Have an Environmental or Social Issue Related to IDB Projects?
At the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), we will work with you to provide an adequate response to your concerns in a timely manner.
What is the IDB Grievance Protocol?
The IDB has developed the Environmental and Social Grievance Protocol to provide stakeholders with a direct channel when they want to file a grievance about the environmental and social performance of IDB-financed operations. This Grievance Protocol is a channel for listening and promoting dialogue for the resolution of socio-environmental grievances.
Any person, individually or collectively, who is concerned about the environmental or social issues of an IDB-financed project can file a grievance. The protocol accepts grievances in all languages spoken in Latin America and the Caribbean, and in various formats.
You can submit your grievance through the following channels:
The IDB Grievance Protocol form on the website or a printed form obtained from the COF or HQ
The Grievance Protocol mailbox: quejas@iadb.org
Email to IDB personnel
Telephone calls, or messaging us at: +1 (202) 826-3705
Other electronic means, such as WhatsApp messages
Visits in situ to the COF offices or HQ
A grievance is considered applicable under the Environmental and Social Grievance Protocol if:
- It relates to an IDB-financed operation that is in preparation, approved, or in execution within 24 months after the last disbursement.
- The grievance concerns environmental or social aspects of an IDB-financed project.
Available Grievance Channels
- Project-Level Mechanism: You are encouraged (but not required) to first contact the Executing Agency of the project through its grievance mechanism to request project-related information or raise concerns.
- IDB Grievance Protocol: If the grievance concerns an IDB-financed project, you can submit it through this portal.
- IDB Invest (Private Sector): IDB Invest (the private sector arm of the IDB) has its own grievance mechanism:
Management Grievance Mechanism
- Independent Consultation and Investigation Mechanism (MICI, for its acronym in Spanish). It is an independent accountability office that impartially addresses and investigates environmental and social complaints from individuals or communities that are considered affected by projects financed by IDB Group. A request will be deemed eligible by the MICI if, among others, the individuals or communities describe the efforts made to address the issues with IDB. For more information about the MICI, please visit its website.
If your grievance doesn't meet the criteria of the Grievance Protocol, you can submit it through alternative channels:
- Fraud or corruptions complaints of IDB Group-financed activities: Office of the Institutional Integrity (OII).
- To request additional information of projects financed by the IDB: request form. IDB discloses information for each project under our projects site.
Any person, individually or collectively, who is concerned about the environmental or social issues of an IDB-financed project can file a grievance. The protocol accepts grievances in all languages spoken in Latin America and the Caribbean, and in various formats.
You can submit your grievance through the following channels:
The IDB Grievance Protocol form on the website or a printed form obtained from the COF or HQ
The Grievance Protocol mailbox: quejas@iadb.org
Email to IDB personnel
Telephone calls, or messaging us at: +1 (202) 826-3705
Other electronic means, such as WhatsApp messages
Visits in situ to the COF offices or HQ
A grievance is considered applicable under the Environmental and Social Grievance Protocol if:
- It relates to an IDB-financed operation that is in preparation, approved, or in execution within 24 months after the last disbursement.
- The grievance concerns environmental or social aspects of an IDB-financed project.
Available Grievance Channels
- Project-Level Mechanism: You are encouraged (but not required) to first contact the Executing Agency of the project through its grievance mechanism to request project-related information or raise concerns.
- IDB Grievance Protocol: If the grievance concerns an IDB-financed project, you can submit it through this portal.
- IDB Invest (Private Sector): IDB Invest (the private sector arm of the IDB) has its own grievance mechanism:
Management Grievance Mechanism
- Independent Consultation and Investigation Mechanism (MICI, for its acronym in Spanish). It is an independent accountability office that impartially addresses and investigates environmental and social complaints from individuals or communities that are considered affected by projects financed by IDB Group. A request will be deemed eligible by the MICI if, among others, the individuals or communities describe the efforts made to address the issues with IDB. For more information about the MICI, please visit its website.
If your grievance doesn't meet the criteria of the Grievance Protocol, you can submit it through alternative channels:
- Fraud or corruptions complaints of IDB Group-financed activities: Office of the Institutional Integrity (OII).
- To request additional information of projects financed by the IDB: request form. IDB discloses information for each project under our projects site.
The Grievance Protocol can provide confidentiality
After receiving the grievance through one or several of the submission channels we register it.
Then, we determine if the grievance is applicable, analyzing the following aspects:
a) It is an IDB operation in preparation, approved, or in execution within 24 months after last disbursement, and,
b) It is related to an environmental and/or social aspect
We then begin a fact-finding process to gather further information on the grievance. Following, we establish a dialogue process with the complainant and the executing agency as we look for solutions to the issues raised, which may become an action plan to be implemented by the executing agency.
Agreed actions are then monitored by the IDB. Once the action plan is completed the case is closed.
After receiving the grievance through one or several of the submission channels we register it.
Then, we determine if the grievance is applicable, analyzing the following aspects:
a) It is an IDB operation in preparation, approved, or in execution within 24 months after last disbursement, and,
b) It is related to an environmental and/or social aspect
We then begin a fact-finding process to gather further information on the grievance. Following, we establish a dialogue process with the complainant and the executing agency as we look for solutions to the issues raised, which may become an action plan to be implemented by the executing agency.
Agreed actions are then monitored by the IDB. Once the action plan is completed the case is closed.
Email: quejas@iadb.org | Phone: +1 202 826 3705
Mailing Address: 1350 New York Ave NW. Washington DC 20577, or any of IDB Country Offices.
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