national river protection We provided technical expertise to shape provisions that would create legally-binding safeguards restricting harmful development on free-flowing rivers

In June, we co-organized a major event in Brazil's capital as part of the Congressional Sustainability Forum, or Virada Parlamentar Sustentável The panel "Rivers Demand Protection" brought together over 100 attendees, including Indigenous leaders,

government officials, lawmakers, scientists, and activists Speakers highlighted Brazil's alarming record of river degradation and the lack of sufficient legal protections, making the case for new legislation

At the event, representatives from the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples and Ministry of Environment spoke about the vital role of river conservation for Indigenous communities and cultures and the need to guarantee greater legal protection for rivers

"Although Brazilian legislation is extensive, we don't have a specific law that can protect our rivers in an integrated way," said International Rivers' Brazil Manager Flávio Montiel at the event.

The event laid the groundwork for advancing new national river protections. Following the forum, we continued providing legal analysis and informing government officials of the value of permanently restricting harmful development and putting in place rigorous standards for future infrastructure projects impacting healthy rivers

Defending rightsfora justenergy transition

#StandWithBach supporters rally to free environmentalist Dang Dinh Bach, arrested for anti-coal advocacy in Vietnam, in a campaign led by International Rivers with the Vietnam Climate Defenders Coalition

Vietnam's Climate Champions Behind Bars

International Rivers has helped lead a global coalition demanding the immediate freedom of Vietnam's imprisoned climate champions, whose participation is essential for any legitimate clean energy shift grounded in principles of equity, justice, sustainability and human rights

Despite Vietnam launching ambitious plans to transition away from dirty energy, the government has imprisoned several of the country's most effective environmental advocates and experts working to realize this very vision

Lawyer Dang Dinh Bach has dedicated his life to protecting communities from harmful pollution, destructive dams, phasing out plastic waste and advocating for Vietnam’s transition from coal to clean energy His work contributed to legislative milestones like banning asbestos, limiting plastic production and imports, and scaling back proposed hydropower and coal plants

But Bach's leadership of protests against coal dependence in 2022 prompted his arrest on dubious tax charges. After an unjust closed-door trial denying him a proper defense,

Bach received a five-year sentence exceeding even prosecutors' recommendations - simply for maintaining his innocence

“A just energy transition cannot be successful with people like Bach in jail,” said Maureen Harris, Senior Advisor from International Rivers. “The result of such a repressive environment is that civil society is effectively excluded from negotiating spaces and deliberations around energy transition partnerships and projects, even as they proclaim to be just.”

Environmental leader Nguy Thi Khanh faced similar persecution over her pivotal research and engagement for Vietnam to embrace more sustainable longterm energy policies centered on renewables instead of coal Khanh's work won her the prestigious 2018 Goldman Environmental Prize

In 2023, Khanh and another climate defender secured an early release from prison However, their release was followed by wrongful arrests of other activists and experts working to support the energy transition in Vietnam As Bach and other climate champions remain locked up, civil society voices continue to be excluded from Vietnam's $15 5 billion Just Energy Transition Partnership with G7 nations to transition from fossil fuels

Centering women's leadershipin decisionmaking

InternationalRivers’MontiAguirre,LatinAmerica lead,joinsindigenousleadersJosefinaTunki (Equador)andMariluzCanaquiriMurayari(Peru)at theUnitedNationsWaterConference.

Defending Rivers, Cultures, and Rights: Women at the Forefront

International Rivers is committed to uplifting women leaders and strengthening their role in protecting rivers and the rights of communities who depend on them In 2023, we made significant strides in this direction through our work with the women of Indigenous communities in Namibia and Angola and our support of Mariluz Canaquiri Murayari, an Indigenous leader from Peru.

In collaboration with Natural Justice, an organization specializing in Indigenous rights and environmental law in Africa, we supported the OvaHerero of the Kaokoland in Angola and Namibia community to develop protocols that safeguard their ancestral lands, cultural heritage, and way of life along the Kunene River

OvaHerero women played a vital role in articulating their collective identity, values, and customary practices to assert their right to selfdetermination and ensure their voices are heard in decisions affecting their lives Through active participation in mapping and documenting their natural, sociocultural, economic, and legal foundations, these women leaders laid the groundwork for protecting their territories and the Kunene River for generations to come

In Peru, Mariluz Canaquiri Murayari has been fighting against the negative impacts of oil extraction and proposed infrastructure projects on the Marañón River, a major tributary of the Amazon. In 2023, she was honored with the prestigious Terre de Femmes International Award for her tireless

