Submit a Request for Inspection
The World Bank Inspection Panel is an independent accountability mechanism that gives affected people a direct channel to raise concerns about World Bank-financed projects. The Panel operates independently of World Bank Management and reports directly to the Board of Executive Directors. Established in 1993, it was the first mechanism of its kind created by a multilateral development bank to ensure that the voices of people who may be adversely affected by Bank-financed projects are heard, and to promote accountability at the Bank. If you or your community have been harmed — or risk being harmed — by a World Bank-funded project, you have the right to be heard.
The Inspection Panel is a non-judicial body. The Panel acts independently, impartially, and objectively to evaluate whether the Bank has followed its operational policies and procedures—including Environmental and Social Safeguard Policies and the Environmental and Social Framework—throughout the design, appraisal, and implementation of Bank-financed projects. The Panel does not initiate investigations unless it receives a formal, written Request for Inspection.
Before You Begin
Before submitting a Request, you are generally expected to raise your concerns directly with the World Bank project team or through the World Bank Grievance Redress Service. If you have done so and remain unsatisfied —you may submit a Request for Inspection to the Panel.
Is the Inspection Panel the Right Mechanism for You?
The Panel handles complaints concerning environmental and social harms arising from projects financed by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) or the International Development Association (IDA) only. If your concern involves a different part of the World Bank Group, please contact the appropriate body:
| If your concern involves: | Contact: |
|---|---|
| An IFC or MIGA supported private sector project | Office of the Compliance Advisor/Ombudsman (CAO) |
| Procurement, fraud, or corruption | Integrity Vice Presidency (INT) |
| A general Bank-financed project grievance | Grievance Redress Service (GRS) |
The Panel will review complaints from:
- Any group of two or more people in the country where the Bank-financed project is located who believe their rights or interests have been, or are likely to be, adversely affected in a direct and material way due to the Bank’s failure to follow its policies and procedures. This group may be an organization, association, society, or other collective.
- A duly appointed local representative acting on explicit instructions as the agent of adversely affected people.
- In exceptional cases, a foreign representative acting as the agent of adversely affected people.
- A World Bank Executive Director, in special cases involving serious alleged violations of Bank policies and procedures.
Request for Inspection can cover a broad range of concerns, including environmental impacts, community displacement, involuntary resettlement, effects on indigenous populations, flawed project design, and other social issues. Requesters are not required to cite specific Bank policies. However, a Request cannot relate to procurement matters, corruption, fraud or collusion matters and must concern an active or recently closed Bank-supported project, and the issues raised must have previously been brought to Bank Management's attention before filing.
The Requesters need to demonstrate in writing that:
- They live in the project area (or represent people who do), and have been or are likely to be adversely affected by project activities.
- They believe that they may suffer actual or future harm resulting from a failure by the Bank to comply with its policies and procedures.
- Their concerns have been brought to the attention of Bank Management, and they are not satisfied with the outcome.
- Requests for Inspection should be submitted in writing, in any language, and do not require a specific format. The Request should be dated and signed by the Requesters or their representative, and may be submitted via mail or electronically through the Online submission or email, with any supporting documentation.
- Requesters may request for confidentiality in the handling of their Request.
- The Inspection Panel is not authorized to proceed with Requests under certain conditions, as specified in its mandate and operating procedures.
1. Your Identity and Contact Information
● Full name(s) of all individuals submitting the Request.
● Mailing address, telephone number, and email address for each requester, or for a designated contact person.
● If a representative is submitting on behalf of others: their name and contact details, plus written authorization signed by all the people they represent.
● If you are requesting confidentiality: a clear statement to that effect and the reasons for it.
2. Project Information (If known)
● The name of the World Bank-financed project.
● The country and location where the project is being carried out.
● The World Bank project number or loan number.
● The name of the implementing agency or borrower.
3. Description of Harm
● A clear and detailed account of the harm you have experienced or expect to experience.
● An explanation of how this harm is linked to the project activities.
● An explanation of why you believe the World Bank failed to follow its operational policies and procedures, and which specific policies you believe were not followed (if known).
● Any supporting evidence you wish to provide — such as photographs, videos, reports, or correspondence. Supporting evidence is not mandatory.
