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
World Bank Group Vice President and Compliance Advisor Ombudsman Search
The World Bank Group has commenced a global search for its next Compliance Advisor Ombudsman at the level of Vice President reporting to the World Bank Group President. To learn more about this position, see the link below.CAO Vice President Terms of Reference
India: CAO publishes the Gujarati translation of its Audit Report of IFC's Investment in Coastal Gujarat Power Limited
December 9, 2013 - CAO has published the Gujarati translation of its audit report of IFC's investment in Coastal Gujarat Power Limited. The translation is included in the View Documents section of the case folder.Learn more about this case here
Honduras: CAO Vice President Request appraisal of IFC's investments in Banco Ficohsa
December 06, 2013 - On August 21, 2013, CAO Vice President requested a Compliance Appraisal of IFC's investments in Banco Ficohsa. This appraisal is now complete. CAO concludes that IFC's environmental and social performance with regard to its investments in Ficohsa merits further enquiry. CAO's Appraisal report and full details about the case are available at the link below.Learn more about this case here
Honduras: Complaint Regarding IFC's CAMIF Project
December 03, 2013 - CAO has accepted a complaint regarding IFC's Central American Mezzanine Infrastructure Fund (CAMIF) project in Honduras. An assessment of the issues is underway with the relevant parties. Learn more about the case here
India: CAO Assessment of Tata Tea Complaint
November 26, 2013 - CAO has released its Assessment Report for the complaint regarding labor concerns in relation to IFC’s Tata Tea project in Assam. While the key parties expressed interest in following a dispute resolution process, no agreement could be found on how the process should be structured. Hence, the case will now be submitted to CAO's Compliance function for appraisal.
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IFC Statement in Response to Public Enquiries Regarding CAO Audit of IFC Investment in CGPL (Tata Mundra)
November, 25, 2013 - IFC has provided CAO with a statement including action plan items in relation to the above audit. As part of its compliance function CAO monitors actions taken by IFC in response to findings of non-compliance. CAO practice is to produce a monitoring report on an audit not less than once a year, until actions taken by IFC assure CAO that IFC is adequately addressing its findings of non-compliance. The IFC action plan will be taken into consideration as part of this process.IFC Statement and Action Plan
Summary of CAO Cases: November 2013
November 11, 2013 - CAO's 6-weekly summary of cases in assessment, dispute resolution, and compliance is available at the link below.CAO Case Summary November 2013
CAO Assessment of Fifth Complaint Yanacocha Complaint
November 04, 2013 - CAO has released its Assessment Report of the fifth complaint received regarding the IFC supported Yanacocha project in Peru. The parties have agreed to work with CAO's Dispute Resolution function to try to resolve the issues. CAO's Assessment report is available in English and Spanish, along with IFC's response through the link below. Learn more about this case here
CAO Annual Report 2013
October 31, 2013 - CAO has released its 2013 Annual Report which provides a full account of CAO's activities from July 2012 to June 2013 (Fiscal Year 2013). The report is available in English and Spanish at the link below. CAO Annual Report 2013
Mexico: Second Complaint Regarding IFC's Harmon Hall Project
October 23, 2013 - CAO has accepted a second complaint regarding Harmon Hall, an IFC supported English Language School in Mexico. An assessment of the issues is underway with the relevant parties.Learn more about the case here
India: CAO published its Audit Report of IFC's Investment in Coastal Gujarat Power Limited and IFC Official Response
October 22, 2013 - Following clearance from the President of the World Bank Group, CAO has published its Audit Report of IFC's Investment in Coastal Gujarat Power Limitied and IFC's Official Comment. CAO will now monitor IFC's response to the audit findingsLearn more about case here
South Africa: CAO Assessment of Tsodilo Complaint
October 7, 2013 - CAO has released its Assessment Report of the complaint received regarding the IFC supported Tsodilo project in South Africa. During the assessment, CAO found no agreement among the key parties to proceed with a dispute resolution under CAO auspices. The case will now be handled by the CAO's Compliance function for appraisal per CAO Operational Guidelines.
