In 2013, the U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) (DFC’s predecessor) provided a $10 million loan to Bridge International Academies aimed at expanding low-cost private schooling for rural and urban children in Kenya.
In 2018, civil society organizations, including the East Africa Centre for Human Rights (EACHRights) raised serious concerns about labor, health and safety violations at Bridge’s schools in Kenya. During an investigation by another Bridge investor – the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) Compliance Advisor Ombudsperson (CAO) – reports of serious child sexual abuse in Bridge schools came to light.
That investigation concluded in October 2023 and found that the IFC ignored evidence of child sexual abuse at Bridge schools for years before CAO raised the alarm. The investigation found that IFC’s failure to address the abuse at Bridge International Academies contributed to a situation where children were exposed to unacceptable risks of abuse and the harm to many victims has not been addressed.
As a result of those findings, on March 19, 2024, DFC’s CEO, Scott Nathan, requested that the DFC-IAM undertake a compliance review of DFC/OPIC’s due diligence and monitoring related to the Bridge project. The review was to include an assessment of whether DFC was aware—or should have been aware—of allegations of child sexual abuse at Bridge schools and whether it took appropriate action.
In addition to the DFC CEO’s request for an investigation, on July 12, 2024, a coalition of civil society organizations filed a complaint with the DFC-IAM on behalf of four former pupils detailing the child sexual abuse they suffered at the hands of a Bridge school teacher, during DFC’s investment in Bridge International Academies.
The Bridge investigations highlight a glaring gap in investors’ due diligence, management and mitigation of, and response to CSA incidents involving vulnerable children. While the efforts proposed to improve child safeguarding in the future are important and welcomed, it’s also critical that the DFC takes steps to remediate the harm experienced by past students. This remains an open wound.
