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Boosting Accountability
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Augustinus Rumansara has spent an important part of his career in the advocacy of grassroots concerns in development. As Chair of the Compliance Review Panel (CRP), part of the new Accountability Mechanism of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), he is keen to give the people on the ground a voice.
“My experience has emphasized how you can link what is on the ground in development with what is happening at the policy level,” says Mr. Rumansara. His work with nongovernment organizations (NGOs) in Indonesia and at the international level provides invaluable insight into how projects affect people from all walks of life.
The ADB accountability mechanism is at the forefront of initiatives within the development community to provide more transparent, user-friendly airing of complaints for people affected by projects.
Under a two-part system, ADB has launched a first-of-its-kind consultation phase. If the complaint is ineligible for the consultation phase, or a settlement cannot be reached, or the consultation process is at an advanced stage with serious concerns on compliance issues, the claimant can request compliance review.
The new mechanism replaces ADB’s previous inspection function. Unlike the old system, the new mechanism does not require claimants to specifically cite violations of ADB’s operational policies and procedures, thus removing an important hindrance to making complaints.
Another salient departure from the past is that the claimant has, for the first time, an opportunity to respond to the CRP’s draft report, as is the case for ADB Man-agement. No other accountability mechanisms at other multilateral development banks have such a provision to actively include the claimant in the process. Mr. Rumansara heads the three-person CRP, which determines whether ADB has complied with its operational policies and procedures in designing, processing, or implementing projects.
The Office of the Compliance Review Panel (OCRP) is the administrative arm of the second phase, providing assistance both to the CRP and the Board Compliance Review Committee. The office is led by Rolf Zelius.
The CRP is independent from ADB Management. It reports to the ADB Board of Directors, except for two specific activities where it reports to the Board Compliance Review Committee—to clear its terms of reference and to review its draft monitoring reports.
The ADB accountability mechanism is at the forefront of initiatives within the development community to provide more transparent, user-friendly airing of complaints for people affected by projects
Central to the new mechanism, and an important part of Mr. Rumansara’s career, is communication with internal and external stakeholders, including projectaffected people. As he puts it: “The Accountability Mechanism, including the CRP, is externally driven—we respond to people’s complaints. It is important that the new system be user friendly.”
Just before coming to ADB, Mr. Rumansara spent over 2 years as Vice- President of integrated social strategy at British Petroleum in Indonesia, seeing to it that the global oil giant met international standards for human rights and environmental policy.
Between 1991 and 1995, Mr. Rumansara, a native of Papua (former Irian Jaya), helped run advocacy activities for the International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development (INFID), with a focus on human rights and on building an Indonesian network of NGOs.
While with INFID, Mr. Rumansara established Multilateral Development Banks (MDB) Watch to ensure that the projects of MDBs in Indonesia complied with international good governance issues. He also spent 4 years with Worldwide Fund International, working on biodiversity and sustainable development issues, while his other experience has covered an array of NGO activities and placed him at ground level.
During NGO work on one dam project in Central Java, for example, “we lived with those who would be displaced.” Such an extensive background provides critical insight.
"The Accountability Mechanism, including the Compliance Review Panel, is exterlly driven-- we respond to people's complaints. It is important that the new system be user friendly"
- Augustus Rumansara
Chair, Compliance Review Panel
Unlike the old inspection function, enhancements in the new mechanism will help ensure greater transparency and participation.
Among them is the permanent CRP, which replaces the roster of experts. This allows easier communications with civil society, such as NGOs, and easier access for them. “With a permanent panel, there is a dedicated body able to place their work in the institutional context, and who will be available frequently and as needed,” says Mr. Rumansara.
Also present in the new mechanism, but absent under the old system, is the empowerment given to the mechanism to monitor decisions approved by the President or the Board, as applicable.
As of 30 June 2004, two claims had been filed under the mechanism, involving the Melamchi Water Supply Project in Nepal and the Southern Transport Development Project in Sri Lanka. Both are at the consultation phase.
Mr. Rumansara says his career often had him working “from the other side of the table.” Now, as chair of CRP, he faces the same task from a different perspective, ensuring people’s concerns are heard and that ADB adheres to its policies.
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