On June 11, the Independent Complaints Mechanism of DEG, FMO and Proparco (ICM) joined six other independent accountability mechanisms (IAMs) to co-host an open, online outreach seminar for Portuguese-speaking audiences to increase awareness about accountability mechanisms. The seminar, “Direito de Reclamar: mecanismos de reclamação sobre projetos de financiamento internacional,” was streamed across social media platforms, attracting more than 35000 views on YouTube alone.
Development projects are intended to improve the quality of life. But these projects can also cause harm—displacing families, reducing incomes, and damaging cultural and environmental assets. When this happens, what rights do affected communities and individuals have? Who can they turn to in order to raise concerns? This free, public online seminar, hosted by the independent accountability mechanisms of ten global institutions, explained how people and communities can seek redress. Over the course one hour, experts presented what these mechanisms are, how they work, and how to access them. ICM Secretary Annika van Kouterik represented the ICM during the event.
The full version of the event can be accessed here.
Organization of the event was led by the IAM of the IDB Group: Independent Consultation and Investigation Mechanism (MICI). Apart from ICM, other participating IAMs included: Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) of IFC; Accountability Mechanism (AM) of the World Bank; Complaints Mechanism of the European Investment Bank; Project-Affected People’s Mechanism (PPM) of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB); and Social and Environmental Compliance Unit (SECU) of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