Indigenous leader Mariluz Canaquiri Murayari and International Rivers’ Monti Aguirre at the UN Water Conference in New York City

Photo:BonnieBarclay/InternationalRivers

defense of the Marañón River and the rights of the Kukama Indigenous people

International Rivers is proud to support Mariluz's efforts, recognizing her as a powerful leader and determined defender of the Marañón River. This year, her relentless struggle on behalf of her community resulted in a landmark decision when the Marañón was recognized as a subject of inherent rights

The work of the OvaHerero women and Mariluz Canaquiri Murayari exemplifies the crucial role that women play in the protection of rivers and the rights of Indigenous communities By amplifying their voices and supporting their leadership, International Rivers is contributing to a more just and sustainable future for all

Siziwe Mota, director of International Rivers' Africa Program, conducting a Biocultural Community Protocols workshops with OvaHerero of the Kaokoland

Influencing policyand demanding accountability

From the Congo to Colombia: International Rivers' Global Advocacy in 2023

In 2023, International Rivers made significant strides in influencing policy and demanding accountability, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Colombia Our organization continued to advocate for the rights of communities affected by large-scale hydropower projects and promote sustainable, just energy solutions

International Rivers accompanied a delegation of Congolese civil society partners and community leaders to meet with European policymakers and civil society organizations in September The delegation raised concerns about Germany and the EU's plans for green hydrogen development and extraction in the DRC, especially regarding plans to import hydrogen produced by the controversial Grand Inga dam project The delegation emphasized the project's environmental impacts, potential human rights violations, and lack of benefits for the local population, given that only 13 5% of the Congolese population has access to electricity

Through meetings with German Members of Parliament, government ministries, financiers, and civil society organizations in Berlin and Brussels,

the delegation highlighted the need for Germany to consider the Global North's history of resource extraction and unsustainable development as it seeks new sources for importing hydrogen from the Global South International Rivers and the delegation stressed that large hydropower and hydro-tohydrogen schemes, such as the Grand Inga Dam, are not clean energy or climate solutions and can lead to significant human rights and environmental issues

Meanwhile, in Colombia, International Rivers and other partners supported the communities affected by the Anchicayá Dam in their 22-year legal battle for justice and reparations In a historic ruling, the Colombian Constitutional Court acknowledged the systematic breach of obligations by dam owners and government agencies as the cause of the 2001 disaster, which resulted in the illegal discharge of approximately 500,000m³ of accumulated sediment into the Anchicayá River The Court identified violations of the communities' fundamental rights to water, food, work, and a healthy environment, as well as their right to special protections as an Afrodescendant ethnic group under the principles of cultural diversity

Sharing knowledge

Phairin(Rin)Sohsai,InternationalRivers'SEAProgram CampaignCoordinator,withTheMekongRiver SituationUpdate,areportorganizedanddistributedby InternationalRiversandpartnersinThailand

Information is Power: Tools for Community Resilience in Africa

In 2023, we focused on knowledgesharing materials to support the capacity of civil society organizations and local communities in Africa to advocate for their rights and hold international financial institutions and governments accountable for the impacts of harmful projects

Two key outputs were released in 2023 that exemplify our commitment to this goal: the Hydropower Dams Map and the Community Guide to Independent Accountability Mechanisms.

The Hydropower Dams Map, launched in November 2023, is an ongoing project that maps proposed and existing dam projects across Sub-Saharan Africa This interactive tool provides detailed financial, environmental, and social information on these projects, empowering African and international civil society with critical data to support their advocacy efforts The map serves as a valuable resource for journalists, researchers, civil society, and communities seeking information on hydropower dams in Africa

In response to the myriad challenges faced by communities in Africa opposing hydropower projects, we also developed the Community Guide to Independent Accountability Mechanisms This guide is a tool for African communities threatened or impacted by dam construction, enabling them to hold international banks and companies accountable for the harm they have caused Available in English, French and Portuguese, the guide provides easily understandable information on topics such as community rights under international law, community organizing, security, and navigating the dispute resolution and compliance review processes

Throughout 2023, International Rivers produced

By equipping civil society organizations and affected communities with these resources, we aim to foster a more informed and connected network of advocates across the region Our efforts to build civil society capacity in Africa are rooted in the belief that local communities must be equipped to participate in decisions about development projects so they can choose projects that improve their lives

IndigenousleaderMayalmitLepchaaddresses COPonHimalayanclimaterisksandtheTeesta COPonHimalayanclimaterisksandtheTeesta damdisaster.

