Decision XXVIII/5: The IAI whistleblower policy

This briefing document outlines the establishment of a whistleblower policy for the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), as mandated by Decision XXVIII/5. The policy, integrated into the revised IAI employee handbook, provides a mechanism for staff to report wrongdoing to the IAI Executive Council with guarantees against retaliation. The document also includes the full text of the revised IAI Employee Handbook, detailing recruitment, compensation, benefits, performance reviews, and travel policies.

• The IAI whistleblower policy provides employees who are aware of possible wrongdoing within the Institute a mechanism to disclose this information to the IAI Executive Council, which is the executive organ with authority over the Directorate.
• Employees who report perceived wrongdoing in good faith to the Chair of the Executive Council are guaranteed protection from reprimand or adverse employment consequences. Retaliation by any staff member, including the Executive Director, can lead to disciplinary action up to termination of employment.
• Complaints under the whistleblower policy may include ethics violations, suspected fraud, or suspected violations of law or administrative policy, such as bullying, discrimination, or sexual harassment. Crimes against person or property must also be reported to local law enforcement.
• The investigation process requires the Chair of the Executive Council to acknowledge receipt of a report within five business days and inform the complainant of the investigation procedure and timelines within 15 working days.
• During a whistleblower investigation, complainants may work from home if they feel uncomfortable or threatened, or if the complaint involves crimes against the person. In exceptionally serious cases, the Executive Council may suspend the person under investigation with salary and benefits.
• Allegations made maliciously or knowingly as false, which prove to be unsubstantiated, are considered serious disciplinary offenses and may result in termination of employment.
• The IAI Employee Handbook establishes that staff members are international civil servants whose responsibilities are exclusively international, and they must not seek or accept instructions from any government or external source.
• International employees are provided with specific education allowances for children: up to US$1,440 per child for pre-school, up to US$8,400 for primary and secondary school, and up to US$15,000 for undergraduate university students.
• The IAI performance appraisal system uses a five-point rating scale, where Rating 1 indicates a need for corrective action and Rating 5 indicates the employee exceeds all expectations of the position.

APA

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (2021). Decision XXVIII/5: The IAI whistleblower policy. https://archive.iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/iai-cop-29-7-en.pdf

Chicago

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research. Decision XXVIII/5: The IAI whistleblower policy. 2021. https://archive.iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/iai-cop-29-7-en.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research |title=Decision XXVIII/5: The IAI whistleblower policy |date=14 May 2021 |url=https://archive.iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/iai-cop-29-7-en.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{interamericaninstituteforglobalchangeresearch2021decision, author = {{Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}}, title = {{Decision XXVIII/5: The IAI whistleblower policy}}, institution = {Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}, year = {2021}, month = may, url = {https://archive.iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/iai-cop-29-7-en.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }