IDB establishes the First Panel of Experts of Independent Consultation and Investigation Mechanism (ICIM)

The Inter-American Development Bank appointed five independent experts to serve on the Independent Consultation and Investigation Mechanism (ICIM) Panel. The appointment complements the nomination of Isabel Lavadenz Paccieri as Project Ombudsperson of the ICIM, in September 2010.

The panel of experts, who were appointed by the Board of Executive Directors, will be in charge of carrying out Compliance Reviews, pursuant the ICIM Policy. The Panel will be chaired by Werner Kiene and composed by four additional members: Gilberto Amaya, Mary Rose Brusewitz, Mario Epstein and Korinna Horta. The Chairperson will lead all investigations and will serve in that capacity for a non-renewable term of three years. When the Panel Chairperson determines that a Request is eligible, he/she will select two members of the Panel to serve on the investigative team.

Among its tasks, the Panel will carry out independent investigations during the Compliance Review Phase to establish whether any Bank action or omission in respect of a Bank-financed operation resulted in non-compliance with relevant Operational Policies and indirect, material adverse effects to the Requester. For each case, the Panel will submit a final report to the IDB Board of Executive Directors on their findings, and monitor implementation of Board decisions, if so requested.

The ICIM is an institutional resource that allows project beneficiaries to voice their concerns and to seek solutions in a consensual manner; the ICIM promotes compliance with environmental and social policies of the Bank and it is part of the IDB's Better Bank Reform Agenda. The ICIM started its operations in September 2010.