The Civil Society Policy Forum session “Accountability Challenges in FCV-Affected Countries” on 24 October, comprised of panelists from the World Bank Accountability Mechanism and civil society, went deep into the complex landscape of World Bank and other multilateral development bank engagement in contexts of fragility, conflict, and violence (FCV).
Session moderator and Executive Director of the World Bank for the Africa Group II, Abdoul Salam Bello, set the scene for the session by identifying FCV as a critical development challenge that threatens efforts to end extreme poverty, including to the Bank’s delivery of social and environmental accountability in these contexts.
Accountability Mechanism Secretary Orsolya Székely noted that Bank financing to countries characterized by fragile and conflict-affected situations increased from US$27 billion to US$69 billion between FY2018 and FY2022. “So when you increase financing and funding,” Székely said, “that also means that you have to increase accountability and accountability capacities to meet the concerns which may arise.” Key to meeting the accountability needs of a bigger Bank in difficult contexts is “being there”, Székely added, and relying on partnerships with civil society and the United Nations and other independent accountability mechanisms.
Incoming Inspection Panel Chair Ibrahim Pam emphasized the importance of safe access to accountability. He stated that the Inspection Panel has, since its founding in 1993, provided a citizen-driven, bottom-up accountability mechanism—but that in FCV contexts there is the risk of the shrinking of the civil space that imperils citizen-driven accountability as well as the Panel’s functioning. Pam highlighted the risk of reprisals as “the biggest challenge that we face in FCV countries” before outlining the Panel’s approach to addressing the risk by conducting thorough risk analyses and taking preventative measures.
Among other issues, John Mwebe, Program Coordinator of the International Accountability Project, drew attention to the risks that development projects themselves might pose in FCV countries. According to Mwebe, the rise in private provision of public services, alongside increasing securitization of project activities, begged the question: “If development in itself is meant to make the lives of people better, what is the reason for making sure that you have to jealously guard that which you are doing? Because then it speaks to the fact that most of these are imposed. They are top-down projects, and because the communities are not settling in well with these projects, there’s always the risk of pushing back against these projects.”
Doussouba Konaté, Executive Director of Accountability Lab Mali, asserted, “Accountability cannot begin or end with a redress mechanism. It has to start with a meaningful effort to ensure that citizen and civil society are engaged in the cooperation of development efforts.” Konaté cited the proposed Civil Society and Social Innovation Facility at the World Bank as a way for civil society organizations to use their skills to ensure that governments engage in a meaningful way with their citizens—with the appropriate political will, capacity, and funding.
Moderator Bello reiterated the critical role of public institutions and the social contract, and the Bank’s commitment to results that do not result in harm—with due process for accountability in the eventuality that there is harm. The session was then opened to questions.
While responding to participants’ questions, the panelists emphasized the need for continuous risk analyses in fluid FCV contexts, as well as flexibility in adjusting timelines for grievance procedures. They also mentioned the need to remain engaged where possible, especially in extremely challenging environments. Partnerships with CSOs, UN agencies, and other organizations are vital in FCV countries, as they allow not only a better understanding of sociopolitical dynamics but also provide means to address humanitarian and human rights issues alongside the development mandate.
In concluding this insightful discussion of the challenges to come in FCV contexts, Bello echoed Ajay Banga’s message on the Bank’s strategic evolution: “We cannot have sustainable development without a strong accountability system.”
The Civil Society Policy Forum session “Accountability Challenges in FCV-Affected Countries” was organized by the World Bank Accountability Mechanism and the International Accountability Project.
Recording of the session is available here.