4. Prior Engagement with World Bank Management
● A description of the steps you have already taken to raise your concerns with the World Bank project team or through the Grievance Redress Service.
● The date(s) of your contact(s) and the response(s) you received.
Before submitting, confirm your Request includes:
[ ] Names, Signatures and contact details of all Requesters (or representative's details plus written authorization)
[ ] Confidentiality request, if applicable, with reasons
[ ] Name, country, and location of the World Bank-financed project
[ ] Clear description of the harm suffered or anticipated
[ ] Explanation of how the Bank failed to follow its policies
[ ] Description of prior engagement with World Bank Management
[ ] Date and signature of Requesters or Authorized Representative(s)
[ ] Supporting documents (optional but recommended)
The Panel takes the safety and protection of requesters seriously.
Confidentiality: If you request confidentiality, your name and personal information will be kept strictly confidential within the Panel and will not be disclosed to anyone outside the Inspection Panel without your explicit permission.
Retaliation concerns: The Panel has guidelines to reduce Retaliation Risks and Respond to Retaliation During the Panel Process. The World Bank has a zero-tolerance policy for retaliation against individuals who submit complaints in good faith. If you fear reprisals, state this clearly in your Request — the Panel will take appropriate measures to protect your identity.
What Happens After You Submit
Once complete Request for Inspection is received, your Request moves through the following stages:
Upon receipt of your Request, the Panel conducts an initial review to determine whether it falls within its mandate. If any information is missing or incomplete, the Panel will reach out to Requesters directly. Following this review, the Panel decides whether to register the Request, and Requesters will be formally notified of its decision through either a Notice of Registration or a Notice of Non-Registration. If a Notice of Non-Registration is issued, the case is closed and no further action is taken. If the Request is registered, the process advances to the Management Response stage.
When the Panel registers a Request for Inspection, within 21 business days, the World Bank Management, provides the Panel, a written response to the issues Requesters have raised in the Request.
The Panel reviews your Request and Management's response to determine whether your Request meets the eligibility criteria and recommends to the World Bank Board of Directors whether a investigation is warranted or not. The Panel may contact Requesters for additional information during this stage. This stage may include field visits, meetings with stakeholders, and review of project documents.
Transparency: Following the Board's approval on Panel's Report and Recommendation on whether to authorize an investigation, the Panel's Report and Recommendation, the original Request, and Management's Response are all made publicly available on Panel’s website. Where confidentiality has been requested, a redacted version of the Request is published in place of the original.
If the Panel recommends an investigation and the Board approves it, Requesters and the Borrower will be offered the option to enter into a voluntary Dispute Resolution process facilitated by the Dispute Resolution Service (DRS). If both Parties agree, the Panel's investigation is paused for up to one year (extendable by six months by mutual agreement of the Parties). If dispute resolution succeeds, the case is closed. If not, the case returns to the Panel for investigation.
If the Board approves an investigation — and there is no agreement to pursue dispute resolution or is unsuccessful — the Panel conducts a full investigation. This may include field visits, meetings with stakeholders, and review of project documents. The investigation is not time-bound but generally completed within six months after the investigation process begins.
The Panel submits its investigations findings to the Board and to World Bank Management. Management then has six weeks to submit its report and recommendations including an action plan in response to Panel’s findings. Management then has six weeks to submit its report and recommendations including an action plan in response to Panel’s findings. The Board discusses the Panel's investigation report and takes the final decision on approval of Management Action Plan. The Panel's report and Management's recommendations are made publicly available shortly after the Board's discussion of the Investigation Report.
The World Bank management submits annual progress reports on the implementation of the Board-approved Management Action Plan(MAP). The Panel’s verification is a tool used to verify whether the implementation of Management’s actions is in accordance with the Board-approved MAP. This generally take place after substantial implementation of MAP. The Panel recommends the type of process to be adopted for verification, subject to Board approval, based on the urgency and complexity of the environmental and social issues being addressed by the implementation of the MAP. Panel follows the Framework for Proportionality Criteria and Modalities for Independent Verification of Management Action Plan Implementation for verification process. The Panel’s verification focuses solely on the Bank’s actions as outlined in the MAP.