complaints

world bank: inspection panel

About ten years ago, the World Bank was one of the first IFIs to set up an independent Inspection Panel. It allows people affected by World Bank (IBRD and IDA) projects and policies, to file a complaint. The Panel has shown to be a fairly good tool for civil society and affected communities to seek redress and acieve greater accountability at the institution. FoEI believes that the mandate of the Inspection Panel should be expanded to include IFC and MIGA operations.

Read about the Panel and how to use it:

• Official site World Bank Inspection Panel: www.inspectionpanel.org
  
• strategic guide: strategic tips for filing complaints with international financial institutions read as pdf
• Introduction to the Inspection Panel by the Center for International Environmental Law: www.ciel.org/Ifi/wbip.html
• Citizen's guide to the Inspection Panel (in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese) by the Center for International Environmental Law: www.ciel.org/Publications/citizensguide.pdf
• 'Accountability at the World Bank, what does it take?' by Bank Information Center: www.bicusa.org/bicusa/issues/misc_resources/373.php
  

international finance corporation: cao

Very recently, in 1999, the International Finance Corporation, private lending arm of the World Bank Group, established a Compliance Advisor Ombudsman. It has played a conflict resolution role in complaints filed by affected communities.

Read more:

• Official site IFC Compliance Advisor Ombudsman: http://www.cao-ombudsman.org/
• A Handbook on the Office of the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman of the IFC and MIGA, by the Center for International Environmental Law: www.ciel.org
• Introduction to the Ombudsman by Bank Information Center: http://www.bicusa.org/bicusa/issues/ifc_compliance_advisorombudsman/index.php
• 'The Path of Least Resistance. An Assessment of the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman's Handling of the Minera Yanacocha Complaint' by Project Underground: www.moles.org, also in spanish

asian development bank: inspection panel

The Asian Development Bank is in the process of reviewing its Inspection Panel policy. FoE groups are actively participating in the consultation process in order to ensure that misstakes in the past will not be repeated and that an effective mechanism will be established instead.

• Official site ADB Inspection Panel: www.adb.org/Inspection/default.asp
• Introduction to the Panel by Center for International Environmental Law: www.ciel.org/Ifi/adb.html
• 'Recommendations to Inspection Policy Review of Asian Development Bank' by FoE Japan, Japan Center for Sustainable Environment and Society and Mekong Watch Japan: read on-line in PDF-format 
• 'Accountability and Effectiveness for Affected People: Input into the Review of the ADB Inspection Function', by 12 NGOs: www.adb.org

european bank for reconstruction and development:
recourse mechanism

During its more than ten years of existance, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development was lacking a compliance mechanism. However, during the 2002 Annual Meeting in Bucharest, EBRD President Jean Lemierre committed the Bank to establishing a mechanism. This action came in response to demands from civil society and intergovernemntal bodies. The EBRD now has the opportunity to take advantage of its latecomer position and use the lessons learnt at other institutions. In November 2002 the EBRD drafted a proposal to establish an 'independent recourse mechanism' and invited public comment.

• EBRD proposal for an Independent Recourse Mechanism: www.ebrd.com
• Comments on Proposal for Independent Recourse Mechanism by FoEI: read on-line
• Submission by former World Bank Inspection Panel Chairs E. Bissel and J. MacNeill: read on-line
• 'Empowering People: The Need for an EBRD Appeals/Compliance Mechanism, by CEE Bankwatch Network': www.bankwatch.org
• 'Considerations in establishing an independent accountability mechanism at the EBRD', by Center for International Environmental law: read on-line

interamerican development bank: investigation mechanism

reviewing inspection mechanism
On February 4, the IDB opened public comment on its new draft Independent Investigation Mechanism, IIM. The 90-day public comment period ends on May 4, 2005. The IDB will also hold some consultative public activities. People affected by bank projects can use the mechanism to contest bank violations of its own Environment and Safeguards Policy. See www.iadb.org/aboutus/iii/public_consultation.cfm.

• Independent Investigation Mechanism: www.iadb.org/cont/poli/investig.htm
• Bank Information Center web site on IDB Accountability Mechanism: www.bicusa.org 
• Introduction on Mechanism by Center for International Environmental Law: www.ciel.org/Ifi/idb.html 
• Brief critique on Mechanism by Center for International Environmental Law: www.ciel.org/Ifi/idbpres3.html

Japan Bank for International Cooperation

Procedures to submit objections concerning JBIC guidelines for confirmation of environmental and social consideration (in PDF): www.jbic.co.jp

FoE Japan on the inspection mechanism: www.foejapan.org

experiences with earlier claims

Brief summary of claims filed with the World Bank Inspection Panel (Center for International Environmental Law): www.ciel.org/Ifi/ifibs.html

Yacyreta Hydropower Project (Argentina and Paraguay)
1st claims filed in 1997; 2nd claims filed in nov 2002
at World Bank and Interamerican Development Bank

First claim: Yacyreta investigation panel report http://wbln0018.worldbank.org/IPN/ipnweb.nsf/WReport/642F76B06792DB5A85256C6B0071767F

Second claim: Yacyreta investigation panel report
http://wbln0018.worldbank.org/IPN/ipnweb.nsf/(webnews)/4F00A1E8F56CE21785256E9200765DDF

• 'Accountability at the World Bank, what does it take? Lessons from the Yacyreta Hydroelectric dam': www.bicusa.org/publications/yacyreta.htm
• 'World Bank Authorizes Inspection into Massive Dam Projects in Argentina and Paraguay' by Center for International Environmental Law: www.ciel.org
• Information in English, Spanish and Portuguese from Rios Vivos Coalition: www.riosvivos.org.br
• West African Gas Pipeline, filed in 2006 with the World Bank Inspection Panel: http://web.worldbank.org
  

Samut Prakarn Wastewater Management Project (Thailand)
claim filed in 2001 at Asian Development Bank

• Inspection Panel of Asian Development Bank on the claim: www.adb.org/Inspection/proj.asp
• Problem Project Alert (Bank Information Center): www.bicusa.org/bicusa/issues/asian_development_bank/index.php#projects

Yanacocha Gold Mine (Peru)
claim filed in 2001 at International Finance Corporation

The Path of Least Resistance by Project Underground (also in spanish)

US Congressional Letter: www.moles.org/ProjectUnderground/mining/newmont/letter010717.html

Publication- the cao in peru : lessons learned from dialogue as a strategy to reduce conflict

Chad-Cameroon pipeline project
Claims filed in 2001 and 2002 with World Bank

World Bank Inspection Panel on the claims:
first claim: http://wbln0018.worldbank.org/IPN/ipnweb.nsf/
second claim: www.inspectionpanel.org

FoEI on the project and the claims