Appeals
One of the guiding principles of the World Bank's Policy on Access to Information (the "ATI Policy") recognizes the right to an appeals process when a request for access to information in the World Bank's possession is denied.
A requester who is denied access to information by the World Bank can file an appeal by:
- alleging the World Bank violated its ATI Policy by improperly or unreasonably restricting access to information that the World Bank would normally disclose;
- making a public interest case to override certain ATI Policy exceptions, limited to the corporate administrative matters, deliberative, and certain financial information.
The ATI Policy establishes two stages of appeals: the Access to Information Committee (AIC) reviews appeals at the first stage and the Access to Information Appeals Board (AIAB) reviews appeals in the second stage.
The AIC serves as:
- the first stage of appeal for appeals alleging a violation of the AI Policy; and
- the first and final stage of appeal for those appeals making a public interest case and for appeals against decisions denying access to information based on the Bank’s exercise of its prerogative to restrict. The AIC's decisions in these cases are final.
The AIC makes its best efforts to reach a decision within 45 working days of receiving an appeal. Its terms of reference are public and available below.
Terms of Reference
Access to Information Committee
The Access to Information appeals board (AIAB) is an external body of independent, outside experts nominated by the World Bank's President and endorsed by the World Bank's Board of Executive Directors. It serves as the second stage for appeals alleging a violation of the ATI Policy, following the AIC’s decision to uphold the Bank's decision to deny access to information (except for appeals regarding a denial by the Bank based on the exercise of the Bank’s prerogative to restrict, for which the AIC’s decision is final). The AIAB decisions on the appeals subject to its authority are final.
The AIAB’s terms of reference are public and available below.
All AIC decisions and AIAB decisions on appeals are published on the World Bank website.
In addition, the Annual Reports of the Access to Information Policy record the number of appeals filed before the AIC and the AIAB each fiscal year.
Decisions made by the Board of Executive Directors are not subject to appeal.
The sole remedy available to those who prevail in the appeals process is to receive the information requested.
Terms of Reference
Access to Information Appeals Board
Current Members of the Access to Information Appeals Board
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Ms. Kristin Brudy-Everett
A United States national, is the Senior Component Official for Privacy and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Officer for the U.S. Department of Justice Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, where she oversees the division’s privacy, FOIA, and information law matters.
Formerly, Ms. Brudy-Everett was an Assistant United States Attorney in the Civil Division of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, where she litigated information law and immigration cases. Her previous roles were with the White House Council on Environmental Quality and U.S. Department of Homeland Security, where she started as a part of the prestigious Presidential Management Fellow program.
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Ms. Obioma Okonkwo
A Nigerian national, currently serves as an Advisory Board member of the Digital Democracy Initiative, an initiative funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norwegian Government, and European Union to strengthen civic engagement and promote inclusive democracy in the digital era in Global Majority. Obioma has also served as Head of Legal at Media Rights Agenda in Nigeria, where she spearheaded crucial advocacy campaigns, training programs, research initiatives, and legal proceedings focused on advancing access to information on a national, regional, and international level.
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Ms. Rosemary Agnew
A United Kingdom national, has been the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman since 1 May 2017, investigating and resolving or deciding complaints about the Scottish public sector (except Police). Her role also includes independent reviewer of applications to the Scottish Welfare Fund and the Complaints Standards Authority; setting standard complaint handling procedures, promoting good practice and monitoring Scottish public sector performance.
From 2012 to 2017, Rosemary was the Scottish Information Commissioner, responsible for ensuring compliance by Scottish public authorities with the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004, including promoting good practice.
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Mr. Stuart Rick
A United States national, has extensive experience with the U.S. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and was awarded by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management for his work as the agency’s final decision-maker on administrative appeals from initial denials of FOIA requests.
After retiring from the U.S. Government as the Deputy General Counsel of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, Stuart advised a Federal department on how to respond to FOIA appeals. Subsequently, for ten years Stuart was a consultant in the World Bank’s Office of Ethics and Business Conduct where he developed and implemented the Bank’s public declaration of interests program.
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