Second Review of the AFDB’s Independent Review Mechanism CSO Comments

The document outlines specific critiques and proposed amendments to the AfDB's IRM Operating Rules and Procedures (ORP). The signatories argue for greater independence of the mechanism from Bank management, enhanced public disclosure of complaint documents, the inclusion of all human rights violations in the IRM's scope, and the removal of restrictive barriers that prevent individuals and NGOs from filing complaints.

• The current IRM framework lacks sufficient independence from AfDB management; the CSOs recommend prohibiting the CRMU Director and IRM Experts from working at the AfDB after their terms expire and establishing a nomination committee with external stakeholders to select key positions.
• Transparency should be improved by creating a dedicated disclosure section in the ORP and committing to publishing all relevant complaint documents—including reports and management responses—online in a timely manner.
• The IRM's scope is currently too narrow as it only allows requests alleging human rights violations of "social and economic rights"; the CSOs argue it should cover all human rights violations because they are interrelated and indivisible.
• The mechanism's effectiveness is hindered by a lack of strict timelines for handling complaints, as evidenced by the Bujagali Dam project complaint which remained unresolved seven years after being filed in May 2007.
• Accessibility is restricted by requirements that only groups of two or more local people can file complaints; the CSOs recommend allowing any individual, group, or NGO (even those not directly affected) to file a request.
• The CSOs oppose a proposal to require complainants to use local grievance mechanisms as a prerequisite for accessing the IRM, noting that such project-level mechanisms often have an inherent conflict of interest.

APA

Ayensu, E. (2014). Second Review of the AFDB’s Independent Review Mechanism CSO Comments. Natural Justice. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/CSO-Comments-Second-AFDB-Review.pdf

Chicago

Ayensu, Edward. Second Review of the AFDB’s Independent Review Mechanism CSO Comments. Natural Justice, 2014. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/CSO-Comments-Second-AFDB-Review.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Ayensu |first1=Edward |title=Second Review of the AFDB’s Independent Review Mechanism CSO Comments |publisher=Natural Justice |date=30 August 2014 |url=https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/CSO-Comments-Second-AFDB-Review.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{ayensu2014second, author = {Ayensu, Edward}, title = {{Second Review of the AFDB’s Independent Review Mechanism CSO Comments}}, publisher = {Natural Justice}, year = {2014}, month = aug, url = {https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/CSO-Comments-Second-AFDB-Review.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }