1. The World Bank Inspection Panel: Werner Kiene Chairman World Bank Inspection Panel June 2008 Riga, Latvia Participation, Access to Information and Accountability

2. Origin of the Inspection Panel Outgrowth of Rio Summit and other concerns of the NGO community What-to-do objectives How-to-do objectives, i.e Safeguards But how to enforce ? The Inspection Panel in 1993 (about the same time as Aarhus –predecessor conference)

3. Specific Features of the Panel Responds to complaints (Requests for Inspection) by people who believe… suffer, or may suffer, harm caused by a World Bank-financed project Panel is linked to the Board … NOT to Management Three Is (Independence/Impartiality/Integrity) Three Panel Members Secretariat Experts Focus: Violation of Bank Policies and Procedures We investigate the Bank N OT Host-country or Borrower !

4. Bank Policies related to Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration Similar in substance to Aaarhus Disclosure and Access to Information General Policy on Disclosure Specific disclosure requirements (Part of various Safeguards) Consultation and Participation requirements in various Policies Environmental Assessment (OP 4.01) Indigenous Peoples (OP 4.10) Involuntary Resettlement (OP 4.12

5. Relationship Aarhus-World Bank Working level links International Obligations WB does not finance project activities that would contravene international treaties and conventions EA takes into account obligations of the country covered by international environmental treaties and agreements.

6. Interaction Aarhus- Inspection Panel Case:Albania Power Sector Project First a complaint to (A) the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee (ACCC) concerning public participation in decision-making on the construction of an industrial park and a thermal power plant, and subsequently to (B) the Inspection Panel and (C) EBRDs Independent Recourse Mechanism ACCC issued its Findings and Recommendations following its June 2007 meeting ACCC Findings contribute to Inspection Panel investigation

7. Impacts - Effectiveness Project-level: Spotlight problems; sunshine Ultimate results for people Similar projects/sectors Forests, infrastructure, Indigenous peoples Bank-wide Incentives to apply safeguards Risk-taking; not transfer to most vulnerable Other institutions Several have created similar mechanisms An instrument of public participation The Panel gives voice to affected people during design, appraisal and implementation of projects Accountability from below

8. Exploring complementarities World Bank compliance: strong impact on project and on Bank activities… Focus is Governance of an International Institution Demonstration Effect (other Banks, some national institutions) Some impact on national processes, but often isolated and not sustained Aarhus strengthened Governance at the national level What can we learn from the Albania example ?? Need for more collaboration ?? !!

9. www.inspectionpanel.org ipanel@worldbank.org