The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has launched a public consultation process beginning August 2, 2013, for key stakeholders and experts to submit views on the IDB’s Independent Consultation and Investigation Mechanism (ICIM) Policy’s and its operation to date.
Since its launch in September 2010, the ICIM Policy has provided a forum for addressing claims made by parties that have been or may be affected adversely by IDB operations resulting from a failure by the Bank to adhere to its own policies.
An evaluation conducted by the IDB’s Office of Evaluation and Oversight (OVE) in December of 2012, which took into account the operations of the ICIM to date, identified a number of areas in the ICIM that were in need of improvement.
Based on that review, the IDB’s Board of Executive Directors mandated a restructuring of the ICIM system and a revision of its Policy to improve its operation and effectiveness.
This public comment period is part of a comprehensive effort by the IDB to increase transparency and accountability in all aspects of its activities.
Revisions to the Policy will focus on strengthening the following areas: clarity of mission; accessibility; independence; transparency, efficiency and improving process responsiveness.
The public consultation process will consist of two phases: the first phase, taking place between August 2 and September 30, 2013, will seek comments on the current ICIM Policy which was approved by the Board of Executive Directors on February 17, 2010. This phase will include an electronic comment period on the web site, face-to-face meetings to be held in Washington, DC, videoconferences with civil society groups in the region, as well as interviews and individual meetings with stakeholders who have had some interaction with the ICIM over the past three years.
A report will summarize the comments of this first phase.
The second phase will seek comments on the soon-to-be-developed draft of a new ICIM Policy. A final report with a summary of all the comments—for the first and second phases—will be published on the Bank’s website.
After taking into consideration the comments, a final draft of the new Policy will be presented to the IDB Board of Executive Directors.
