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
Summary of CAO Cases: February 2015
February 20, 2015 - CAO's 6-weekly summary of cases in assessment, dispute resolution, and compliance is available at the link below.CAO Case Summary February 2015
Malaysia: Complaint Regarding IFC's Bilt Paper B.V Project
January 28, 2015 - CAO has accepted a complaint regarding IFC's project with Bilt Paper B.V in Malaysia. An assessment of the complaint is underway. See link below for more information: Learn more about this case
Kosovo: Korporata Energjetike e Kosovës KEK-01 Compliance Monitoring Report
January 23, 2015 - CAO has released its Compliance Monitoring report of its investigation of IFC Advisory Services Project with the Korporata Energjetike e Kosovës. With this report, CAO determines that it has sufficient basis to close the audit at this stage. The Compliance Monitoring report is available via the link below.Learn more about this case
India: Tata Ultra Mega-01 Compliance Monitoring Report and IFC Response
January 21, 2015 - CAO has released its first Compliance Monitoring report of its investigation of IFC with regard to its investment in CGPL in India. More information is available via the link below.Learn more about this case
CAO at a Glance: Fiscal Year 2014
January 15, 2015 - Below is a one page summary of CAO cases handled in FY2014.CAO at a Glance
Summary of CAO Cases: January 2015
January 08, 2015 - CAO's 6-weekly summary of cases in assessment, dispute resolution, and compliance is available at the link below.CAO Case Summary January 2015
Papua New Guinea: Complaint Regarding IFC's AES PNG Project
December 19, 2014 - CAO has accepted a complaint regarding IFC's involvement in Avenell Engineering Services Ltd. in Papua New Guinea. Learn more about this case
Guatemala: Complaint Regarding IFC's Investment in Latin Renewables Infrastructure Fund
December 16, 2014 - CAO has accepted a complaint regarding IFC's project with Latin Renewables Infrastructure Fund in Guatemala. An assessment of the issues raised in the complaint is underway with the relevant parties. Learn more about this case
Chile: Complaint Regarding IFC's Hidromaule Project
December 11, 2014 - CAO has accepted a complaint regarding IFC's project with Hidromaule S.A in Chile. An assessment of the complaint is underway. See link below for more information: Learn more about this case
Armenia: CAO Assessment Report of First Lydian Complaint
December 10, 2014 - CAO has released its Assessment Report for the complaint regarding IFC's investment in Lydian Internation in Armenia. During the assessment,
CAO found no agreement among the key parties to proceed with a dispute resolution under CAO auspices. A Compliance appraisal of the case has been initiated in accordance with CAO Operational Guidelines. To learn more about the case see link below:
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CAO FI Monitoring Report and IFC response
November 24, 2014 - CAO released its first compliance monitoring report related to the financial intermediaries (FI) audit of IFC on October 16, 2014. The monitoring report considers actions taken by IFC in response to the audit findings, and subsequent Ficohsa Investigation. The monitoring report, together with IFC's official response, is available at the link below.Learn more about this case
Uganda: CAO Conclusion Report of Sixth Bujagali Complaint
November 07, 2014 - CAO has released its Conclusion Report for the sixth complaint in relation to IFC and MIGA Bujagali project in Uganda. The dispute resolution process was brought to a close in November 2014 as the parties reached an impasse over how to move forward with the process. In accordance with CAO’s Operational Guidelines, the case has been referred to CAO Compliance for appraisal of IFC’s/MIGA’s performance with regard to the project. Learn more about the case here
CAO Annual Report 2014
October 29, 2014- CAO has released its 2014 Annual Report summarizing its activities for Fiscal Year 2014. To download the report click hereCAO Annual Report 2014
India: Lafarge case Closed after Compliance Appraisal
October 21, 2014 - CAO has completed its compliance appraisal of IFC with regard to the Lafarge Project in India. 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
Guatemala: CAO Assessment Report of TCQ
October 1, 2014 - CAO has released its Assessment Report for the complaint regarding IFC's investment in TCQ in Guatemala. During the assessment, CAO found no agreement among the key parties to proceed with a dispute resolution under CAO auspices. A Compliance appraisal of the case has been initiated in accordance with CAO Operational Guidelines. To learn more about the case see link below: Learn more about this case
Honduras: Complaint Regarding IFC's Investment in Corporación Dinant
September 12, 2014 - CAO has accepted a second complaint regarding IFC's project with Corporación Dinant in Honduras. An assessment of the issues raised in the complaint is underway with the relevant parties.
