Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) is the independent recourse and accountability mechanism for the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), World Bank Group Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) Independent Recourse & Accountability Mechanism for IFC & MIGA CSO Orientation, Spring Meetings April 8, 2014 Meg Taylor
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Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) is the independent
recourse and accountability mechanism for the International Finance
Corporation (IFC) and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA),
World Bank Group
Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) Independent Recourse & Accountability Mechanism
for IFC & MIGA
CSO Orientation, Spring Meetings
April 8, 2014
Meg Taylor
2
What is the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO)?
CAO addresses complaints from people affected by World Bank Group private sector projects (IFC/MIGA)
• Independent
• Provides public accountability & grievance redress
• Reports to World Bank Group President
Goal = enhance social & environmental project outcomes
3
Where does CAO interact?
IFC MIGA
Project-affected
communities
World Bank Group Board
Private sector client
Private sector client
Private sector client
PRESIDENT Jim Kim
Board members
are accountable to citizens of their nations
CAO provides a direct channel of
accountability for project-
affected people
What complaints are eligible?
1. Project IFC or MIGA is participating in, or actively considering
2. Complaint raises social & environmental concerns related to that project
3. Complainant believes they are affected negatively by these concerns
Important points:
- CAO does not make a judgment on the merits of the issues raised in the complaint when finding it eligible for assessment
- CSOs can file a complaint on behalf of affected people
- Any language
- Confidentiality, where requested
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How does CAO work? 3 core functions focused on outcomes
Project-level remedy
Work with IFC/MIGA clients and affected communities to help improve outcomes on the ground
Collaborative, problem solving approaches
IFC/MIGA performance
Investigations of IFC environmental and social performance
Involves independent verification & experts
Systemic concerns
Independent advice to President and senior management on systemic issues, environmental and social trends, policy concerns
Practical advice is drawn directly from CAO case experience
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COMPLIANCE
DISPUTE RESOLUTION (Ombudsman)
ADVISOR
1.
3.
2.
IFC Policy Framework informs CAO’s work
IFC Policy on Environmental and Social Sustainability
IFC Performance Standards 1-8:
1. Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts
2. Labor and Working Conditions
3. Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention
4. Community Health, Safety, and Security
5. Land Acquisition and Involuntary Resettlement
6. Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources
7. Indigenous People
8. Cultural Heritage
IFC Policy on Access to Information
Access the policies at: www.ifc.org/sustainability 6
Overview of CAO’s caseload
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Currently managing 48 active cases in 19 countries
Complaints by region 2000 – 2014: - Latin America (31%); Central Asia (29%); Asia region (22%); Africa (16%) Middle East (1%)
•Numbers reflect level of awareness, knowledge of projects, cultural barriers?
Complaints by sector 2000 – 2014: - Extractives (47%), infrastructure (20%), agribusiness (13%), manufacturing 12%
•Resource intensive sectors (i.e. land and water use)
Types of environmental & social issues: Project due diligence & supervision; consultation & disclosure; socio-economic benefits; pollution; land take & settlement; water security; labor & working conditions; Indigenous Peoples
Summary of key points
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CAO provides independent recourse for communities affected by IFC and MIGA projects
CSOs can file a complaint on behalf of an affected individual or community
Dispute resolution between affected communities, companies and other stakeholders
Compliance oversight of IFC/MIGA environmental and social performance
Confidentiality for complainants, where requested
Monitoring of case outcomes to ensure agreements are implemented and/or compliance findings remediated
All CAO reports are made public at www.cao-ombudsman.org
www.cao-ombudsman.org
Contact us
www.cao-ombudsman.org
www.facebook.com/CAOoffice Twitter - @CAOoffice
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CAO CASE EXAMPLES
CAO Dispute Resolution work in Nicaragua: Nicaragua Sugar Estates Ltd
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Complaint to CAO March 2008:
Chronic Kidney Disease among sugarcane cutters – claim caused by exposure to agrichemicals
Claim company strongly denied
Parties deadlocked in a cycle of recrimination and denial
Outcomes:
Independent medical study
Livelihood and health care initiatives benefiting 2,000 community members (food aid, renal clinic, new housing, microcredit fund)
Status: Monitoring implementation of agreements which includes a number of community projects
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CAO Compliance Investigation: Dinant, Honduras
April 2012: CAO initiates compliance investigation of IFC’s investment in Dinant after concerns raised by CSOs about forced evictions, violence and deaths on & around Dinant palm oil plantations in the Aguan valley.
Jan 2014: CAO releases highly critical findings of IFC non-compliances which receives widespread external attention and press.
WBG Board demands robust actions to address CAO findings and lessons learned from IFC.
Calls for independent investigation in Honduras into credible allegations of deaths.
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