Our Mandate
The Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) is the independent accountability 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
Changes to CAO’s Work due to COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
The rapidly evolving global situation with COVID-19 (Coronavirus) is impacting all of us in unexpected ways. CAO sends its sympathies and support to all our teams, friends, colleagues, and partners around the world who are being adversely affected by this outbreak. World Bank Group offices in Washington DC, and the majority of country offices, are now conducting home-based work and all mission travel is suspended worldwide. These restrictions apply to all CAO staff and consultants. In light of these measures, CAO case handling will be adjusted as needed in discussion with the parties. CAO will adopt a flexible approach and will continue to manage cases remotely, wherever feasible, and guided by the availability and unique circumstances of the parties. If you have questions or concerns related to CAO, whether concerning a pending complaint, the status of a case in assessment, dispute resolution or compliance, or other aspects of our work, please click here
Case Update
Uganda: CAO Publishes Second Compliance Monitoring Report Regarding IFC and MIGA’s Investment in the Bujagali Energy Power Plant
May 18, 2020 – CAO has released its second compliance monitoring report of IFC and MIGA’s investment in the Bujagali Energy Power Plant, as it relates to the Bujagali Energy 04, 06, 07, and 08 cases. The report notes significant delays in IFC’s implementation of the actions it committed to in response to these investigations. Given that key items from IFC’s response remain in the process of implementation, CAO will keep these cases open for monitoring. The report is available in English.Learn more about the Bujagali 04 caseLearn more about the Bujagali 06 case »
Learn more about the Bujagali 07 case »
Learn more about the Bujagali 08 case »
Mongolia: CAO Closes Cases Related to the Oyu Tolgoi Project after Dispute Resolution
May 12, 2020 - CAO has closed the dispute resolution process related to the IFC and MIGA-supported Oyu Tolgoi mining project, after monitoring implementation of agreements reached between Oyu Tolgoi, representatives of local herders, and the Khanbogd Soum Government. CAO’s conclusion report is available in both English and Mongolian.Learn more about the Oyu Tolgoi-01 caseLearn more about the Oyu Tolgoi-02 case »
Haiti: CAO Accepts New Complaint Regarding IFC Project with Grupo M and CODEVI
May 8, 2020 - CAO has accepted a new complaint regarding IFC’s project in Haiti with Grupo M and its fully owned subsidiary CODEVI, one of the largest garment manufacturing operations in the Central America and Caribbean region. The complaint was filed by a local individual on behalf of 174 farmers’ households in the Special Economic Zone of Ouanaminthe and raises concerns regarding the economic displacement of the complainants due to CODEVI’s construction there in 2002, as well as concerns regarding improper waste disposal by CODEVI.Learn more about the Grupo M and CODEVI II-01 case
CAO Newsletter: April 2020
May 8, 2020 - This issue provides an update on changes to CAO's casework due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the closure of dispute resolution processes in Chad and Cameroon, the release of CAO's compliance investigation report related to the Yanacocha Gold Mine in Peru, and the closure of a case regarding a gas pipeline in Azerbaijan after compliance appraisal. Learn more
Cambodia: CAO Closes Case Related to IFC’s Cambodia Airports Project after Dispute Resolution
May 7, 2020 - CAO has closed the dispute resolution process related to the IFC-supported Cambodia Airports Project, after monitoring implementation of agreements reached between the project operator, Societe Concessionaire de l'Aeroport, affected community representatives, and the Government of Cambodia. CAO’s conclusion report is available in both English and Khmer. Learn more about the Cambodia Airports-01-Phnom Penh case
Summary of CAO Cases: April 30, 2020
May 1, 2020 - CAO’s end-of-month summary of cases in assessment, dispute resolution, and compliance is available at the link below.Case Summary April 2020
Nicaragua: Years After Conclusion of CAO Dialogue Process Community and Company Work Together to Prevent COVID-19
April 30, 2020 - Several years after the conclusion of a dispute resolution process in Chichigalpa, Nicaragua which addressed impacts from sugarcane production including concerns regarding Chronic Kidney Disease, the parties continue to work together and have taken their collaboration to the next level as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic. The parties, ASOCHIVIDA, an association of 2,000 former sugarcane workers and their families, and Nicaragua Sugar Estates Limited, have designed and implemented a joint strategy to prevent the spread of the virus among ASOCHIVIDA members, staff, and their communities. CAO has published the parties’ joint statement about this effort at the link below to shed light on their collaboration. Learn more
New Resource: One-Pager on Changes to CAO's Casework due to COVID-19 and Health Information
April 17, 2020 - CAO has prepared a one-pager on changes to CAO's casework due to coronavirus, which is available at the link below for download and printing. The one-pager also includes an infographic from the Pan-American Health Organization with guidance on how to 'be aware, prepare, and act' with regard to the coronavirus. Additional translations are forthcoming and will be posted in due course. Download here
Cameroon: CAO Closes Second Case Related to the Chad-Cameroon Pipeline Project after Dispute Resolution
March 31, 2020 - CAO has closed the dispute resolution process related to the Cameroon portion of the Chad-Cameroon Pipeline Project, after monitoring implementation of settlement agreements between the project operator, Cameroon Oil Transportation Company (COTCO), and affected community representatives. CAO’s conclusion report is available in both English and French.Learn more about the Chad-Cameroon Pipeline-02 case
Liberia: CAO Refers Complaint Related to IFC Investment in Salala Rubber Corporation to Compliance
March 31, 2020 - CAO has completed its assessment of a complaint related to IFC’s investment in Salala Rubber Corporation (SRC) in Liberia. During the assessment, there was a lack of consensus amongst the parties to engage in a CAO dispute resolution process. Given that CAO dispute resolution is voluntary, the complaint has been referred to CAO’s Compliance function for appraisal of IFC’s environmental and social performance, in accordance with CAO’s Operational Guidelines. CAO’s Assessment Report is available in English, as well as IFC’s response. Learn more about the Salala Rubber Corporation-01 case
Azerbaijan: CAO Closes Second Case Regarding Trans-Anatolian Pipeline After Compliance Appraisal
March 19, 2020 - CAO has completed its compliance appraisal of the second complaint regarding MIGA’s guarantee for the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) in Azerbaijan. CAO’s appraisal has determined that an investigation is not the appropriate response to this complaint and has thus closed this case. The appraisal report is available in English and Azeri at the link below.
