Catalog

Stakeholders Engaged on Information Policies

A new draft policy will be posted on ADB’s web site and used as the basis for stakeholder discussions at workshops in early 2004

By Bart Édes (bedes@adb.org)
External Relations Specialist

Background

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) shares information about proposed projects with interested stakeholders to encourage local participation in decision making and promote dialogue on poverty reduction. Experience has shown that such information sharing strengthens community engagement, as well as project implementation and sustainability.

Since the Policy on Confidentiality and Disclosure of Information (Disclosure Policy) was approved in 1994, it has provided for the proactive dissemination of a substantial amount of documentation on operational issues.

The Disclosure Policy is reinforced by the complementary Information Policy and Strategy of ADB (Information Policy), which supports an open and accessible environment in a multilateral development finance institution.

The Information Policy directs ADB to improve understanding among the public and policymakers of its activities, strategies, and objectives; marshal support for its activities; and raise public awareness of development issues.

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Stakeholders Contribute to New Policy

In August 2003, ADB began soliciting stakeholder comments on both policies as part of a comprehensive review leading to the adoption of a new, unified policy on information issues.

ADB has made detailed information about the review available on its Internet site, where visitors are invited to share their opinions (http://www.adb.org/disclosure).

More than 2,800 journalists and representatives of government, private sector, professional associations, universities, foundations, community groups, labor networks, and nongovernment organizations (NGOs) with an interest in development were directly advised by ADB of the 90-day comment period. ADB received over 70 sets of comments during this time. See http://www.adb.org/disclosure/external.asp for a compilation of the comments received.

Also during this period, ADB Management, Board of Directors, and more than 100 staff members provided feedback on current practice and gave their views on how ADB should amend its current policies.

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External Consultations

The period for public comment ended in mid-November, and a new policy is now being drafted. ADB will make the draft available for public comment, and use it as the basis for discussions with stakeholders in early 2004. The views of government officials, business people, researchers, past requesters of information from ADB, and NGO representatives will be actively sought on the draft.

Workshops will be held in both developed and developing member countries. A tentative workshop schedule has been posted on ADB’s web site.

Issues raised and recommendations made at the workshops will be considered in drafting a revised working paper, which will be submitted to ADB’s Board of Directors for consideration.

For more information about the review process, contact the Office of External Relations at (632) 632-5843, or by e-mail: disclosure@adb.org; or go to http://www.adb.org/disclosure.

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