Our Mandate
The Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) is the independent recourse mechanism for the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA). The CAO responds to complaints from project-affected communities with the goal of enhancing social and environmental outcomes on the ground. Learn More
Case Update
Republic of Kosovo: KEK Privatization
May 15, 2011 -CAO Compliance has completed its appraisal and concludes that an audit of IFC's due diligence for the KEK Advisory Services project is merited. The appraisal report is available in English and Albanian.Learn more about this case
Uganda: Agri-Vie/NFC - Parties agree to dispute resolution process
May 8, 2012 - After CAO's assessment of the complaint, both the representatives of the affected community and company have indicated their willingness to participate in a dispute resolution process facilitated by the CAO. This is captured in CAO's final Assessment Report, which is available along with IFC's formal response. For information about these complaints, see: Uganda / Agri-Vie Fund-01/Kiboga and Uganda / Agri-Vie Fund-02/MubendeLearn more about these cases
Nicaragua: Boston University Biological Sampling Findings
May 2, 2012 - Boston University have released their biological sampling report with results of an investigation conducted October 2010-June 2011 on sugar cane, mining, construction and port workers in Western Nicaragua. Findings show that cane and seed cutters in the sugar cane industry, as well as workers in these other industries appear to have an elevated prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) compared to the general US male population of similar age. There was little evidence that heavy metals were the cause of CKD; Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) do not appear to be prevalent; and self-reported consumption of fluids was not associated with biomarkers of kidney injury. For more information, see the full report in English and Spanish.Learn more about this case
Peru: Quellaveco New Complaint
April 17, 2012 - The CAO has accepted a complaint from local NGOs and water users groups regarding the Quellaveco project in Peru. The CAO has initiated an assessment of the issues raised with the parties concerned.Learn more about this case
Papua New Guinea: SEZ Assessment Report
April 17, 2012 - The government and complainants have agreed to undertake a collaborative process to address the issues in the complaint with the assistance of CAO. CAO's assessment report and IFC's response is available at the link below.Learn more about this case
Uganda: Bujagali Energy complaints
February 13, 2012 - The parties to both complaints have agreed to undertake a collaborative process to address the issues, with assistance from CAO. CAO's assessment reports for the Bujagali-04 and Bujagali-05 cases are available in English and Luganda, along with IFC's response.
Learn more about these cases
Cameroon: Chad-Cameroon Pipeline
February 3, 2012 - The parties have agreed to engage in an CAO-facilitated dispute resolution process, and capacity building and assisted negotiations have started. CAO's Assessment Report is available in English and French, along with IFC's response.Learn more about this case
Peru: Audit of IFC's investments in Agribusiness in the Ica Valley
December 2, 2011 - The CAO has released its compliance audit of IFC's investments in agribusiness in the Ica Valley, Peru. The audit finds IFC actions, if it had pursued the Agrokasa III investment, inconsistent with, and in violation of, IFC’s Policy on Environmental and Social Sustainability, Performance Standards 1, 4, 5 and 6, and IFC's Policy on Disclosure of Information. The audit will remain open and in monitoring until the CAO is assured that actions taken by IFC address the audit findings and move IFC back into compliance. CAO's audit report is available in English and Spanish, along with IFC's responseLearn more about this case
Compliance audit of IFC's financial sector investments
June 30, 2011 - The CAO has completed its compliance appraisal of IFC's financial sector investments and determined that an audit of IFC is merited. The audit will focus on 63 different IFC financial intermediary projects. Full details about the scope of the appraisal, the audit process, and final project selection is described in CAO's Appraisal report. This work supercedes the CAO FI review described below on April 13, 2011. CAO Appraisal of IFC's Investment Projects in the Financial Sector, June 27, 2011
What's New
In Memoriam: Rosemary Thompson-Lewis
It is with deep regret that we announce the death of our colleague, Rosemary Thompson Lewis, who died on April 19, 2012 after a two year battle with breast cancer. Rosie, or "Peaches" as she was fondly known, joined the CAO in 2001 and worked directly with CAO's Ombudsman team.
Obituary
CAO Annual Report 2011
December 2011 - The CAO's 2011 Annual Report provides a review of all the cases handled during fiscal year 2011 and is available for download in English. A Spanish translation will follow shortly. See our Publications page for the complete list of CAO Annual Reports since 2001.CAO Annual Report 2011
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