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Honduras: CAO finalizes its audit report into IFC's investment in Dinant and submits it to IFC for official comment
October 3, 2013 - CAO has finalized its audit report into IFC's investment with Dinant. The report has been submitted to IFC for official response. Once CAO receives IFC's official response, CAO's audit report and IFC's response will be submitted to the President of the World Bank for clearance. Once clearance is received, CAO's audit report and IFC's response will be published on this website.Learn more about the case
India: CAO Assessment of Third Vizhinjam Complaint
October 1, 2013 - CAO has released its Assessment Report for the third complaint received regarding IFC Advisory Services Vizhinjam project in India. CAO found no agreement among the key parties to proceed with a CAO-facilitated dispute resolution process. Hence, the case will now be handled by the CAO's Compliance function for appraisal. Learn more about the case
Addressing People's Concerns: 20 Years and Counting
October 1, 2013 - CAO VP Meg Taylor joins the World Bank Inspection Panel at the Tenth Annual Meeting of Independent Accountability Mechanisms (IAMs) at International Financial Institutions (IFIs). To read more and watch the session see link below: Watch Video
IFC's Action Plan in Response to CAO FI Audit
September 30, 2013 - IFC have provided CAO with its Action Plan in response to the CAO Audit of a Sample of IFC Investments in Third-Party Financial Intermediaries. Where relevant, IFC's Action Plan will inform CAO's monitoring of this audit however, CAO will monitor to the findings of the audit and not exclusively to IFC's Action Plan. The Action Plan can be found through the link below.IFC's FI Action Plan
Colombia: CAO Assessment of Alqueria Complaint
September 17, 2013 - CAO has released its Assessment Report of the complaint received regarding the IFC supported Alqueria project in Colombia. The parties have agreed to work with CAO's Dispute Resolution function to try to resolve the issues. CAO's Assessment report is available in English and Spanish, along with IFC's response through the link below.
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Mexico: Harmon Hall case closed after Compliance Appraisal
September 10, 2013 - CAO has completed its compliance appraisal of IFC with regard to the Harmon Hall Project. CAO has not identified substantial concerns regarding environmental and/or social outcomes, and/or issues of systemic importance to IFC/MIGA of the type that would warrant a compliance investigation. CAO's Appraisal report and full details about the case are available at the link below. Learn more about this case
South Africa: Lonmin case closed after Compliance Appraisal
September 10, 2013 – CAO Vice President requested a compliance appraisal of IFC’s investment with Lonmin. This appraisal is now complete. CAO has determined that an investigation is not merited and has closed the case. CAO's Appraisal report and full details about the case are available at the link below.Learn more about this case
CAO appoints new Senior Specialist to the Compliance function
September 9, 2013 - CAO is pleased to announce that Midori Akamine was recently appointed the Senior Specialist for the Compliance function. Her bio has been added to the staff section of CAO's web site.Learn more about CAO staff
Albania: CAO Assessment of Bankers Petroleum Complaint
August 30, 2013 - CAO has released its Assessment Report of the complaint received regarding the IFC supported Bankers Petroleum project in Albania. The parties have agreed to collaborate in a fact-finding process supported by CAO's Dispute Resolution function. CAO's Assessment report is available in English and Albania, along with IFC's response through the link below.Learn more about this case
India: CAO finalizes its audit report into IFC's investment in Tata Ultra Mega and submits it to IFC for official comment
August 22, 2013 - CAO has finalized its audit report into IFC's investment with Tata Ultra Mega. The report has been submitted to IFC for official response. Once CAO receives IFC's official response, CAO's audit report and IFC's response will be submitted to the President of the World Bank for clearance. Once clearance is received, CAO's audit report and IFC's response will be published on this website.Learn more about this case
India: CAO releases Terms of Reference for Compliance Investigation of IFC's Investment in India Infrastructure Fund
August 15, 2013 - Following the completion of the CAO Appraisal of IFC's Investment in India Infrastructure Fund, CAO has released the Terms of Reference for the Compliance Investigation.Learn more about this case
Colombia: CAO releases Terms of Reference for Compliance Investigation of IFC's Investment in Eco Oro
August 15, 2013 - Following the completion of the CAO Appraisal of IFC's Investment in Eco Oro, CAO has released the Terms of Reference for the Compliance Investigation.Learn more about this case
Mongolia: CAO Assessment of Second Oyu Tolgoi Complaint
August 8, 2013 - CAO has released its Assessment Report of the second complaint received regarding the IFC/MIGA supported Oyu Tolgoi project in Mongolia. The parties have agreed to work with CAO's Dispute Resolution function to try to resolve the issues. CAO's Assessment report is available in English and Mongolian, along with IFC's response through the link below. Learn more about this case
India: First Vizhinjam complaint transferred to compliance
