The Third Review of the Independent Review Mechanism (IRM) of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) was approved by its Board of Directors in February 2019 and commenced in December 2019.
According to the Terms of Reference (TOR), the review's objectives are:
To undertake a thorough assessment of the extent to which the IRM has been an effective recourse mechanism for people affected by Bank Group-financed operations and a useful accountability instrument for the Bank. This analysis also considers the effectiveness of the Compliance Review and Mediation Unit (BCRM) in administering the IRM and handling cases through problem-solving exercises, and compliance review.
To propose recommendations on the revision of the present IRM Enabling Resolution and its Operating Rules and Procedures to clarify ambiguities and to review the roles and functions of the BCRM and the IRM Roster of Experts in order to enhance their support of the Boards' overall responsibilities.
The review is being conducted on behalf of the Boards of the Bank Group by Savanas E Enseadas, an independent consultancy firm, (the Review Team (RT)), which was selected following a competitive bidding process.
The firm conducted a desk review of documents, held internal consultations with the Boards of Directors of the Bank Group and Bank management, carried out external consultations in some regional members countries of the Bank with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and prepared a draft report and submitted it to the Director of the Compliance Review and Mediation Unit (CRMU) on June 2020. The draft report was discussed by the Boards' Committee on Operations and Development Effectiveness (CODE) and the firm revised the draft report by incorporating the views and comments of CODE members.
In accordance with the TOR, the Revised Draft Report was subjected to the first round of public consultation by its posting to the Bank website for 45 calendar days (from 18 September to 2 November 2020). The Review Team has taken into account the comments received from the stakeholders during the first public consultation and has prepared a second Revised Draft Report.
The Boards of Directors of the AfDB, the Bank and the BCRM/IRM have not yet adopted, approved, or endorsed any part of the second Revised Draft Report or its recommendations. Consultations about the second Revised Draft Report and its recommendations are still ongoing.
Neither the Bank, the Boards of Directors nor the IRM are bound by the recommendations of the second Revised Draft Report.
No part of the second Revised Draft Report may be used, copied, or reproduced for any purpose, including in any administrative or judicial proceeding, without prior written consent.
In line with the Boards' approved TOR, the second Revised Draft Report is to be posted on the Bank's website for a period of 45 calendar days (from 22 December 2020 to 4 February 2021) to enable external stakeholders and interested parties to make comments on the Report. As a result, the Boards of Directors are publishing the second Revised Draft Report of the Third Review of the Independent Review Mechanism and the proposed amendments to the IRM Operating Rules and Procedures referenced to in the Draft Report and invites all interested parties to submit their comments and observations about this Report and the proposed amendments to the IRM Rules by no later than 4 February 2021.
All the information that will be collected during this second public consultation period will be considered by the Review Team and incorporated, as appropriate, and a Draft Final Report prepared for discussion by CODE.
Comments can be provided using this Comments Page. Respondents should be clear if they are referring to the Report or the Rules of Procedure. If proposals refer to the Rules of Procedure, please identify the relevant paragraph number for ease of reference.
By accepting to provide comments, parties acknowledge and accept the foregoing.
