World Bank Group Boards' Decision on Independent Accountability Mechanisms — A Note to Civil Society Partners
World Bank Civil Society
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WBG Civil Society Update
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Dear Colleague, I am writing to share an important decision by the Boards of the World Bank Group, which has been made on an issue that you have been closely monitoring. Yesterday, the World Bank Group Boards of Directors approved the creation of a new single, unified, Independent Accountability Mechanism. This will integrate the functions currently carried out by the World Bank Accountability Mechanism (comprising the Inspection Panel (IPN) and the Dispute Resolution Service (DRS) as well as the IFC/MIGA Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO). The Boards have approved the immediate launch of a recruitment process for a Vice President/Director General to lead the new WBG IAM. This decision is the result of a process spanning more than a year that included multiple public consultations, webinars, learning engagements from other MDB IAMs, and written comment periods. The Boards have also received letters from CSO coalitions, and the views have been heard and carefully considered, and the WBG is grateful for that engagement. The Boards’ decision is underpinned by the principle of no regression in IAM policies, a point emphasized by CSO’s, as a foundational and binding commitment of this reform. This is a firm commitment that will be reflected in the new unified policy. The IPN, DRS, and CAO will continue to operate fully under their existing policies and resolutions until the new integrated IAM becomes operational. The new policy will be drafted after the incoming Vice President/Director General has taken office and will undergo public consultation before it is submitted to the Boards for approval. We are committed to your continued involvement in that process. As an interim measure, work will begin immediately on a web portal which will consolidate information on all three existing IAMs and management-led grievance mechanisms. This is a concrete, near-term step to make it easier for people and communities who believe they have been adversely affected by a WBG funded project to understand and access their various options for redress. The Boards recognize that accountability is a commitment to the people and communities the WBG serves. We look forward to continued engagement with you as this process unfolds. Please direct any questions to us at civils...@worldbank.org. Sincerely, WBG CSO team
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