World Bank asked to implement NDP Action Plan

21 November 2007 | Washington, DC

In 2006, the World Bank’s Inspection Panel (IP) issued its investigation report for the Bank-funded Pakistan National Drainage Program (NDP). The inspection requesters strongly feel the World Bank Board should ask the Inspection Panel to monitor progress of Management's Action Plan so as to provide the Board with an independent assessment of progress or lack thereof.

In 2006, the World Bank’s Inspection Panel (IP) issued its investigation report for the Bank-funded Pakistan National Drainage Program (NDP). In response to the findings of the IP investigation, Bank management outlined measures they would take to address the policy violations and problems in the NDP. The Board asked Bank management to report on progress of the Action Plan’s implementation by June 2007 and by November 2007. The inspection requesters strongly feel the Board should ask the Inspection Panel to monitor progress of Management's Action Plan so as to provide the Board with an independent assessment of progress or lack thereof.

In a letter sent to the Board of Directors on November 21, 2007 requesters and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) contend that the World Bank’s Action Plan was not prepared in consultation with the requesters of the Inspection Panel case, nor with the people living in the NDP-affected areas. The Action Plan does not include adequate measures to mitigate the impacts of World Bank-funded water projects on the affected people and ecosystems, nor does it provide compensation for the losses of the affected people. It ignores the requesters’ and the affected people’s suggestions regarding long-term solutions to the problem of drainage effluent disposal and fails to provide alternative solutions.

The requesters and NGO make the following key recommendations in their letter to the Board:

• The Board should ensure independent monitoring of the implementation of the Action Plan by committing the Inspection Panel to carry out an assessment and report to the Board;
• The Board should discuss the next Action Plan Progress report and possible Independent Assesment in a full Board Meeting; and
• The Action Plan should be revised in consultation with affected persons.

Resources

NGO Letter to World Bank Executive Directors on Nation Drainage Program Action Plan November 21, 2007 (Acrobat pdf, 94 KB)

NDP Inspection Panel report, Management Response, and Management Action Plan (World Bank Inspection Panel website)