In early June, the Boards of the World Bank Group announced that they had approved the integration of the Group’s three independent accountability mechanisms—the World Bank Accountability Mechanism (including the Inspection Panel and the Dispute Resolution Service (DRS)), and the IFC/MIGA Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO)—into a single independent accountability mechanism.

The three accountability mechanisms, with World Bank Group Management and Legal, are contributing to the development of aspects of the new IAM policy framework, which will be guided, under Board oversight, by the principle of non-regression and informed by stakeholder consultations.

In addition, leadership transitions have taken place across the mechanisms. Effective July 20, Sabine Bernabè, Director-General, Evaluation, of the Independent Evaluation Group (IEG), was asked by the World Bank Board to concurrently serve as acting Head of the DRS, following the conclusion of Orsolya Székely’s term as Head of DRS. Janine Ferretti, CAO Director General, has stepped down. Effective August 2, the World Bank Group Boards have designated Ibrahim Pam, current Chair of the Inspection Panel, to concurrently serve as acting CAO Director General. 

The interim leaders will serve until a new World Bank Group independent accountability mechanism Director General is appointed.

The recruitment process for the Director General to lead the new mechanism is underway. The integration process is expected to take place under oversight of the Boards, while each mechanism continues to operate per its current mandate and policies. No active or pending cases will be affected.