Are Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) accountable? Yes, only accountable to themselves!
There are various but similar mechanisms/venues created by MDBs to make their projects accountable. The ADB's Accountability Mechanism has been implemented since December 2003. Although a review of the policy was scheduled in 2006, it was postponed till 2008 and later rescheduled till end of 2009 due to few cases filed under the Mechanism. After the announcement by its president during its Annual Meeting in Tashkent last May, the ADB set the timeline and process of the AM review on 5 July 2010.
Forum members have been using the AM to register complaints on the Bank's lapses in terms of its policies, programs and projects. While there was not a single complaint filed in 2008, out of the 13 cases in 2009, four of which were filed by Forum members. More complaints are on their way to the AM.
Related documents
Sixth Road Project: Not Eligible, Katherin Conchada, August 2010
Holding ADB Accountable: A Look at the Present Accountability Mechanism, (briefing paper) by Tea Soentoro, August 2010
Water project displaces hundreds of Indonesians, (news article) December 2009
Handling the Symptoms but not the Disease, (news article) by Tea Soentoro, November 2009
Global Accountability Report 2007: A Green Wash for the ADB, by Hemantha Withanage, December 2007
Accountability Mechanism: A Jailbird of Democracy, by Hemantha Withanage, 2006
Strengthening Public Accountability: Recommendations to ADB for Revising its Inspection Policy, by BIC, CREED, Environmental Foundation, et al, March 2002
CRBIP-III: Stakeholder Dialogue on Social Impacts: Summary of Action Recommendations, March 2002
ADB's Inspection Function Under Review, (briefing paper) by Violeta Q. Perez-Corral, NGO Forum on ADB, March 2001
Pakistan: Lessons from Korangi 'Inspection' Case, (briefing paper) by CREED, April 2000
The ADB's Inspection Function - Two Views, (briefing paper) by Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center (LRC) & NGO Working Group on ADB, March 1998
Proposed Timetable for the Review of the Accountability Mechanism
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2010 |
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April |
Joint Board Management Working Group established |
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May |
Draft terms of reference circulated to the Board |
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June |
Terms of reference finalized |
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July |
External experts appointed |
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June-September |
Invitation to comment on the current policy posted on the ADB website
for 12 weeks; and written comments received |
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July-November |
In-country consultations with stakeholders |
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December |
Invitation to comment on the draft revised accountability mechanism policy
posted on the ADB website for 8 weeks; and written comments received |
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2011 |
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January-March |
Internal review of the draft revised AM policy |
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April |
Revised policy approved by the Board and released |
Projects filed by Forum Members under the Accountability Mechanism
Education Sector Reform Project, Tajikistan (2010)
CAREC Transport Corridor I Investment Program, Kazakhstan (2010)
CAREC Transport Corridor I Investment Program, Kazakhstan (2009)
Integrated Citarum Water Resources Management Investment Program, Indonesia (2009)
East-West Highway Improvement Project, Azerbaijan (2009)
Multitranche Financing Facility Road Network Development Program (2009)
Highway One Project, Cambodia (2007)
Khulna-Jessore Drainage Rehabilitation Project, Bangladesh (2006)
Chasma Right Bank Irrigation Project, Pakistan (2006)
Southern Transport Development Porject, Sri Lanka (2004)
To view all the cases filed under the AM, go ADB's Complaint Registry
Let’s act on the AM Review. Send your comments to the ADB.