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Honduras: Complaint Regarding IFC's Investment in Corporación Dinant
September 9, 2014 - CAO has accepted a complaint regarding IFC's project with Corporación Dinant in Honduras. An assessment of the complaint is underway with the relevant parties. CAO is also monitoring IFC’s actions in response to a CAO investigation of IFC's involvement in the project. Learn more about this case
Peru: CAO releases Compliance Investigation of IFC with regard to Minera Quellaveco
September 4, 2014 - CAO has released its compliance investigation of IFC with regard to its investment in Minera Quellaveco in Peru. CAO's one-page communique regarding the key findings is available in English and Spanish. More details about the case, including the investigation report in English and Spanish, and IFC's response, is available at the link below.Learn more about this case
Armenia: Second Complaint Regarding IFC's Lydian Int 3 Project
August 18, 2014- CAO has accepted a new complaint regarding IFC's Lydian Intl 3 project, Amulsar gold mine in Armenia. An assessment of the issues raised in the complaint is underway with the relevant parties.Learn more about this case
Honduras: CAO Release Compliance Investigation of IFC with Regard to Banco Ficohsa
August 11, 2014 - CAO has released its compliance investigation of IFC with regard to Banco Financiera Comercial Hondureña S.A. (Ficohsa) in Honduras. The investigation report describes material shortcomings in the way that IFC discharged its environmental and social obligations in relation to the Ficohsa investment. More information about the case, see the CAO Communique: Summary of Key Findings in English and Spanish. Full details about the case, including a Spanish translation of the report and IFC's response, is available at the link below.
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Uganda: CAO Visit to Witness Progress on Implementation of Agreements between Affected Communities and New Forests Company
August 6, 2014 - CAO’s new Vice President, Osvaldo Gratacós, joined outgoing Vice President, Meg Taylor, on a visit to Uganda in July 2014 to meet with community members and witness progress being made to implement two agreements following CAO's mediation process. More details on the VPs' visit and outcomes to date are summarized in the below CAO communique.CAO Communique: Uganda, Agri-Vie Mediation Outcomes, August 6, 2014
Indonesia: CAO Compliance investigation of IFC's investment in Delta-Wilmar
July 02, 2014 - On June 25, 2014 CAO decided to conduct a compliance investigation of IFC's investment in Delta-Wilmar. The investigation will focus on whether IFC assured itself that the E&S conditions of disbursement of its loans to Delta-Wilmar were met prior to disbursement in January 2010 and whether the investment was supervised in accordance with applicable IFC policies, procedures and standards. CAO's appraisal report and Terms of Reference for the Compliance Investigation are available through the link below: Learn more about the case
Honduras: CAO finalizes Banco Ficohsa Investigation Report
June 18, 2014 - CAO finalized its Investigation Report into IFC's investments in Banco Fiochsa on June 13. The report has been submitted to IFC senior management for official response.Learn more about this case
Chad: Progress Report on Dispute Resolution Process with regard to Chad-Cameroon Complaint
June 8, 2014 - CAO has posted a Progress Report on the dispute resolution process in Chad to address a complaint regarding the Chad-Cameroon Pipeline. The report and update is available at the link below.Learn more about this case
Honduras: IFC Consultation Draft: Dinant Enhanced Action Plan
April 08, 2014 - IFC has provided CAO with an enhanced Action Plan in response to CAO's Audit of IFC's investment in Dinant. This action plan has been posted on IFC's website here and is available under the View Documents tab from the link belowLink to case file and Dinant Enhanced Action Plan
President Kim Responds to Civil Society’s Concerns on Private Sector Investments
December 10, 2013 - Yesterday, World Bank Group President released a statement responding to civil society concerns on private sector investments. See the link below for the full statement.Link to President Kim's statement
IFC's Action Plan in Response to CAO's Financial Intermediary 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. Learn more about this case.IFC's FI Action Plan
What's New
Dame Meg Taylor appointed as Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat
August 4, 2014 - CAO congratulates former Vice President Dame Meg Taylor on her appointment as the first female Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.Learn more
New CAO Vice President, Osvaldo L. Gratacós assumes office
July 10, 2014 - CAO is pleased to announce that its new Vice President (VP) Osvaldo L. Gratacós has officially assumed office. Mr. Gratacós brings more than 14 years of experience as a fair, independent counsel for various organizations. His career includes roles across the private sector such as Motorola, Inc. and public sector such as US Agency for International Development and the Export-Import Bank of the United States that will enable Mr. Gratacós to bring a balance of authority, experience and flexibility to the office. Mr. Gratacós takes over from Meg Taylor who set up the CAO and served as CAO VP for 15 years. More information about Osvaldo Gratacós is available at the link below.Learn more about new CAO VP
Members of the World Bank Group