2007 Spring Meetings

Is the Compliance Advisor/Ombudsman (CAO) for Me?

April 13, 2007

The CAO (Office of the Compliance Advisor/Ombudsman for IFC and MIGA), led by Meg Taylor, facilitated an interactive session with nearly 25 civil society participants during the World Bank Group’s 2007 Spring Meetings in April.  The session described the mandate of the CAO, and engaged participants in a case simulation designed to help communities and Civil Society Organizations answer the question: Is the CAO for Me?

In the simulation, participants grappled with difficult dilemmas about how best to raise and resolve the concerns about projects sponsored by the IFC or MIGA.  The simulation was based on actual cases involving a company, an impacted community, and a CSO. Participants at the session described the simulation as a useful tool for understanding CAO’s procedures, as well as the challenges that stakeholders face in reaching agreements on issues of accountability.

According to one CSO participant in the session who is involved in a complaint filed with CAO, the CAO ombudsman process is a valuable approach to addressing community concerns. “This was the first time anyone had come out and listened to the complainants’ point of view. It gave them a voice in the conflict.”

CAO also described how the office will function under its new Operational Guidelines.  After conducting an external review of its effectiveness, CAO revised its approach to complaint-handling, and solicited comments from numerous stakeholders during a public comment period. The new Guidelines, as well as CAO’s responses to all stakeholder comments, are posted on the CAO website at: www.cao-ombudsman.org.