Empowering Voices for Development Accountability

ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM ANNUAL REPORT 2023

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FOREWORD

Our primary focus has been on empowering the voices of affected people and communities, and building trust between them, the borrower, and ADB.

In every smile, a call for change. Together, we make a difference.

In every smile, a call for change. Together, we make a difference.

INTRODUCTION

The Accountability Mechanism (AM) of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is an independent department consisting of two offices—the Office of the Special Project Facilitator (OSPF) and the Office of the Compliance Review Panel (OCRP)—that provide two separate accountability functions.

ADB Accountability Mechanism provides an independent and effective forum for people adversely affected by ADB-assisted projects to voice their concerns and seek solutions to their problems.

ADB Accountability Mechanism provides an independent and effective forum for people adversely affected by ADB-assisted projects to voice their concerns and seek solutions to their problems.

Complainants can opt for problem-solving (dispute resolution) or a compliance investigation. Both units have equal status, are headed by director-general-level heads, and provide remedies for complaints, albeit in different forms. There is no hierarchy of functions; the two offices merely offer complainants a choice of how to obtain a remedy. The AM is similar to more than 20 Independent Accountability Mechanisms (IAMs) of the other multilateral development banks and international financial institutions.

The AM is independent from ADB Management and operations departments and makes decisions in a neutral, objective way without bias in favor of ADB operations, Staff, project management units, or the complainants. The AM’s independence is critical to its functions.

DATA DIGEST

Since 2012, the CRO has recorded a total of 291 AM-related complaints. Particularly noteworthy is the significant increase in complaints between 2016 and 2023.

PROBLEM-SOLVING

OSPF received 21 complaints, of which 3 were eligible to be considered by the department and 18 were deemed ineligible.

COMPLIANCE REVIEW

The CRP received a complaint on a road project in Mongolia. Although the complaint was declared ineligible, the CRP provided recommendations for the project team to improve its due diligence, monitoring, and supervision responsibilities.

KNOWLEDGE, CAPACITY BUILDING, AND OUTREACH

We intensified our efforts to make connections within our own organization and beyond.

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Empowering Voices for Development Accountability

ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM ANNUAL REPORT 2023

OUR TEAM

APPENDIX

© 2024 Asian Development Bank.
See PDF for details.

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The Office of the Ombudsperson provides a safe space where members of the ADB community can discuss sensitive and complex concerns under the strictest confidentiality.

We encourage individual empowerment, self-determination, and foster collaborative problem-solving.

Our professional practice upholds a principles-based approach within a rules-based organization. Serving as the informal resource, we bridge the gap between the ADB community and management, safeguarding the interests of all stakeholders.

For more information, visit:

ombudsperson.adb.org