A ground-up perspective on the effectiveness of ADB’s accountability mechanism and safeguards delivery

Ahead of the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) 58th Annual General Meeting (AGM), civil society organizations are leading an important discussion on the effectiveness of ADB’s Accountability Mechanism (AM) and its Environmental and Social Safeguards. The panel session titled “A Ground-Up Perspective on the Effectiveness of ADB’s Accountability Mechanism and Safeguards Delivery” will focus on the lived experiences of communities directly impacted by ADB-financed projects.

This session provides a vital opportunity to engage with affected communities, understanding firsthand the gaps in ADB’s safeguards and accountability systems. With the Accountability Mechanism Review currently underway, this is a critical moment to assess where these systems are falling short and identify necessary reforms.

The Need for Urgent Reform in ADB’s Accountability Mechanisms

The ongoing review of the Accountability Mechanism comes at a crucial time as ADB continues to ramp up its investments in infrastructure and climate-related projects across the region. For years, communities on the frontlines of development projects have suffered significant harm, often due to failures in implementing safeguards rather than flaws in the policies themselves. The Environmental and Social Framework (ESF), which the ADB has introduced, includes updated commitments to safeguard people and the environment. However, its success hinges on whether these commitments are actively enforced.

While the ESF sets out ambitious goals, its effectiveness will depend on the Accountability Mechanism’s ability to enforce safeguards on the ground. This session will scrutinize how ADB’s safeguards policies work in practice and how they can be improved to ensure that affected communities receive justice and that the ADB upholds its development mandate in an accountable and transparent manner.

The Role of Civil Society in Strengthening Accountability

Effective engagement with civil society is crucial in identifying systemic issues that continue to allow harm to persist. Without strong civil society input, there is a real risk that the Accountability Mechanism will fail to address these deep-rooted issues. In the past, failures in the accountability process have eroded trust in ADB’s ability to deliver on its promises.

This panel will highlight how ADB must meaningfully engage with civil society, not just for the sake of inclusion but as a critical element of a genuinely accountable process. The goal is to ensure that ADB projects do more than just meet technical requirements—they must bring tangible benefits to the communities they are intended to help.

The key objectives of the session are to:

• Examine the effectiveness of ADB’s safeguards and accountability mechanisms.

• Discuss how ADB’s Accountability Mechanism Review can better align with the realities of impacted communities.

• Offer insights on how the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) can become a more robust tool for ensuring community protection and justice.

• Provide a platform for civil society to voice their concerns, ensuring that the ADB’s future projects are grounded in the principles of equity, transparency, and community rights.

Speakers and Presentations

The session will feature insights from Forum network and allies who will share on-the-ground experiences of how ADB-financed projects have impacted communities -

Forum network and allies -

• Rayyan Hassan (NGO Forum on ADB)

• Vidya Dinker (Growthwatch)

• Maya Quirino (Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center.)

• Atty. Aaron Pedrosa (Philippine Movement for Climate Justice)

• Hemantha Withanage (Centre for Environmental Justice)

• Sukhgerel Dugersuren (Oyu Tolgoi Watch)

• Indira Shreesh (Indigenous Women Legal Awareness Group)

• Radhika Goyal (Accountability Counsel)

  
  

ADB board and management -

• AED Llewellyn Roberts (ADB Alternate Executive Director - Armenia / Cook Islands / Fiji / Indonesia / Kyrgyz Republic / New Zealand / Niue / Samoa / Tonga)

• Ramanie Kunanayagam (Chair, Compliance Review Panel and concurrently Head, Office of the Compliance Review Panel)

• Imrana Jalal (Special Project Facilitator, ADB)

A Call for Stronger Accountability and Real Justice

As the Accountability Mechanism Review continues, this session will serve as a powerful reminder that real justice for affected communities is not just about ticking boxes. It is about active enforcement of safeguards, transparency in grievance processes, and genuine participation in decision-making. The ADB must prioritize these issues to ensure that its projects benefit communities and do not perpetuate harm.

By fostering meaningful dialogue with civil society, the ADB can strengthen its safeguards, build trust, and ensure that its projects truly serve the needs of vulnerable communities. The session will provide an essential platform for ensuring that ADB’s climate and development initiatives are equitable, sustainable, and truly accountable to the people they affect.