ATM Meets up with WB East Asia Execs and WB Inspection Panel

ATM Meets up with WB East Asia Execs and WB Inspection Panel

Meetings between ASEAN-based NGOs and WB officials from the East Asia & Pacific (EAP) Office and the WB Inspection Panel (IP) were facilitated by Bank Information Center (BIC) last Oct. 5, 2009, during the 2009 Annual Meetings of the WB and IMF, in Istanbul.

First up, ATM participated in the meeting with Mr. James Adam, Director for East Asia & and the Pacific.  Mr. Adam was joined by Ms. Karin Finkelston, IFC (International Finance Corporation – Private Sector Arm of the WB), Director for East Asia & Pacific.  ATM relayed its request for the WB EAP to strongly support the broad reforms upcoming on the WB disclosure policies, particularly in the contracts disclosure for extractive industries. Mr. Adam replied that he is glad that this was being pushed by CSOs and that he is personally championing the most progressive improvements in the process of reviewing the bank’s disclosure policies.  He is also open in convening additional CSO consultations at the region to move this review forward. 

Regarding IFC, ATM inquired to Ms. Finkelston if there was a way to track the exposure of IFC investments in Financing Intermediaries (or FIs, e.g., equity funds), and the extent to which these funds are being accessed by extractive industries, particularly mining.  The specific case of Lion Asset Fund (Singapore) and the drawdown of Mindoro Resources, Limited (MRL) was raised.  ATM also requested the support of IFC in accessing information on IFC-supported extractive projects, particularly project information.  Ms. Finkelston said that their Hong Kong office maybe able to provide this assistance. She stated that their contract agreements generally binds these FIs to comply with IFC policies and standards (including the disclosure and environment standards), but she also politely cautioned, however, that they may only encourage their FI clients to share some types of information, especially those not covered by WB policies.

Other issues tackled in the meeting include the resettlement issues in a hydropower dam project in Vietnam, governance and transparency issues regarding REDD proposals in Southern Vietnam, and a stalled land administration project in Cambodia.

Afterwards, the group proceeded to meet the WB Inspection Panel (IP).  Incoming IP Chairperson Roberto Letton received the group, and he was joined by IP Executive Secretary Mr. Paul Lallas and Deputy Executive Secretary Ms. Dilek Barlas.  Outgoing IP Chairperson Mr. Werner Kiene also dropped in briefly at the meeting.  A large part of the discussion centered on a live case being handled by the IP – the Cambodian case of the Land Management Administration Program (LMAP).  For its part, ATM relayed to the IP that more excitement might be generated if CSOs in the Philippines are given more awareness and capacities to engage the systems and procedures of the Inspection Panel. The bank officials stated their readiness and willingness to conduct an “Outreach Mission” in the Philippines, with a dual objective of capacitating WB officials in the Philippine country office about the work of the Inspection Panel, as well as engage the Philippine CSOs.