August 8, 2013 - CAO has completed its assessment of the first Vizhinjam complaint. After extending the timeline of its assessment, ultimately CAO found no agreement among the key parties to proceed with a dispute resolution under CAO auspices. Therefore, the complaint has been transferred to CAO’s Compliance function for appraisal, per CAO Operational Guidelines.Learn more about this case
Panama: Panama Canal Expansion case closed after Compliance Appraisal
July 16, 2013 - CAO has completed its compliance appraisal of IFC with regard to the Panama Canal Expansion Project. While identifying some questions on specific issues, CAO has determined that an investigation is not merited and has closed the case. CAO's Appraisal report and full details about the case are available at the link below. Spanish version is now available.Learn more about this case
India: CAO Compliance investigation of IFC's investment in the India Infrastructure Fund
June 30, 2013 - Based on its compliance appraisal, CAO will conduct an investigation of IFC's investment in the India Infrastructure Fund. The investigation will focus on whether IFC's investment in the Fund was appraised, structured, and supervised in accordance with applicable IFC policies, procedures and standards. CAO's appraisal report is available through the link below.Learn more about this case
Cambodia: New Complaint Regarding IFC's Cambodia Airports Project
June 27, 2013 - A complaint has been filed by 59 households from Thmor Korl and Prey Chisak villages about IFC project with Societe Concessionaire de l’Aeroport. An assessment of the issues is underway with the relevant parties. Learn more about this case
Peru: Audit of IFC with regard to agribusiness investments in the Ica Valley is closed after monitoring
June 25, 2013 - CAO has released a Monitoring and Closure Report regarding its audit of IFC investments in agribusiness the Ica Valley, Peru. CAO has determined that it has sufficient basis to close the audit. The Monitoring and Closure Report is available at the link below.Learn more about this case
India: Second Vizhinjam complaint transferred to compliance
May 24, 2013 - VISL declined CAO’s offer of facilitating a voluntary dispute resolution process to help resolve the issues raised in the complaint stating that they were putting in efforts to address these through their own channels. The complaint has been transferred to CAO’s Compliance function for appraisal, as per CAO Operational Guidelines. CAO's Assessment Report, summarizing discussions with the parties during assessment, is available at the link below, along with IFC's response.Learn more about this case
South Africa: New Complaint Regarding IFC's Tsodilo Project
May 24, 2013 - CAO has accepted a complaint regarding Tsodilo Resources, an IFC supported mining company with prospective exploration licenses for a protected area in South Africa. CAO has commenced the assessment of the issues with the relevant parties. Learn more about this case
In Memorium: Gamal Pasya
February 15, 2013 - CAO mourns the loss of our dear colleague and friend Gamal Pasya. Gamal worked with CAO in Indonesia for over five years, and touched us all with his generous heart, wisdom, loyalty, and commitment. He dedicated his exceptional talents to bringing about peace through the resolution of conflicts. He made a meaningful difference in the lives of communities and left an indelible mark on all those he served. At this time of loss, our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, son and daughter.
CAO releases Compliance Audit Report of IFC's Financial Sector Investments
February 5, 2013 - Following clearance by the World Bank Group President, CAO has released its compliance audit of IFC's financial sector investments. In the course of its audit, CAO travelled to 54 locations in 25 countries to conduct face-to-face interviews with IFC clients and staff related to 188 IFC FI investments. The audit team comprised four independent experts and based its findings on a review of IFC documents, interviews with IFC clients, staff, and staff of other development finance institutions with which IFC co-invests, and interviews with subclients. A summary of key findings, CAO's full audit report, and IFC's official response are available at the link below. CAO is monitoring IFC's response to the audit.
CAO Media Communique February 2013
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What's New
Launch of CAO's Revised Operational Guidelines
March 11, 2013 - CAO has launched its revised Operational Guidelines after a year long review and consultation period. Henceforth, CAO will be working under the revised Guidelines. A summary of comments received during the public consultation period, along with CAO's response, and the 2013 Operational Guidelines are available at the link below. Translations of the Guidelines into Spanish, Portuguese, French, Russian, Chinese and Arabic will be available soon.Learn more about the Revised CAO Operational Guidelines
Nicaragua: Five films documenting outcomes of dialogue process related to NSEL
December 13, 2012 - This year, CAO commissioned a series of films to document the outcomes of a four-year dialogue process between Nicaragua Sugar Estates Limited (NSEL) and ASOCHIVIDA, an association of 2,000 former sugarcane workers and their families affected by Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in Chichigalpa, Nicaragua. To view the films, click the link below.Learn more and view the films
CAO Annual Report 2012
October 2012 - CAO has released its 2012 Annual Report which provides a full account of CAO's activities from July 2011 to June 2012 (Fiscal Year 2012). The report is available in English and Spanish at the link below.CAO Annual Report 2012
Members of the World Bank Group