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p. 5 of 13 BACK | NEXT Introduction Rationale The Inspection Function in Other Multilateral Organizations A. The World Bank's Independent Inspection Panel B. The Inter-American Development Bank's Independent Investigation Mechanism C. Other Inspection Mechanisms and Proposals Proposal for an ADB Inspection Function Recommendations

Establishment of An Inspection Function : The Inspection Function in Other Multilateral Organizations

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The Inter-American Development Bank's Independent Investigation Mechanism

In August 1994, the Board of Directors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved the establishment of an independent investigation mechanism (the IDB Mechanism), which will perform a function similar to that of the WB Panel. Although the IDB Mechanism mirrors the WB Panel in many respects, it includes two key differences. First, in place of a permanent panel of outside experts, the IDB Board of Directors has appointed a roster of ten individuals of different nationalities, from which the Board will select panels of three or more individuals to investigate particular complaints. Second, whereas the WB Panel will initially screen each request for inspection and make a recommendation to the Executive Directors as to whether an inspection is warranted, the IDB Board of Directors will first decide whether an investigation is warranted, based on a review of the complaint and Management's written response, and will convene an investigation panel only after making such a finding. In addition, while WB Panel members are precluded from any future employment by the World Bank, members of the IDB Roster will be precluded from working for the IDB for only two years following their term on the Roster.

The IDB Board of Directors has not yet approved a specific budget for the IDB Mechanism, but rather intends to allocate funds for particular investigations at the time they are approved. To date, the IDB has received no investigation requests.

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