What you should expect when filing a complaint
Complaints can be submitted to the accountability mechanisms for a variety of reasons. Some claimants file because they have specific problems they want resolved, such as a failure to receive compensation for land lost or to protest damage to livelihoods. Others may file because they wish to elevate the profile of an issue to attract national or international attention so as to get the government to make serious efforts to resolve their grievances. Usually, the earlier in the project preparatory process you file, the higher the chances of the problems being resolved to your satisfaction. It is not likely that the CAO or Inspection Panel will recommend a moratorium on project activities due to the filing of a complaint.
Common problems with filing a claim
- Groups often find it hard to fulfill the requirements of a complaint and to understand the Bank’s policies and the processes of the mechanisms
- It is difficult to assess the potential advantages and disadvantages that accrue from filing a case
- It is difficult to find out how much of a loan has been disbursed (the Panel can only investigate projects before 95% of financing has been disbursed)
- The process can be long, and time & resource intensive with no guarantee of tangible benefits
- Access to the mechanisms can be difficult especially for groups without modern communication facilities (particularly internet and email)