The World Bank Accountability Mechanism is an independent complaints mechanism for people and communities who believe that they have been, or are likely to be, adversely affected by a World Bank-funded project. It aims to promote accountability at the World Bank by ensuring that project-affected people have access to an independent body to which they can express their concerns and seek recourse.
The Board of Executive Directors created the mechanism in 2020 and it became operational in 2021. It houses both the Inspection Panel, which was created in 1993 as the first independent accountability mechanism at an international financial institution and carries out impartial compliance review, and the Dispute Resolution Service (DRS). The DRS was established along with the mechanism and facilitates a voluntary and independent dispute resolution option for complainants and borrowers in the context of Requests for Inspection to the Inspection Panel.
The Accountability Mechanism Secretary and Inspection Panel Members are independent of Bank management and report directly to the Board.