Perspectives on Accountability at International Financial Institutions : Thirty Years after Creation of the World Bank Inspection Panel / edited by Daniel D. Bradlow, David B. Hunter, Nicholas Paul, and Varsha Iyengar Ramaswamy.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Bradlow, Daniel D., editor.

Hunter, David, 1961- editor.

Paul, Nicholas, editor.

Ramaswamy, Varsha Iyengar, editor.

Series:

International Law E-books Online, Collection 2026.

International Law E-books Online, Collection 2026

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Human rights.

International law.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (428 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Other Title:

Thirty Years after Creation of the World Bank Inspection Panel

Place of Publication:

Leiden ; Boston : Brill | Nijhoff, 2025.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This collection of essays provides diverse perspectives on the promise, challenges, effectiveness, and future of the World Bank Inspection Panel and similar independent accountability mechanisms (IAMs) found at many multilateral development banks, bilateral financial institutions, United Nations agencies, commercial banks, private companies, and international conservation organizations. These IAMs provide local communities the opportunity to defend their human rights and protect their environment when threatened by internationally financed development decisions. Contributing their perspectives are current and past IAM members and staff, top World Bank lawyers, civil society advocates, and leading academics who have studied the mechanisms since their very beginning.

Contents:

Acknowledgements

List of Figures and Tables

Abbreviations

Notes on Contributors

Introduction

Daniel Bradlow, David Hunter, Varsha Inamyar, and Nick Paul

part 1: Reflections on Accountability

Introduction to Part 1: Conceptual Frameworks

1 Rethinking “What Counts” as Accountability

Jonathan Fox

2 Are the MDBs Accountable? Reflecting on the Independent Accountability Mechanisms of the Multilateral Development Banks

Susan Park

3 The Critical Contribution of Independent Accountability Mechanisms (IAMs) to the Global Governance Paradigm

Owen McIntyre

4 The Inspection Panel and International Law

Daniel D. Bradlow

part 2: Perspectives on the Inspection Panel Experience

Introduction to Part 2: The Panel Experience

5 The Inspection Panel Early Years: (An inside Story)

Eduardo G. Abbott

6 People-Centered Accountability in International Development: Key Developments at the World Bank Inspection Panel (2014–2023)

Dilek Barlas

7 Reflections on the Role of the Inspection Panel: View from a Former Chief Counsel

Charles Di Leva

8 Reflections on the Launch of the Inspection Panel and People-Centered Accountability

David Hunter

9 The Inspection Panel’s Thirty Years of Impact: What the Data Tell Us

Ramanie Kunanayagam, Mark Goldsmith, Ibrahim James Pam, Serge Selwan, Richard Wyness, Ayako Kubodera, Camila Jorge do Amarel, and Rupes Dalai

part 3: Operational Issues

Introduction to Part 3: Operational Issues

10 Three Decades of Seeking Elusive Remedies

Richard E. Bissell

11 Exiting the Disaster, Evading the Responsibility? Wadi al-Qamar – The Moon Valley

Suzan Nada

12 World Bank Forcible Resettlement: The Need for More Inspection Panel Scrutiny

Lori Udall

13 The World Bank, the Inspection Panel and Immunity

Joe Athialy

14 Ending Violence in Development Finance: Actions to Affirmatively Prevent and Stop Reprisals against Rights Defenders

Greg Berry

15 Collaborative Dispute Resolution: Five Essential Questions

Scott Adams and Aparna Mukerjee

16 The Promise of Joint Fact Finding in Enhancing IAM Effectiveness

Gina Barbieri

part 4: Critiques of IAMs

Introduction to Part 4: Critiques of IAMs

17 The World Bank’s Roadmap and Human Rights Responsibilities

Juan Pablo Bohoslavsky and C.P. Chandrasekhar

18 “Use and Improve” Is My Accountability Mantra, despite Thirty Years of Eye-Opening Disappointments

Natalie Bridgeman Fields

19 Between Disruption and Legitimation of Development

A Critical Perspective on the Inspection Panel and a Call for More Radical Thinking within the Accountability Community

Dustin Schäfer

20 Should Decisions of Independent Accountability Mechanisms be Binding?

Lalanath de Silva and Giada Giacomini

part 5: Next Steps on Accountability

Introduction to Part 5: Next Steps on Accountability

21 Strengthening Accountability in Challenging Times: Insights from the General Counsel of the World Bank Group

Christopher H. Stephens

22 IMF Human Rights Accountability: A Pragmatic Way to Break the Deadlock

Aldo Caliari

23 Ending Thirty Years of IMF Exceptionalism: A Call for an Accountability Mechanism at the International Monetary Fund

Luiz Vieira

24 An Increased Normalization of IAMs Faces Ground Realities: Lack of Transparency Impedes Access to IAMs

Hamid Sharif

25 The River of Accountability Mechanisms: Then and Now

Suresh Nanwani

26 A Proposal for One “Super” Independent Accountability Mechanism

part 6: Conclusion

Conclusion

Daniel Bradlow, David Hunter, Nick Paul, and Varsha Iyengar

Index.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

90-04-72973-9

9789004729735

OCLC:

1559922855

Publisher Number:

10.1163/9789004729735 DOI