Development Banks
World Bank Inspection Panel
For what kind of projects?
If the company that has harmed you works for a project which is financed by the International Development Association (‘IDA’) or the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (‘IBRD’), both of which form the “World Bank.”
For what kind of abuses?
To approach the Inspection Panel, the project should have harmed you or be likely to harm you or the environment in a direct and material way.
Who can file a complaint?
Complaints can be submitted by “any group of two or more people in the country where the Bank-financed financed project is located who believe that, as a result of the Bank’s abuse of its policies and procedures, their rights or interests have been, or are likely to be adversely affected in a direct and material way.”
Note that one individual alone cannot submit a complaint, but an organization or group of individuals can!
You should send your request by post to:
The Inspection Panel 1818 H Street,
NW Mail Stop: MC10-1007
Washington, DC 20433
USA
Or by email to ipanel@worldbank.org
The suggested format for a request for inspection can be found at www.worldbank.org
What to expect?
The Inspection Panel will not provide any remedy but will facilitate the dispute resolution between the parties.
World Bank Compliance Advisor Ombudsman
In which case can you approach the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman?
The Compliance Advisor Ombudsman hears complaints regarding projects supported by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) or Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), where those projects have a direct social or environmental impact.
Who can file a complaint?
Any individual or group of individuals who have suffered, or are likely to suffer, direct social or environmental impact by a project supported by the IFC or MIGA. Someone representing the people harmed can file a complaint on their behalf, provided he/she has authorization.
How to file a complaint?
Your complaint should include your name and contact address. Note that you can ask for the process to be carried out confidentially.
You should describe the project, the harm it has caused to you or the environment and the performance standards that have been violated.
You can submit your complaint by post to:
Office of the Compliance Advisor/Ombudsman (CAO)
2121 Pennsylvania Avenue,
NW Washington, DC 20433,
USA Tel: + 1 202 458 1973
Fax: + 1 202 522 7400
Or by e-mail to CAO@worldbankgroup.org
🡪 Note also that the CAO has established an “Approach to Responding to Concerns of Threats and Incidents of Reprisals in CAO Operations.” For more information see here CAO-Approach to Responding to Threats and Reprisals-web.pdf (cao-ombudsman.org)
What to expect?
The CAO will investigate your case and mediate the dispute between you and/or project-affected communities and companies and will aim to address any environmental and social concerns. It will further monitor how the IFC and MIGA are complying with the applicable Performance Standards in relation to social and environmental risks.
European Investment Bank Complaints Mechanism
For what abuses?
If your social or environmental rights have been abused by a business financed by the European Investment Bank (EIB).
Who can file a complaint?
Any individuals or organisation that are concerned with an EIB-supported project. The complainant is not obliged to demonstrate that they are directly affected or that the policies are being violated by the specific project.
How to file a complaint?
In your complaint you should:
- Include your name and your contact information.
- Describe the circumstances of the complaint.
- Mention what you seek to achieve through your complaint.
You should send by post to
European Investment Bank Secretary General
100 boulevard Konrad Adenauer
L-2950 Luxembourg
Or by email to complaints@eib.org
Or online www.eib.org/infocentre/complaints-form.html.
What should you expect?
The Complaints Mechanism will investigate if your complaint is well-founded and will attempt to facilitate the resolution of the dispute. If it concludes that there was maladministration by the EIB, it might propose corrective or mitigation actions and recommendations or determine that the problem was solved during the complaints handling process and that no further action is required.
If you are not satisfied, you can file an appeal with the EIB Complaints Mechanism or with the European Ombudsman.
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development - Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM)
What are the issues that can be dealt with?
Where you have suffered harm because a project supported by the EBRD did not respect the bank’s commitments to environmental and social responsibility.
Who can file a complaint?
Individuals and civil society organisations who believe they are directly and personally affected by an EBRD Project.
How to file a complaint?
You should send it to IPAM's secure, encrypted online Request Form, available on the IPAM website. In certain circumstances, IPAM can also consider complaints submitted by civil society organisations that are not directly or personally affected. These will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
EBRD Independent Project Accountability Mechanism
Attn: Victoria Marquez-Mees, Chief Accountability Officer
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
One Exchange Square
London EC2A 2JN
United Kingdom
Or by email to ipam@ebrd.com
What should you expect?
The IPAM will first attempt to achieve an agreement between you and the company that takes part in the project. It might also issue recommendations for the project and monitor its implementation. In addition, the IPAM also assesses the Bank’s compliance with its own policies, if the EBRD is found to be non-compliant, IPAM will propose changes to the project and the Bank’s procedures to address the non-compliance.
Asian Development Bank Accountability Mechanism
Who can approach the ADB?
Any group of two or more people or a local representative of affected people, who are directly, materially, and adversely affected by a project supported by the ADB, including regarding the environment, involuntary resettlement, and indigenous peoples.
How to file a complaint?
A sample complaint form is available at www.adb.org.
You should send your complaint by post to:
Complaints Receiving Officer
Asian Development Bank (ADB)
6 ADB Avenue Mandaluyong City
1550 Philippines
or by email to amcro@adb.org
What should you expect?
The respective department will conduct an assessment and attempt to bring together the disputing parties. If an agreement is reached, the Mechanism will monitor its implementation. The Mechanism might also provide the ADB’s management with recommendations for remedial actions.
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank - Project-Affected People’s Mechanism
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has established a complaints mechanism, called Project-Affected People’s Mechanism (PPM).
Who can file a complaint?
A complaint can be filed by people affected by an AIIB-funded project and who believe they have been, or are likely to be, adversely affected by AIIB’s failure to implement and comply with its Environmental and Social Policy (ESP) during the due diligence stage of the project, project preparation or during AIIB’s oversight of the project. This mechanism should be used when concerns cannot be addressed satisfactorily through any project-level grievance redress mechanisms or AIIB Management’s processes.
Who can file a complaint?
Two or more Project-affected people (Requestors) may file a submission. Requestors may also authorise an in-country representative (Authorized Representative) to file a submission on their behalf. This representative may be a relative, trusted individual or organisation. Note that you can request that the process is carried out confidentially!
How to file a complaint?
You can file a complaint online here How We Assist You - Project-Affected People’s Mechanism (aiib.org) You can find a form here Attachment-Two.Sample-Submission-Form.pdf (aiib.org)
What should you expect?
The PPM might mediate a dispute by engaging the parties in dialogue, information sharing and joint fact finding. It might also recommend to the Bank’s management adequate measures in relation to environmental and social issues arising out of its funded projects.
Japan Bank for International Cooperation and Japan International Cooperation Agency
Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) share a complaints process called “Objection Procedures based on Environmental Guidelines”. The process is handled by the Office of the Examiner for Environmental Guidelines.
When should you raise an objection?
When a project funded by JBIC or JICA is causing or is likely to cause substantial damage due to non-compliance with the Environmental Guidelines.
Who can complain?
A complaint/request can be filed by two or more residents of the host country who have suffered actual and direct damage, or who are highly likely to suffer damage in the future by the project in question. The request can also be filed by an authorized representative.
Where should you send your request?
Contact Information
Examiners for the Guidelines
Secretariat of The Examiner for the Guidelines
Japan International Cooperation Agency
Nibancho Center Building
5-25, Niban-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8012, Japan
FAX: +81-03-5226-6973
E-mail: jicama-jigi@jica.go.jp
You can find more information as well as a sample request here.
What should you expect?
The examiner will investigate the case and will attempt to encourage dialogue between the parties. He might also recommend possible measures to cure non-compliance issues to the Executive Committee of JBIC.