Learn more about the TANAP-02 case
POSTPONED: CAO Accountability Symposium to Commemorate 20th Anniversary
March 12, 2020 - In light of the ongoing uncertainties and risk to health and security with COVID-19 (Coronavirus), CAO’s 20th Anniversary Symposium co-hosted with American University Washington College of Law, which was planned for April, has been postponed. CAO is developing alternative plans for CAO at 20 themed events and will provide updates in due course.Learn more
Guinea: Call for Expressions of Interest for Experts to Conduct Resettlement Assessment and Livelihood Improvement Planning (Deadline Extended)
March 5, 2020 – The parties to a dispute resolution process facilitated by CAO in Guinea invite qualified experts to submit Expressions of Interest for an independent study on Resettlement, to include conducting a Resettlement Assessment and providing Livelihood Improvement Planning for the area where the communities have been resettled to. Expressions of Interest documents should be submitted prior to 5:00pm GMT, on March 27, 2020 in English. See links below for more details. Invitation for Expressions of Interest & ToRInvitation pour une Manifestation d’Intérêt & TDR »
Cambodia: CAO Refers Complaint Related to IFC Investment in TPBank and VPBank to Dispute Resolution
February 28, 2020 - CAO has completed its assessment of a complaint regarding IFC’s investment in two Financial Intermediary clients, TPBank and VPBank, related to their investments in Hoang Anh Gia Lai, a Vietnamese company operating rubber plantations in Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia. During the assessment, the parties agreed to engage in a dispute resolution process convened by CAO. Given the overlap of parties in dialogue and issues for discussion with CAO’s Cambodia/VEIL II-01/Ratanakiri Province case, the two cases will be merged and handled by CAO through one dispute resolution process. The assessment report is available in English and Khmer, as well as IFC's official response.Learn more about the TPBank and VPBank-01 case
Peru: CAO Publishes Compliance Investigation Regarding IFC Investment in the Yanacocha Gold Mine
February 24, 2020 - CAO has released its compliance investigation report of IFC's investment in the Minera Yanacocha gold mine in the Department of Cajamarca, Peru. The investigation assessed issues related to occupational health and safety conditions at the mine and impacts on worker health. The investigation report is available in English and Spanish, as well as IFC's official response. Learn more about the Yanacocha-09 caseLearn more about the Yanacocha-10 case
Kenya: Communiqué Regarding CAO Visit Related to IFC Investment in Bridge International Academies
February 14, 2020 – A CAO team visited Kenya from February 9-14, 2020 to meet with stakeholders as part of its ongoing compliance investigation related to IFC’s investment in Bridge International Academies. More details on the visit and case are outlined in the communiqué linked here. Learn more about the Bridge International Academies-01 case
Cambodia: CAO Releases Progress Report Related to the VEIL II Dispute Resolution Process
February 12, 2020 - CAO has released a progress report related to an ongoing dispute resolution process between Hoang Anh Gia Lai, a Vietnamese operator of rubber plantations in Ratanakiri province, and locally impacted villages. The report provides an overview of the CAO’s dispute resolution process and outlines the efforts made to date by the parties. The report is available in English and Khmer. Learn more about the VEIL II-01 case
Albania: CAO Closes Enso-02 Case After Compliance Appraisal
February 10, 2019 - CAO has completed its compliance appraisal of the second complaint regarding IFC’s investment in the Enso Albania hydropower project in Albania. CAO concluded that IFC’s approach to the review and supervision of this project in relation to the issues raised in the complaint did not meet the threshold of raising substantial concerns regarding Environmental & Social outcomes and/or issues of systemic importance to IFC that would warrant a compliance investigation. CAO has thus decided to close this case.Learn more about the Enso Albania-02 case
What's New
CAO Newsletter: April 2020
May 8, 2020 - This issue provides an update on changes to CAO's casework due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the closure of dispute resolution processes in Chad and Cameroon, the release of CAO's compliance investigation report related to the Yanacocha Gold Mine in Peru, and the closure of a case regarding a gas pipeline in Azerbaijan after compliance appraisal.
Learn more
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