| Project Detail |
Project Name
Strengthening Accountability Capacities to Address Environmental and Social Safeguards Complaints in ADB-assisted Projects
Project Number
52223-002
Country / Economy
Regional
Bangladesh
Georgia
India
Indonesia
Lao Peoples Democratic Republic
Mongolia
Nepal
Pakistan
Philippines
Sri Lanka
Tajikistan
Timor-Leste
Uzbekistan
Viet Nam
Project Status
Active
Project Type / Modality of Assistance
Technical Assistance
The TA impact will be improved effectiveness of ADB-assisted projects in DMCs through strengthened accountability capacities to address environmental and social safeguards complaints. The TA outcome aims to strengthen accountability capacities to address environmental and social safeguard complaints in ADB-assisted projects strengthened and reputational risks avoided, resulting in (i) successful resolution of complaints by project GRMs, (ii) reduction in the number of complaints elevated to ADBs Accountability Mechanism, and (iii) efficient handling of OSPF complaints.
Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy
The number and complexity of complaints that have been elevated to the Accountability Mechanism (AM) of the Asian Development Bank (ABD)have increased since 2014, possibly because ADB-assisted projects have increased in number and complexity, grievance redress mechanisms (GRM) were ineffective, project-affected people have greater access to technology and information, and civil society and nongovernment organizations (CSO/NGO) have been actively representing marginalized groups or community groups who fear retaliation. In 2023, the highest number of AM-admissible complaints (40) and complaints lodged for problem-solving (21) were recorded. However, 78% of the 120 complaints in 2012-2023 were deemed ineligible for problem-solving by the Office of the Special Project Facilitator (OSPF) because of the lack of good faith efforts to resolve the issues with the ADB project team. This is primarily because complainants are unaware of the existence of a project GRM or the AMs requirement to exhaust avenues with the concerned ADB project team before their complaints are considered eligible for problem-solving or for compliance review. Of the 78% ineligible complaints referred for resolution to the operation departments, less than 10% came back to OSPF for failure of complaint handling by the project team. This means that, theoretically, at least 90% of complaints were solved by the project team with the support of the project GRMs. The data highlights how crucial the project GRM is for all ADB-assisted projects. The project GRM, if designed well and equipped with skilled staff to handle complaints, is best positioned to resolve issues at the earliest stage, preventing further harm to project-affected people and avoiding delays to ADB-assisted project.
ADB is conducting a comprehensive review and update of the 2009 Safeguard Policy Statement. The review is now in the final stages and, along with ADBs environmental and social framework, will take effect in 2025. With several new high-priority areas and emerging issues, the OSPF will also begin to analyze the effectiveness and adequacy of its external stakeholders capacity to handle emerging issues of relevance to the AM, in light of the 2009 Safeguard Policy Statement update. The number of AM complaints received on emerging issues, including retaliation risks and complaints related to labor and working conditions, have been increasing over the past 5 years. In this period, more than 40% of complaints requested that the identities of complainants be kept confidential, which has been attributed to a potential or perceived risk of retaliation.
The technical assistance (TA) aligns with Strategy 2030 priorities and supports its goals. The TA will directly support the Strategy 2030 objective to improve capacity and standards in developing member countries (DMCs) of ADB by helping executing and implementing agencies strengthen their capacity to plan, design, finance, and implement ADB-assisted projects. The TA also supports the Strategy 2030 objectives of improving public management services, governance, and institutions in DMCs as well as strengthening ADBs knowledge services. Further, the TA will improve the ability of DMCs to meet the requirements of the standards under ADBs environmental and social framework by strengthening capacities to address complaints from project-affected people.
The AM Policy incorporates detailed provisions relating to awareness and learning. It assigns responsibility not only to the two AM offices but also to ADB Management and Staff to raise awareness through learning seminars and training workshops. ADBs AM is an important instrument for learning, and for ensuring improved project quality and development effectiveness. Since the AM focuses on evidence-based lessons learned from the complaints that it handles, its learning experience is relevant to ADB staff, the government executing and implementing partners, the project-affected communities, and the CSO and NGO partners. Regular dissemination activities should be conducted at the national and project levels, covering all complaint stakeholders, including CSOs and communities.
In addition, opportunities will be identified to work with Independent Accountability Mechanism network partners, primarily other multilateral development banks, to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of training and to explore opportunities to better harmonize the problem-solving and/or dispute resolution processes of different multilateral development banks within the framework of ADBs AM Policy. This is particularly important given the increased level of cofinancing for public and private sector investments.
Impact
The impact of this technical assistance is improved effectiveness of ADB-assisted projects in DMCs through strengthened accountability capacities to address environmental and social safeguards complaints |
