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The World Bank Inspection Panel:
Werner KieneChairman
World Bank Inspection Panel
June 2008Riga, Latvia
Participation, Access to Information and Accountability
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)
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 !
Bank Policies related to Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration Similar 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
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.
Interaction Aarhus- Inspection Panel Case: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
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”
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 ?? !!