Strengthening Accountability Capacities to Address Environmental and Social Safeguards Complaints in ADB-Assisted Projects (ADB-52223-002)

Countries
  • Bangladesh
  • Georgia
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Laos
  • Mongolia
  • Nepal
  • Pakistan
  • Philippines
  • Sri Lanka
  • Tajikistan
  • Timor-Leste
  • Uzbekistan
  • Vietnam
Geographic location where the impacts of the investment may be experienced.
Financial Institutions
  • Asian Development Bank (ADB)
International, regional and national development finance institutions. Many of these banks have a public interest mission, such as poverty reduction.
Project Status
Approved
Stage of the project cycle. Stages vary by development bank and can include: pending, approval, implementation, and closed or completed.
Bank Risk Rating
U
Environmental and social categorization assessed by the development bank as a measure of the planned project’s environmental and social impacts. A higher risk rating may require more due diligence to limit or avoid harm to people and the environment. For example, "A" or "B" are risk categories where "A" represents the highest amount of risk. Results will include projects that specifically recorded a rating, all other projects are marked ‘U’ for "Undisclosed."
Voting Date
Jul 11, 2024
Date when project documentation and funding is reviewed by the Board for consideration and approval. Some development banks will state a "board date" or "decision date." When funding approval is obtained, the legal documents are accepted and signed, the implementation phase begins.
Borrower
Regional
A public entity (government or state-owned) provided with funds or financial support to manage and/or implement a project.
Sectors
  • Law and Government
  • Technical Cooperation
The service or industry focus of the investment. A project can have several sectors.
Investment Type(s)
Grant
The categories of the bank investment: loan, grant, guarantee, technical assistance, advisory services, equity and fund.
Investment Amount (USD)
$ 0.50 million
Value listed on project documents at time of disclosure. If necessary, this amount is converted to USD ($) on the date of disclosure. Please review updated project documents for more information.
Project Cost (USD)
$ 0.50 million
Value listed on project documents at time of disclosure. If necessary, this amount is converted to USD ($) on the date of disclosure. Please review updated project documents for more information.
Bank Documents
Other Related Projects
Primary Source

Original disclosure @ ADB website

Updated in EWS Aug 12, 2024

Disclosed by Bank Jul 11, 2024

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Project Description
If provided by the financial institution, the Early Warning System Team writes a short summary describing the purported development objective of the project and project components. Review the complete project documentation for a detailed description.

According to the Bank’s website, 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 ADB's Accountability Mechanism, and (iii) efficient handling of OSPF complaints.

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.

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 ADB's 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 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.

Early Warning System Project Analysis
For a project with severe or irreversible impacts to local community and natural resources, the Early Warning System Team may conduct a thorough analysis regarding its potential impacts to human and environmental rights.

Categories according to the Bank's Technical Assistance Report:

- Environment: Not Applicable

- Involuntary Resettlement: Not Applicable

- Indigenous Peoples: Not Applicable

 

Investment Description
Here you can find a list of individual development financial institutions that finance the project.

The TA financing amount is $500,000, which will be financed on a grant basis by ADB’s Technical Assistance Special Fund ($350,000 from TASF 7 and $150,000 from TASF-other sources).


Contact Information
This section aims to support the local communities and local CSO to get to know which stakeholders are involved in a project with their roles and responsibilities. If available, there may be a complaint office for the respective bank which operates independently to receive and determine violations in policy and practice. Independent Accountability Mechanisms receive and respond to complaints. Most Independent Accountability Mechanisms offer two functions for addressing complaints: dispute resolution and compliance review.

Contact Information

Project Officer: Viswanathan Ramasubramanian

Designation: Principal Facilitation Specialist - Asian Development Bank

Email: vramasubramanian@adb.org

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

You can submit an information request for project information at: https://www.adb.org/forms/request-information-form

ADB has a two-stage appeals process for requesters who believe that ADB has denied their request for information in violation of its Access to Information Policy. You can learn more about filing an appeal at: https://www.adb.org/site/disclosure/appeals

ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF ADB

The Accountability Mechanism is an independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who believe they are likely to be, or have been, adversely affected by an Asian Development Bank-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the Accountability Mechanism, they may investigate to assess whether the Asian Development Bank is following its own policies and procedures for preventing harm to people or the environment. You can learn more about the Accountability Mechanism and how to file a complaint at: http://www.adb.org/site/accountability-mechanism/main.

How it works

How it works