Publications

 

Annual Reports

ADB Accountability Mechanism: Annual Report 2012

This report outlines the activities of the Office of the Special Project Facilitator in 2012, particularly the introduction of the new Accountability Mechanism policy that is expected to lead to quicker resolution of project-related complaints.

Consultation Phase of the ADB Accountability Mechanism: Office of the Special Project Facilitator: Annual Report 2011

This report outlines the activities of the Office of the Special Project Facilitator in 2011.

Consultation Phase of the ADB Accountability Mechanism: Listening to Communities Affected by ADB-Assisted Projects: Annual Report 2010

The Office of the Special Project Facilitator (OSPF) is responsible for the Consultation Phase of the ADB Accountability Mechanism. The core function of OSPF is to facilitate solutions to problems caused by ADB-assisted projects, using consensus-based methods, seeking agreement among all parties, and identifying ways to resolve problems. In 2010, OSPF concluded the consultation process for five complaints, processed seven new complaints, and worked jointly with the Office of the Compliance Review Panel to inform stakeholders about the Accountability Mechanism through outreach sessions in several countries as well as at ADB headquarters. OSPF produced several publications in 2010 to disseminate information about the complaint process, to document success stories, and to promote the use of effective grievance redress mechanisms.

Consultation Phase of the ADB Accountability Mechanism: Listening to Communities Affected by ADB-Assisted Projects: Annual Report 2009

The Office of the Special Project Facilitator (OSPF) is responsible for the Consultation Phase of the ADB Accountability Mechanism. The core function of OSPF is to facilitate problem solving using consensus-based methods, seeking agreement among all parties in identifying the matters in dispute, ways to resolve problems, and the time frame required. In 2009, OSPF concluded the consultation process for 2 complaints, processed 13 new complaints, and worked jointly with the Office of the Compliance Review Panel to inform stakeholders about the Accountability Mechanism through outreach sessions in several countries as well as at ADB headquarters. OSPF produced several publications in 2009 to disseminate information about the complaint process and to document success stories.

Consultation Phase of the ADB Accountability Mechanism: Listening to Communities Affected by ADB-Assisted Projects: Annual Report 2008

The Office of the Special Project Facilitator (OSPF) is responsible for the consultation phase of the ADB accountability mechanism. The core function of OSPF is to facilitate problem solving using consensus-based methods, seeking agreement among all parties in identifying the matters in dispute, ways to resolve problems, and the time frame required. In 2008, OSPF continued the consultation process for two complaints, held another complaint in abeyance at the request of the complainants, and worked jointly with the Office of the Compliance Review Panel to inform stakeholders about the accountability mechanism through outreach sessions held in several countries and at headquarters. The approval during 2008 of the ADB long-term strategic framework, Strategy 2020, encouraged a fresh look at the role of OSPF and underscored its mandate to strengthen problem-solving functions within ADB. The office intensified work on its supportive function, with particular emphasis on determining and disseminating best practices for project grievance mechanisms.

Consultation Phase of the ADB Accountability Mechanism: Listening to Communities Affected by ADB-Assisted Projects: Annual Report 2007

This report presents the accomplishments of the Office of the Special Project Facilitator in 2007. It explains OSPF's mandate, operational processes and procedures, and it summarizes complaints handled during 2007 and describes outreach and training sessions and other activities of OSPF during the year.

Consultation Phase of the ADB Accountability Mechanism: Listening to Communities Affected by ADB-Assisted Projects: Annual Report 2006

This report presents the accomplishments of the Office of the Special Project Facilitator in 2006. It explains OSPF's mandate, operational processes and procedures, and it summarizes complaints handled during 2006 and describes outreach and training sessions and other activities of OSPF during the year.

Consultation Phase of the ADB Accountability Mechanism: Listening to Communities Affected by ADB-Assisted Projects: Annual Report 2005

This report presents the accomplishments of the Office of the Special Project Facilitator in 2005. It explains OSPF's mandate, operational processes and procedures, and it summarizes complaints handled during 2005 and describes outreach and training sessions and other activities of OSPF during the year.

