World Bank Accountability Mechanism Secretary Begins Work

World Bank Accountability Mechanism (AM) Secretary Orsolya Székely began work on July 20 with an immediate focus on developing the AM’s operating procedures and the details of its dispute resolution process. The AM was established by the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors in 2020. It houses both the Inspection Panel and a soon-to-be-operational Dispute Resolution Service. “As I assume my duties, there is much work to do,” said Ms. Székely, whose appointment as AM Secretary was announced in early May. “We will focus immediately on creating operating procedures for the Accountability Mechanism that are fully responsive to potential complaints and establishing the operational details of the dispute-resolution process.” More

Get to Know World Bank Accountability Mechanism Secretary Orsolya Székely

Shortly after taking on her role as World Bank Accountability Mechanism Secretary, Orsolya Székely took time to discuss the importance of the new mechanism, what attracted her to the job, her prior professional experience, her priorities during the early stages of her tenure and what she likes to do to relax. To see what she had to say, click here.

CASE DEVELOPMENTS

UGANDA: Second Kampala Institutional and Infrastructure Development Project  – Inspection Panel Issues Notice of Registration

The Inspection Panel on July 26, 2021, issued a Notice of Registration for a Request for Inspection of the project. The Request was submitted on June 17, 2021, on behalf of 24 community members and representatives living in the project area in Kampala. The Requesters raise concerns about works on the Lubigi Primary Drainage Channel financed under the project. They allege, in part, that the project failed to include their community in its resettlement and compensation program. More

KENYA: Secondary Education Quality Improvement Project (SEQIP) and Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project (KCSAP) – Panel Issues Notice of Non-Registration

The Panel on August 10, 2021, issued a Notice of Non-Registration for a Request for Inspection of the projects. The Requesters claimed that the non-recognition of their community as indigenous in project documents for several years, and most recently in the two projects, has led to a community and territorial identity crisis and increased discrimination through tribalism. They alleged that the projects leave out the most vulnerable and marginalized indigenous peoples and claimed that project information was not disclosed in a timely manner and consultations excluded them and their indigenous peoples’ organizations. More

TOGO: West Africa Coastal Area Resilience Investment Project, Additional Financing and Global Environment Facility – Panel Issues Notice of Registration

The Panel on September 7, 2021, registered a Request for Inspection of the projects. The Request was submitted on August 4, 2021, by two community members who claim to represent local fishermen. A third community member later signed the Request and the Panel also received additional signatures from 27 project-affected persons (PAPs) and from a community-based organization authorizing the Requesters to represent them. The Requesters claim that as a result of project activities only a smaller area of the beach will remain for the fishermen to use, which will impact their livelihoods. They also express concern about the involuntary resettlement process allegedly attributed to the project and allege that PAPs have not received adequate and timely project information. More

UGANDA: North-Eastern Road-corridor Asset Management Program – Panel Investigation Continues

The Panel is continuing with its investigation of the project. The Board of Executive Directors on March 12, 2021, approved a Panel recommendation to investigate and the Panel published its investigation plan in April. The Request for Inspection was submitted on October 1, 2020, by 10 community members representing eight families from the project area. The Request pertains to four interlinked issues. Among their claims, the Requesters allege a large rock in their community that the project planned to use as a stone quarry was not properly valued and that the resulting compensation is insufficient. They also allege some community members were coerced into signing “unfair” lease agreements for the use of the rock and the surrounding land. More

NEPAL: Nepal-India Regional Trade and Transport Project – Panel Investigation Recommendation Remains on Hold

A Panel recommendation on whether to investigate the project remains on hold. In September 2020, the Board approved the Panel’s request to postpone the deadline for its recommendation. In making the request, the Panel cited its inability to conduct its eligibility visit to Nepal due to travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic and determined it could not make an informed decision without a field visit. The Panel had requested a postponement until four weeks from the date that Bank missions to Nepal are reauthorized and national travel restrictions that would inhibit the Panel team from visiting the project area have been lifted. More

INDIA: Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project for Low Income States – Panel Investigation Report Remains with the Board

The Panel Investigation Report remains with the Board. The Panel submitted the report in January 2020 and shared it with Requesters in February 2020 so they could be involved in the development of the Management Action Plan. Preparation of the Management Action Plan continues to be delayed because travel restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic have affected Bank management’s ability to finish consultations with the affected communities. More

Inspection Panel Publishes Fiscal Year 2021 Annual Report

The Inspection Panel published its fiscal year 2021 annual report on September 9. The report provides summaries of cases the Panel processed from July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021, a message from the Panel members, highlights from the year, the Panel budget, biographical information on each Panel member, and graphs detailing the Panel’s casework since it began operations. The report is now available on the Panel’s website. It also can be found here.

OUTREACH

Inspection Panel Participates in Workshops for Civil Society in Several Countries

The Inspection Panel in June and July joined other independent accountability mechanisms (IAMs) in explaining their mandates and operations to civil society and community representatives in Latin America, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Uzbekistan. Separately, the Panel also conducted a workshop for non-governmental organizations in Rwanda. The World Bank Accountability Mechanism (AM) continues to organize virtual outreach events during the COVID-19 pandemic. The workshops are intended to make the AM’s work known to people whose rights and interests may be affected by World Bank projects.

Panel Takes Part in IAIA Session on IFI Adoption of Lessons Learned Through IAMs

Inspection Panel Chair Imrana Jalal in May took part in a virtual session titled, “International Financial Institutions and Adoption of Lessons Learned Through their Accountability Functions” at the annual conference of the International Association for Impact Assessment. Ms. Jalal was joined by Charles Di Leva, then the World Bank’s chief environmental and social standards officer, in discussing two landmark Panel cases investigating gender-based violence (GBV) in Bank-funded projects and the Bank’s actions to prevent, mitigate and respond to GBV in projects. To watch a video of the session, click here. More

Bank Management Update – Action Plan Implementation Report

World Bank management in July released its latest report on the implementation of its action plans. The action plans were developed in response to findings in Inspection Panel investigations and have been approved by the Bank’s Board of Executive Directors. Management, as requested by the Committee on Development Effectiveness of the Board, began submitting these biannual implementation reports to the Board in April 2016. In line with its Operating Procedures and to promote transparency, the Panel publishes the updates on its website.

Summer Intern Completes Work With The Inspection Panel

The Inspection Panel hosted Sara Gammon of Kansas State University and Cambridge University as its summer 2021 intern. With most World Bank headquarters staff continuing to work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sara interned remotely in June and July, assisting the Panel on case and advisory work. A Truman Scholar, Sara earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from Kansas State University in 2020 and recently completed a master’s degree in development studies from Cambridge University. More

ABOUT THE WORLD BANK ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM

The World Bank Accountability Mechanism is an independent complaints mechanism for people and communities who believe that they have been, or are likely to be, adversely affected by a World Bank-funded project. It aims to promote accountability at the World Bank by ensuring that project-affected people have access to an independent body to which they can express their concerns and seek recourse. The World Bank Board of Executive Directors created the mechanism in 2020. It houses both the Inspection Panel, which was created in 1993 as the first independent accountability mechanism at an international financial institution and carries out impartial compliance reviews, and the Dispute Resolution Service, which will facilitate a voluntary and independent dispute resolution option for complainants and borrowers in the context of Requests for Inspection to the Inspection Panel. The Accountability Mechanism Secretary and Inspection Panel Members report directly to the Board.