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Accountability Mechanism

The Accountability Mechanism of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) exists to provide an independent and effective forum for those affected by ADB-assisted projects to voice their concerns.

Compliance Review Function

The compliance review focuses on the direct and material harm alleged by project-affected people, and whether this is caused by ADB’s violations of its operational policies and procedures in formulating, processing, or implementing the project. The compliance review is done by an independent Compliance Review Panel (CRP).

The compliance review starts with the CRP determining the eligibility of a request for compliance review and recommending to ADB's Board of Directors to authorize a compliance review. If authorized by the Board, the CRP conducts an independent investigation and makes recommendations to the Board to ensure project compliance, including remedial changes in the scope or implementation of the project. The CRP then monitors the implementation of its recommendations and any remedial actions approved by the Board of Directors.

Compliance Review Panel (CRP)

The CRP is an independent body appointed by ADB’s Board of Directors to carry out compliance review under the second phase of the ADB Accountability Mechanism. The CRP consists of three members—a full-time Chair and two part-time members. Two CRP members are from regional member countries, with one of them from a developing member country, and the third member from a nonregional country.

The CRP reports directly to the Board through the Board Compliance Review Committee (BCRC), and is supported by the Office of the Compliance Review Panel (OCRP).

The CRP undertakes the following activities:

  • determining the eligibility of a request for compliance review;
  • engaging all project stakeholders in understanding the issues during compliance review;
  • conducting thorough and objective reviews of policy and procedural compliance;
  • consulting with project stakeholders, including the Board representative of the concerned country, on its preliminary findings and recommendations during compliance review;
  • coordinating with the compliance review mechanism of other cofinancing institution conducting a separate compliance review of the same project;
  • issuing draft reports and seeking comments from the complainants, the borrower, the BCRC, Management, and the operations department concerned on its findings and recommendations on compliance review;
  • issuing final reports to the Board on its findings;
  • informing the complainants of the Board’s decision on compliance review;
  • monitoring the implementation of the Board’s decisions on compliance review and providing the complainants with copies of the monitoring reports;
  • issuing annual reports outlining lessons learned from past compliance review cases;
  • developing a roster of independent technical experts for carrying out is work; and
  • liaising with the accountability mechanisms at other institutions.