Invest in a Decade of Accountability

Communities are at the heart of our work. This is as true of our policy work as it is for our cases and research initiatives. Through our casework, we learn directly from communities about which aspects of the complaint process work well and which do not. We see firsthand the ways in which mechanisms are inaccessible, unduly complex, unresponsive to communities’ perspectives, and unable or unwilling to facilitate adequate remedy. 

It is then the Policy team’s responsibility to advocate for structural changes to make existing mechanisms more effective for communities. We’ve seen outcomes of our efforts recently with the International Financial Corporation’s accountability mechanism publishing a new policy that adopted many of our recommendations, including more opportunities for community consultation. This month, we recommended that the Inter-American Development Bank’s accountability mechanism have greater independence and accessibility by ending a requirement that communities first raise issues to bank management before they can reach the accountability mechanism. We also led a webinar that explained what mechanisms can do to be more accessible to communities for the global network of investors who are required to establish accountability mechanisms as a condition of receiving financing from the Green Climate Fund.

We will continue to advocate for accountability mechanisms – often the only avenues for justice available to communities harmed by investments – to be as effective as possible by recommending better procedures and stronger mandates. Thank you for your support of and commitment to our mission.

Links:

• Courthouse News: US DFC, featuring Stephanie Amoako
• Blog: Impact Investors and Accountability Mechanisms
• Blog: AC Hosts Training for Grievance Mechanisms

Following years of advocacy by our Policy team, in late December 2020, a new federal law passed requiring the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to establish an accountability mechanism. These mechanisms are a critical component in providing a structure through which communities can access justice and remedy, but the mere existence of these institutions is not enough. These bodies – indeed, any aimed at providing accountability to marginalized communities – need to function in a way that values, elevates, and ultimately respects community perspectives in a meaningful way. 

The legal requirement is welcome news for those who want USAID’s projects to be successful and sustainable, as an accountability mechanism not only provides communities impacted by USAID projects an avenue to seek redress but also helps USAID ensure its money meets its mark. Currently, USAID has no independent and effective accountability process available to communities who are negatively impacted by its projects, putting it out of step with the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, many multilateral development banks, and national development agencies in France and Japan, all of which have accountability mechanisms. With the requirement now in place, Accountability Counsel will work to ensure that USAID's mechanism meets best practice and prioritizes community voices and needs. 

Links:

• US Congress Requires USAID to Create an Accountability Mechanism