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 ?? !!

www.inspectionpanel.orgipanel@worldbank.org