In August 2022, IFC approved an Upstream Advisory Services (Upstream AS) project to support Dreams Hills in preparing for four cable car developments in Nepal. This engagement was to include technical, financial, environmental/social, and regulatory advisory services, as well as assistance with corporate governance for the future operating entity. IFC's Upstream AS work aimed to create opportunities for future financial partnerships. IFC closed the project in August 2024. 

In August 2025, CAO received a complaint from members of the Indigenous Limbu communities regarding one of the cable car projects—the Pathivara cable car—alleging environmental, cultural, and social harm associated with the planning and construction of the project. The complaint raised concerns related to violations of national and international requirements; the lack of adequate risk assessment; economic displacement; impacts on biodiversity; violations of Indigenous Peoples’ rights; the absence of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent; the destruction of cultural heritage; and incidents of intimidation. Additionally, the complainants indicated that IFC’s delayed disclosure of project information hindered meaningful community engagement. 

In December 2025, CAO found the complaint eligible and initiated its assessment. During the assessment process, the company did not engage with CAO. In accordance with the CAO Policy, the case was transferred to the Compliance function for appraisal to determine whether an investigation of IFC’s environmental and social performance was warranted in relation to the issues raised in the complaint. The Assessment Report is available in English. 

In July 2026, CAO completed its compliance appraisal. CAO's Compliance Appraisal Report found preliminary indications that the planning and construction of the Pathivara cable car project may be contributing to, or may foreseeably contribute to, harm through inadequate impact assessment and information disclosure, biodiversity impacts, impacts on Indigenous Peoples’ rights, security-related concerns, economic displacement, and livelihood impacts. CAO also found preliminary indications of potential non-compliance with IFC’s Access to Information Policy due to delayed disclosure of the Upstream AS project. However, CAO found no preliminary indications of non-compliance with IFC’s Sustainability Policy and did not find a plausible link between the alleged harms related to the Pathivara cable car project and any potential IFC non-compliance with its Access to Information Policy. Accordingly, CAO determined that the complaint does not merit a compliance investigation and closed the case.