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Accountability Matters

QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER

Newsletter | February 2026

Welcome to the February issue of Accountability Matters. This month, we are crossing over to look at what World Bank Management thinks of accountability. We present interviews with Maninder Gill, Global WBG Director for E&S Policy and Operations, and Faris Hadad-Zervos, currently Country Director for Afghanistan, on how independent accountability mechanisms can have a real impact on the ground.

We hope you enjoy this edition of Accountability Matters. Please let us know if you have any comments or story ideas for the newsletter at accountability@worldbank.org or ipanel@worldbank.org.

Orsolya Székely Ibrahim Pam      

Head, Dispute Resolution Service Chairperson, Inspection Panel     

STORIES

“Today, accountability is understood not only as supporting compliance, but as good development practice—a continuous learning process that helps us improve outcomes across the portfolio.”

Interview

Feb 26, 2026

An interview with Maninder Gill, Global WBG Director for E&S Policy and Operations

Interview

Feb 26, 2026

An interview with Faris Hadad-Zervos, Country Director for Afghanistan

Publication

Feb 26, 2026

A round-up of the latest knowledge products from the world of accountability

The Parties involved in the Pakistan Khyber Pass Economic Corridor Project case signed a Dispute Resolution Agreement, facilitated by the Dispute Resolution Service.
The World Bank Board approved the Inspection Panel Recommendation to investigate the Uganda Climate-Smart Development Project.
The Dispute Resolution Service released a case study video on the Second Kampala Institutional and Infrastructure Development Project (KIIDP-2) in Uganda.
The World Bank is undertaking a Targeted Review of the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) Policy.

Events

The 2026 Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG) will take place from April 13–18, in Washington, D.C.
The Human Rights Centre, University for Peace (UPeace), will be running a online training 14–15 May 2026 on “Multilateral Development Banks’ Independent Accountability Mechanisms”. The two-day will include the Inspection Panel’s Serge Selwan as a panelist. Enroll here.

Job Openings

Long-Term Advisor Citizen Engagement and Accountability Mechanisms for Local Government, OXFAM
Location: Al-Anbar Governate
Deadline: 5 March 2026

Accountability Matters Editorial Team

Jennine Meyer, Rabi Thapa and Robert Doherty

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The World Bank Accountability Mechanism is an independent complaints mechanism for people and communities who believe that they have been, or are likely to be, harmed by a World Bank-funded project. It operates with two parallel entities: the Inspection Panel and the Dispute Resolution Service.

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