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World Bank Board Approves Changes to the Structure of the Accountability Mechanism; Strengthens Inspection Panel’s Operational Independence

World Bank Building

WASHINGTON, January 9, 2025—On January 8, 2025, the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved organizational changes to the structure of the World Bank’s Accountability Mechanism (AM). These changes follow a previously approved decision by the Board to review the effectiveness of the 2018 and 2020 reforms to the Inspection Panel Toolkit and the creation of the World Bank Accountability Mechanism, three years after their implementation. The aim of these changes is to enhance the independence, overall effectiveness, efficiency, and functioning of the accountability process at the World Bank.

The Board approved organizational changes will (i) eliminate the Accountability Mechanism Secretary position (ii) enable Inspection Panel (IPN) and the Dispute Resolution Service (DRS) as two parallel units each independently reporting to the Board; and (iii) create a new position of Executive Secretary, who will provide  administrative, communication and coordination services to both the IPN and the DRS and work under the direct supervision of both the Chairperson, Inspection Panel and the Head of the DRS. 

Ibrahim Pam Statement

The approved changes follow a report by an external review team appointed by the Board last year to explore options to improve the World Bank’s accountability process. The changes will be made effective in the coming weeks with the adoption of amendments to the governing resolutions and the operating procedures of the Inspection Panel and the Accountability Mechanism respectively by the Board. Ongoing cases with the Inspection Panel and the DRS will not be affected by these changes, and the Board will continue to consider additional reforms to further strengthen overall accountability at the World Bank. 

The Inspection Panel was established in 1993 to ensure that people have access to an independent body to which they can express their concerns related to World Bank-financed projects or programs and seek recourse on environmental and social harms. It was the first independent accountability mechanism at an international financial institution. The AM and DRS were created by the Board in 2020 to provide project-affected communities with the option of dispute resolution to address their concerns.  Learn more here.