Photo:BonnieBarclay/InternationalRivers

Exposing climate risksof Dams

The Mounting Threat of Dams in the Climate Crisis

In late 2023, the world witnessed two catastrophic dam failures within months of each other: the deadly collapse of the Wadi Derna dams in Libya in September, and the destruction of the Chungthang dam on India's Teesta River in early October These tragic disasters sounded the alarm about the growing risks that dams face from intensifying climate impacts like extreme rainfall and glacial melting

The Wadi Derna dam collapse in Libya killed thousands after the aging 1970s-era structures succumbed to heavy rains they were not designed to withstand. Across the globe in the Himalayas, the Chungthang dam in Sikkim was washed away in just 10 minutes by a glacial lake outburst flood, killing dozens. Local Indigenous activists had long warned about building new dams in this seismically-active, glaciated region made more precarious by climate change

"We knew this was coming," said Mayalmit Lepcha, a member of the Affected Citizens of Teesta group that has protested damming the river for over 15 years.

Mayalmit Lepcha was part of International Rivers’ delegation to the COP28 climate summit in Dubai, where she spoke on a panel about Indigenous-led efforts to keep rivers like the Teesta free-flowing

The Libya dam disaster illustrated the escalating threats that aging infrastructure, built decades ago, now faces in our rapidly-warming world A growing number of large dams worldwide–28,000 large dams in India and China alone–are nearing the end of their designed lifespans, and are being put to new tests by more extreme weather, flooding, and glacial melt.

International Rivers’ Co-Directors highlighted these persistent problems facing risky dams in the age of climate change in a published Opinion piece in The New York Times

Removing obsolete dams has become an increasingly viable solution, with a growing movement to restore rivers and return lands to Indigenous caretakers The largest dam removal in history is currently underway on the Klamath River along the Oregon-California border, a hard-won fight waged over decades by Indigenous Tribes and their allies By prioritizing dam removal and river restoration, we can restore nature and right past injustices to frontline communities The time is now to free rivers from the dangers posed by dams past their prime

Major Donors

Anonymous

Neerja Bhatt and Ani Vaidya

André Carothers

The Arcadia Fund

Arcus Foundation

Bonnie Raitt

Conservation, Food & Health Foundation

Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund

Deborah Moore and Adam Dawson

Effie Westervelt

Iara Lee and George Gund III Foundation

George Martin

Global Greengrants Fund

| 2023 ANNUAL REPORT

11th Hour Project/The Schmidt Family Foundation

Holdfast Collective/Yvon and Malinda Chouinard

Jacob Sigg

Jenckyn Goosby

Jquartic Foundation

Kynetec

Melina Selverston-Scher

Milan Momirov

Nance Hikes

One Earth/Daughters for Earth

Orchard House Foundation

Paul Strasburg

Ralph Luken

Synchronicity Earth

Warren Linney

Winky Foundation/Gail Milliken

While space prevents us from naming every generous donor, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to all who have supported our mission this year

Every contribution, regardless of size, has been instrumental in our success Thank you for your belief in our work and for making a difference

We sincerely apologize for omissions and errors. Please contact 510-848-1155 with any corrections.

2,333,929

2,648,460

Our team:

Monti Aguirre

Isadora Armani

Sanita Auttopakorn

Bonnie Barclay

Kirk Barlow

Ayesha D’Souza

Pianporn Deetes

Stephanie Gaylard

Maureen Harris

Aqeelah Hassen**

Carly Holencik

Sandie Hum

Guneet Kaur

Board and team

Ashish Koradia

Tanya Lee Roberts-Davis*

Gary Lee

Anake Lekkoon

Penny Malepe**

Flavio Montiel

Siziwe Mota

Genny Ngende

Phairin Sohsai

Somsak Soonthornnawaphat*

Phanpaporn Tameyasan

Intern:

Erin Thompson

Our board:

Melina Selverston (Board Chair/Treasurer)

Chance Cutrano (Secretary)

Evelyn Arce-Erickson

Lisa Craig Gautier

Robert Hass (Honorary)

Donna House

In 2023, our organization underwent a Board restructuring. We extend our deepest gratitude to the following outgoing Board members for their dedicated service:

Brent Blackwelder (Emeritus)†

Sharon Khan (Treasurer)*

Leslie Leslie (Secretary)

Gary Cook (Co-Chair)

Patrick McCully

Deborah Moore (Co-Chair)

Astrid Puentes Riaño**

Carlo Scapinelli

Scott Spann