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Independent Report Gives ADB High Marks for Accountability
ADB Review [ January 2008 ]

ADB has been ranked second among 10 intergovernmental organizations in terms of accountability to the people the organizations affect.

The 2007 Global Accountability Report*, published by One World Trust, assesses the accountability of 30 of the world's most influential organizations from the intergovernmental, corporate, and nongovernmental sectors. The report analyzes organizations according to four dimensions of accountability defined by the Global Accountability Framework: transparency, participation, evaluation, and complaint and response mechanisms. One World Trust, a nongovernment organization (NGO) based in the United Kingdom, initiated the annual accountability reports in 2006.

“ADB is pleased to be included in this year’s Global Accountability Report and most encouraged by the high ranking it has received,” said ADB Vice-President C. Lawrence Greenwood, Jr. “The Report is a useful tool that can help ADB measure its effectiveness as a development institution in promoting transparency and other dimensions of accountability through its policies and its work. However, while the report shows our efforts have been successful, we can’t become complacent, and we will continue to improve. For ADB to succeed in its work to fight poverty in the Asia and Pacific region, where two thirds of the world’s poor still live, we must be responsive and accountable to the public we serve.”

One World Trust rated ADB as one of three top performers among all 30 assessed organizations, achieving high scores in all four dimensions of accountability, including 100% in transparency, and 81% in overall accountability.

Under ADB’s Public Communications Policy, ADB is committed to making information proactively available and responding to information requests in a timely manner so that stakeholders may learn about and contribute to ADB-supported development activities.

The Report also highlighted ADB’s handbook on stakeholder engagement.

“The Guide provides tools to make the consultation and other forms of participation more accessible and effective for staff and helps them fulfill obligations and strategic objectives to consult with civil society and other stakeholders,” the Report said.

One World Trust promotes education and research into the changes required within global organizations to eradicate poverty, injustice and war. It conducts research on practical ways to make global organizations more responsive to the people they affect.

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