CONSULTATION WORKSHOP

ON
THE REVIEW OF ACCOUNTABILITY
MECHANISM
OF ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK

The views expressed in this paper are the views of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of
the Asian Development Bank (ADB), or its Board of Directors or the governments they represent. ADB does not
guarantee the source, originality, accuracy, completeness or reliability of any statement, information, data, finding,
interpretation, advice, opinion, or view presented, nor does it make any representation concerning the same.

Dr. Maartje Van Putten

Dr. Ishrat Husain
OBJECTIVE OF THE WORKSHOP

9 To solicit the view and perspective of multiple stakeholders on the

current Accountability Mechanism (AM) of Asian Development Bank
(ADB)

9 These views will serve as inputs into the broad based Review of AM
that is being undertaken by two independent consultants under the
overall guidance of a Working Group of the ADB Board and
Management

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9 History of the accountability mechanisms of Multilateral
Financial Institutions (MFIs)

9 The World Bank as the first

9 Other MFIs
BACKGROUND

9 A new AM was approved by the ADB in May 2003.

9 This AM consists of two separate but complementary functions:

(i) a consultation phase consisting of a Special Project Facilitator
(SPF) to resolve problems faced by the affected people in ADB
assisted projects.

(ii) a Compliance Review Phase consisting of a Panel (CRP) to

investigate alleged violations of ADB’s operational policies and
procedures that have resulted, or are likely to result in direct,
adverse and material harm to project-affected people.

9 The AM covers both the public and private sector projects.

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PROGRESS-TO-DATE

9 The SPF has so far received 27 complaints. Nine have been declared
eligible for further processing while 17 cases were ineligible because
the operational departments were not approached in 13 of these cases
in the first instance.

9 The CRP has received only three complaints since its inception. One
of them has reached the final stage after five years of monitoring.

9 The ADB Board and Management have decided that a review of the AM
should be undertaken by two independent consultants.

9 This multiple stakeholder consultation is an integral part of the review

process in which feedback and suggestions for improvement are
solicited.

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ISSUES FOR SOLICITING FEEDBACK AND SUGGESTIONS
FOR IMPROVEMENT

1. Do you think the 2003 Accountability Mechanism has been effective

and adequate?

2. What is your view on ADB’s approach to site visits? Should it be

mandatory in the loan agreement?

3. What issues, if any, do you have when bringing a case to ADB’s

Compliance Review Panel?

4. Do you think that the accountability mechanism is independent?

5. Do you think that the mechanism is accessible to affected people?

6. What do you think of the eligibility criteria for filing a complaint?

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7. What do you think of the effectiveness of the information
dissemination and of level of awareness about the Accountability
Mechanism?

8. What do you think of the broader impact that the AM has had on
ADB’s approach to project selection and decision making?

9. How can ADB simplify and streamline the existing procedures?

10. What do you think about building country’s own systems and
processes to conform with those of ADB?

11. What is your view of the cost implications of the mechanism for the
borrowing countries?

12. Do you have any other issues or suggestions or recommendations?

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METHODOLOGY OF THE REVIEW PROCESS

9 Web based solicitation of comments on the existing mechanism by the

public at large and interested stakeholders.

9 Literature survey and comparative study of the ADB’s AM with those

of other multilateral and bilateral institutions, including visits and
interaction with selected Panels.

9 Consultation with the ADB staff at the headquarters and selected

Resident Missions, Management and the Board of Directors.

9 Evaluation of the progress made so far by the office of the Special

Project Facilitator and the Compliance Review Panel.

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9 Consultations with the representatives of the Government, Private
Sector, Civil Society and NGOs, Academia in Colombo, Frankfurt,
Jakarta, Manila, Tokyo and Washington by holding multi-stakeholder
workshops and also individual meetings.

9 Field visits to project sites and meetings with the affected people in
Indonesia, Philippines and Sri Lanka.

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DELIVERABLE

A Review Report by the independent experts to the Working

Group of the ADB.

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TIME LINES

July 2010
9 Appointment of the Consultants and issuance of the TOR
9 Background preparation by the Consultants
9 Web based solicitation of comments

August 2010
9 Consultations with the ADB Staff, Management and the Board
Members at Manila.
9 Interactions with the OSPF and OCRP
9 Interaction with the NGO Forum on ADB
9 Meetings with the officials of the Government of the Philippines

September 2010
9 Issues paper for the Working Group
9 Visit to Sri Lanka

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October 2010
Visit to Tokyo

November 2010
Visits to Washington, Frankfurt, Indonesia and the Philippines

December 2010
Final Review Report submission

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