Independent Investigation Mechanism
Overview
The Inter-American Development Bank's (IDB) Independent Investigation
Mechanism, established in 1994, affords people whose lives stand
to be affected by projects financed by the IDB a means to ensure
that due diligence has been exercised by the Bank in the design,
analysis and negotiation of those projects. The Mechanism permits
accredited representatives of affected populations to file Requests for Investigation aimed at determining whether
the Bank has followed its own operational policies during the
preparation and implementation of projects. Following a review
for eligibility for application of the policy, Requests are submitted
to the Bankâs Board of Executive Directors for consideration.
The policy governing the Mechanism stresses that affected populations
must in all cases first endeavor to present their concerns regarding
a given project to the management of the Bank for a fair exchange
of views and to permit redress of their grievances prior to moving
forward.
Following the initial screenings of a Request by the Mechanism's
Coordinator for compliance with criteria for application of the
policy and further review by a consultant selected from the Mechanism's
Roster of Investigators in cases where allegations warrant further consideration, the
policy provides for the Board of Executive Directors of the IDB
to decide whether a formal Investigation should be conducted.
In cases where the Board determines that it is warranted, a panel
of at least three members from the Roster of Investigators, each
independent of the Bank and of a different nationality, proceeds
to investigate. The investigation ordinarily culminates in the
issuance of a report to the Board containing the panel's findings
and recommendations. The Board, taking into account information
provided by the Bank's management as well as the report of the
panel, subsequently determines what preventive or corrective action,
if any, should be taken regarding the project.
As described in greater detail in the underlying policy, the principal reports associated with the conduct of an investigation
are made available to the public through the Bank's Public Information
Center, its website and the relevant Country Offices in Latin
America and the Caribbean. The provisions of the policy are applicable
to all proposed IDB operations--investment loans, sector loans,
private-sector operations and guarantees and technical assistance--and
to projects of any of the aforementioned types in which less than
95 percent of the Bank's financing has been disbursed.
The Coordinator of the Mechanism acts as administrator of investigations
once they are underway and may be contacted for technical questions
related to the provisions of the Mechanism itself. The Coordinator position
(e-mail investigation@iadb.org,
telephone 202.623.3952, fax 202.312.4057, Independent Investigation
Mechanism, Inter-American Development Bank, 1300 New York Ave., NW,
Stop E-1217, Washington, DC 20577) is located within the Bank's Office
of the Secretary. Questions related to projects per se, including
allegations and complaints preliminary to an eventual, formal Request
for an Investigation, should be directed to any of the Bank's operational
departments, including the relevant Country Offices, and/or to the Office
of External Relations (e-mail pic@iadb.org,
tel. 202.623.1397, fax 202.623.1403).
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