World Bank Board Discusses Inspection Panel Cases in Liberia, Tajikistan, and Panama
WASHINGTON, February 4, 2011—The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors met on February 3, 2011 to discuss three unrelated Inspection Panel reports: Eligibility Reports for the Liberia Development Forestry Sector Management Project and Tajikistan Energy Loss Reduction Program (Study Program for proposed Rogun Hydropower Plant), and the Investigation Report for the Panama Land Administration Project.
The World Bank Board of Executive Directors and Management consider the Inspection Panel to be one of the Bank’s most important accountability mechanisms, and set great value upon its independence. Over the years, Inspection Panel investigations and corresponding Management Action Plans have contributed to better development outcomes on the ground.
Executive Directors considered the report entitled “Management Report and Recommendation in Response to the Inspection Panel Report on Panama Land Management Project” and approved Management’s actions set out in the report.
In the Liberia case, Executive Directors considered the report entitled “Inspection Panel Report and Recommendation: Liberia Development Forestry Sector Management Project” and approved its conclusion that the Inspection Panel will not undertake an investigation on the issues raised by the request.
In the Tajikistan case, Executive Directors considered the report entitled “Inspection Panel Report and Recommendation: Tajikistan Energy Loss Reduction Project” and approved the conclusion that the Inspection Panel will not undertake an investigation on the issues raised by the request.
World Bank Managing Director Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who chaired the discussion, noted, “There is no doubt that the World Bank Board’s Inspection Panel is one of its most important accountability mechanisms.”
Roberto Lenton, Chair of the Inspection Panel, said, “Given the significant nature of the claims and concerns in both Requests for Inspection, the Panel did not take its recommendations not to investigate lightly. The Panel notes the importance of Bank Management actions going forward in addressing these concerns.”
The Inspection Panel is an independent body established by the Executive Directors of the World Bank to address the concerns of the people who may be affected by Bank projects and to ensure that the Bank adheres to its operational policies and procedures during design, preparation and implementation phases of projects.