Consultation Phase of the ADB Accountability Mechanism: Listening to Communities Affected by ADB-Assisted Projects: Annual Report 2004

This report presents the accomplishments of the Office of the Special Project Facilitator in 2004. It explains OSPF's mandate, operational processes and procedures, and it summarizes complaints handled during 2004 and describes outreach and training sessions and other activities of OSPF during the year.

Information Materials

The OSPF Consultation Primer: Procedures for Complaint Handling (Currently being revised)
This booklet provides an easy-to-digest description of the step-by-step procedure OSPF follows once a complaint is found to be eligible. It also includes lessons learned from 5 years' experience in implementing the Consultation Phase. The booklet is also available in Bahasa Indonesia, Chinese, Russian, Urdu and Hindi.

 

OSPF Brochures

Problem Solving Function - An OSPF Case Study: A Primer on the Office of the Special Project Facilitator
This brochure gives a summary of the case study handled by the problem-solving function of OSPF, and lists out the procedures that have been followed in handling complaints from affected groups.

 

An OCRP Case Study: A Primer on the Office of the Compliance Review Panel
This brochure lays out the steps that were needed to investigate ADB’s compliance with its own operational policies and procedures, following complaints received from project-affected persons.

 

Grievance Mechanisms: A Critical Component of Project Management
A well-functioning grievance mechanism can resolve problems faced by individuals, and it can provide valuable information for managers tasked with implementation. This brochure describes how ADB makes use of grievance mechanisms in project management.

 

Building Capacity for Grievance Redress Mechanisms
This publication includes an explanation of what is meant by the often misunderstood term “capacity,” and how it applies to the tasks associated with making a Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRM) work well.

 

Complaint Handling in the Rehabilitation of Aceh and Nias
This publication is a unique compilation of experiences in dealing with problems at the project level in a very difficult post-disaster situation. It is intended to provide guidance for establishing and operating grievance redress mechanisms in future efforts of this kind. The book comprises 18 papers by ADB and a dozen other organizations.

 

Handling Complaints Efficiently: Lessons Learned from the Earthquake and Tsunami Emergency Support Project in Indonesia
A brochure developed based on a detailed report on the Earthquake and Tsunami Emergency Support Project in Indonesia. The brochure focuses on the lessons learned from the project regarding complaints: (i) setting up an effective mechanism at the very beginning, (ii) avoiding or minimizing complaints through timely communication, and (iii) assuring proper functioning of the mechanism.

 

The Urban and Environmental Improvement Project (UEIP): Learning from an Ineligible Complaint
A brochure on lessons learned from OSPF's experience with a complaint. This brochure shows how a complaint, taken seriously, can supply important information about a project and lead to improvements in implementation even if found ineligible under the accountability mechanism.

 

Finding a Voice
This is an article in a special issue of the ADB Review which focuses on ADB's increased accountability and transparency in its operations. The article shares OSPF experience in the successful resolution of a complaint it received in Indonesia.

 

Designing and Implementing Grievance Redress Mechanisms: A Guide for Implementors of Transport Projects in Sri Lanka
This guide clarifies the concept of grievance redress mechanisms and presents the rationale for their implementation. It shows how grievance redress should be built into projects' policy and institutional frameworks as well as planning models. It also describes the key elements of grievance redress mechanisms and provides step-by-step guidelines for designing and implementing these mechanisms.

 

Complaint on an ADB-Supported Project and How It Was Resolved
This publication was prepared by the Office of the Special Project Facilitator, which is part of the Asian Development Bank's Accountability Mechanism and handles complaints from people negatively affected by ADB- financed projects. It tells the true story of a community that was fortunate enough to have a computer-literate citizen living in its village with access to the internet and knowledge of how to use search engines. It illustrates a real complaint case that happened not exactly like this but in a similar way and with the positive outcome described. This publication is meant to encourage villagers to use their rights to complain, although OSPF does not promise that any specific case can be resolved the same way as the one described here.