This post is also available in: Spanish

What is CLASII?

The China-Latin America Sustainable Investment Initiative (CLASII) is a project hosted by the Bank Information Center (BIC) in Washington, DC. CLASII was established in October 2014 under the auspices of the International and Comparative Environmental Law Program at American University Washington College of Law in Washington, DC.

Learn more:

Chinese Finance

Chinese Banks

Chinese Guidelines

Tools and Advice

What do we do?

IISCAL seeks to improve the implementation of Chinese environmental and social guidelines relating to loans, direct investments, and special funds that finance projects in environmentally and socially sensitive sectors in Latin America.

IISCAL does research, builds capacity, analyzes and shares information, and strengthens institutions with the end goal of providing tools that support the participation of Latin Ameircan civil society in the Chinese investments.

Our strategy

  • Increase understanding and use of Chinese environmental and social guidelines; and promote and monitor their implementation.
  • Promote collaboration between Latin American, Chinese, and international organizations and institutions through exchange of information and experiences.
  • Promote quality implementation of Chinese environmental and social guidelines.
  • Support the spread of information about Chinese finance in Latin America, including but not limited to frameworks and investment types, amounts, sectors, and trends.

Who are we?

Paulina Garzón

Director of CLASII
pgarzoniiscal@gmail.com

Paulina is Ecuadorian and has more than twenty-five years of experience working on environmental and social issues relating to extractive industries, infrastructure projects, international financial institutions, and the promotion of social and economic rights. Over the last several years Paulina has focused her work on Chinese investment in Latin America, with special attention to Chinese guidelines on international investment. Paulina has a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Interns

We are looking for recently graduated or student interns, preferably in the field of law, environment, and international relations, who speak Spanish and/or English. Students that speak Mandarin Chinese or who have familiarity with the language will be prioritized. The work of interns is focused on research about Chinese investments in Latin America and environmental and social policies of Chinese banks and firms. If you are interested in collaborating with CLASII, please contact Paulina Garzón at pgarzoniiscal@gmail.com.