"Accountability at the World Bank: What Does It Take?"

4 December 2003

Lessons from the Yacyreta Hydroelectric Project, Argentina/ Paraguay

by Kay Treakle, Bank Information Center, September 1998

• Introduction and Background on Yacyreta
• The World Bank and IDB Inspection Panel Claims
• The Claims Process, Phase 1: The Panel Recommends an Inspection
• The Claims Process, Phase 2: The Ball Moves to the Board’s Court
• The Claims Process, Phase 3: The Panel Opens Space for People Affected by Yacyreta
• The Claims Process, Phase 4: Shoot the Messenger
• The Bank’s Response to the Report: "What Findings?", It just gets worse, Progress or PR?
• Conclusions: Accountability: What Does it Take?
  1. Institutional accountability remains illusory.
  2. The Board as a whole is unable to assign remedies.
  3. The complexity of the process requires the active involvement of an organized, international civil society.
  4. The Panel Process Fosters Local Citizen Empowerment.