Independent Review Mechanism

Purpose

To provide people adversely affected by a project financed by the Bank Group with an independent mechanism through which they can request the Bank Group to comply with its own policies and procedures.

Mandate

The establishment of the IRM was approved by the Boards of Directors of the Bank Group on 30 June 2004 and comprises Compliance Review and Mediation (problem solving) for Public and Private Sector projects. For Public Sector, the mechanism can review compliance with all Bank Group operational policies and procedures. For the Private Sector compliance reviews shall only be undertaken for social and environment policies.

Operating Rules and Procedures for the mechanism were approved by the Boards of Directors in July 2006 and revised in June, 2010.

Staffing and Set-up

The Mechanism comprises the Compliance Review and Mediation Unit (CRMU) and the Roster of Experts.

Compliance Review and Mediation Unit (CRMU)

The CRMU is headed by a Director assisted by Compliance Officers and administrative support staff . The Director reports administratively to the President and functionally to the Boards of Directors for projects approved by the Boards, and to the President for projects not yet approved by the Boards.

Roster of Experts

The Roster of Experts comprises 3 external experts, appointed by the Boards of Directors for a five-year non-renewable term. The Experts together with the Director of CRMU determine eligibility of request(s) for compliance review and submit a report recommending whether or not to undertake a compliance review to the Boards of Directors or to the President, as the case may be, for approval. For authorized Compliance Reviews the three Experts will undertake compliance review as members of Compliance Review Panels.

Consultants

Consultants may be hired from time to time to assist CRMU and Compliance Review Panels with investigations and fact finding missions. Consultants with experience in compliance review can express interest for such assignments directly to the CRMU, or register themselves in the Bank Group’s DACON system.

AfDB DACON is a database of Individual Consultants and Consulting Firms maintained by the African Development Bank Group. Register now !

NGOs/CSOs

CRMU would appreciate the cooperation with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to disseminate information about the Independent Review Mechanism, including its mandate and procedures for lodging a Request for Compliance Review and/or Mediation.