BIC, Sobrevivencia letter to IDB regarding review of the Independent Investigation Mechanism, July 8, 2004

23 August 2004

8 July 2004

Mr. Dennis Flannery, Executive Vice President
Inter-American Development Bank
1300 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20577

Re: Review of the Independent Investigation Mechanism

Dear Mr. Flannery:

We value your continued commitment to promoting accountability of Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) operations. It has recently come to our attention that the IDB is in the process of reviewing the policy and procedures of its Independent Investigation Mechanism (IIM). We are writing to request clarification on the process the IDB intends to use for the development of the new IIM.

As you know, the IDB’s Independent Investigation Mechanism ensures that affected citizens are able to request an investigation into possible violations of IDB policy in projects that impact their communities, and to seek recourse for any violations that may have occurred. For this reason alone, well-organized consultations that allow for the participation of affected communities and other interested actors in the review process are absolutely essential.

Civil society evaluations of the role of the IIM in reviewing the three projects investigated thus far (Yacyreta in Argentina and Paraguay, Termoelectrico del Golfo in Mexico, and Cana Brava in Brazil) have identified a number of problems with the IIM and its operations that require immediate attention. It is also essential that the IDB’s review of the IIM also include critical feedback and recommendations for a new structure from the groups that monitor and have been affected by these projects. In order to ensure that the review process benefits from the lessons learned by civil society in working with the mechanism, the IDB should commit to soliciting comments from a wide range of external actors in a meaningful participatory review process.

We support a much needed review of the policy and procedures of the IDB’s IIM and consider it to be a top priority. We would like to request a detailed description of how the IDB intends to proceed with the review process for the IIM, including estimated timeframes for the stages in the review process.

Thank you for taking the time to consider our request.

Sincerely,

Oscar Rivas
Coordinador General
SOBREVIVENCIA,
Amigos de la Tierra Paraguay

Manish Bapna
Executive Director
Bank Information Center

cc: Mr. Héctor Morales, US Alternate Executive Director
Mr. Juan E. Notaro Fraga, Paraguay, Uruguay y Bolivia Executive Director
Mr. Charles Bassat, Canada Executive Director, Chairman of the Organization, Human Resources, and Board Matters Committee
Mr. Rene Rios, Mechanismo de Independent Investigation Mechanism
Ms. Mirna Lievano de Marques, External Relations
Mr. John Ferriter, External Relations
Mr. James Spinner, General Counsel, Legal Department