Perspectives

The Perspectives Project: Documenting and Reimagining IFI Accountability

Published to mark the 30th anniversary of the launch of the World Bank Inspection Panel, and the emergence of accountability mechanisms in development finance generally, Perspectives is a collection of essays discussing the promise, reality, and future of the accountability mechanisms at international financial institutions.

These mechanisms, an experiment in the expansion of citizen rights in international governance, have been adopted by almost all international financial institutions. Despite their broad acceptance, these mechanisms have often disappointed in providing affected communities effective remedies or in driving systemic change at the IFIs.

The Perspectives Project collects essays from a range of authors, including current and past members of accountability mechanisms, IFI managers and staff, community advocates who have brought or supported claims, civil society supporters of accountability, and academics. Their perspectives explore the successes, shortcomings, and unrealized potential of the Independent Accountability Mechanisms, and propose ways to make them more effective.

Perspectives is an ongoing project. Several other authors are currently working on essays; proposals for new perspectives are encouraged. Please send your proposal of no more than 300 words to perspectives.iam@gmail.com.

The Editors

Daniel Bradlow Professor/Senior Fellow, Centre for Advancement of Scholarship, University of Pretoria, Professor Emeritus, American University Washington College of Law, and a Compliance Officer in the Social and Environmental and Compliance Unit of UNDP.

David Hunter Professor of international and comparative environmental law at American University's Washington College of Law. He currently serves on the Boards of Directors of Accountability Counsel, the Center for International Environmental Law, the Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide-US, and the Project on Government Oversight.

Varsha Iyengar Lawyer and mediator with experience in human rights and sustainability. She currently works on business and human rights issues. She is enrolled as an SJD Candidate at American University Washington College of Law.

Nick Paul Editor and writer with a background in business communications, journalism, and international development organizations.

The editors thank the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation not only for its generous support of the Perspectives Project but for the decades of support they have given toward enhancing the accountability and environmental impact of international development finance institutions. The editors also thank the American University Washington College of Law, particularly Access Services Law Librarian, Khelani Clay, and third-year student, Murphy Chen, for their support.