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The World Bank Inspection Panel:

The World Bank Inspection Panel:. Participation, Access to Information and Accountability. Werner Kiene Chairman World Bank Inspection Panel June 2008 Riga, Latvia. Origin of the Inspection Panel. Outgrowth of Rio Summit and other concerns of the NGO community

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The World Bank Inspection Panel:

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  1. The World Bank Inspection Panel: Participation, Access to Information and Accountability Werner Kiene Chairman World Bank Inspection Panel June 2008 Riga, Latvia

  2. Origin of the Inspection Panel • Outgrowth of Rio Summit and other concerns of the NGO community • “What-to-do” objectives • “How-to-do” objectives , i.e “Safeguards” • But how to enforce ? • The Inspection Panel in 1993 (about the same time as Aarhus –predecessor conference)

  3. Specific Features of the “Panel” • “Responds to complaints (Requests for Inspection) by people who believe… suffer, or may suffer, harm caused by a World Bank-financed project” • Panel is linked to the Board … NOT to Management • Three I’s (Independence/Impartiality/Integrity) • Three Panel Members • Secretariat • Experts • Focus: Violation of Bank Policies and Procedures • We investigate the Bank N OT Host-country or Borrower !

  4. Bank Policies related to Principle 10 of the Rio DeclarationSimilar in substance to Aaarhus • Disclosure and Access to Information • General Policy on Disclosure • Specific disclosure requirements (Part of various Safeguards) • Consultation and Participation requirements in various Policies • Environmental Assessment (OP 4.01) • Indigenous Peoples (OP 4.10) • Involuntary Resettlement (OP 4.12

  5. Relationship Aarhus-World Bank • Working level links • International Obligations • WB does not finance project activities that would contravene international treaties and conventions • EA takes into account obligations of the country covered by international environmental treaties and agreements.

  6. Interaction Aarhus- Inspection PanelCase:Albania Power Sector Project • First a complaint to (A) the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee (ACCC) concerning public participation in decision-making on the construction of an industrial park and a thermal power plant, and subsequently to (B) the Inspection Panel and (C) EBRD’s Independent Recourse Mechanism • ACCC issued its Findings and Recommendations following its June 2007 meeting • ACCC Findings contribute to Inspection Panel investigation

  7. Impacts - Effectiveness • Project-level: • Spotlight problems; sunshine • Ultimate results for people • Similar projects/sectors • Forests, infrastructure, Indigenous peoples • Bank-wide • Incentives to apply safeguards • Risk-taking; not transfer to most vulnerable • Other institutions • Several have created similar mechanisms • An instrument of public participation • The Panel gives voice to affected people during design, appraisal and implementation of projects • “Accountability from below”

  8. Exploring complementarities • World Bank compliance: strong impact on “project” and on Bank activities… Focus is Governance of an International Institution • Demonstration Effect (other Banks, some national institutions) • Some impact on national processes, but often isolated and not sustained • Aarhus strengthened Governance at the national level • What can we learn from the Albania example ?? • Need for more collaboration ?? !!

  9. www.inspectionpanel.org ipanel@worldbank.org

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