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
CAO seeks a Short-Term Consultant (STC) to support the CAO's Dispute Resolution Function
September 19, 2016: This is a full-time STC opportunity based in Washington, D.C. for a period of 150 days within a 12 month period from October 2016. To apply, see Terms of Reference below. Applications close September 30th, 2016.CAO DR-STC_Terms of Reference
Chad: CAO publishes Progress Report regarding Chad-Cameroon Pipeline-03 dialogue process
September 13, 2016: CAO publishes a Progress Report regarding dispute resolution process addressing concerns about the Chad-Cameroon pipeline project in Chad. The Progress Report and more information about the case are available at the link below.Learn more about this case
Kenya: Complaint regarding IFC's investment in Bidco Africa
September 08, 2016: CAO has accepted a complaint regarding IFC's supported Bidco Bev & Det project in Kenya . An assessment of the complaint is underway with the relevant parties. Learn more about this case
CAO investigation report of IFC’s Investment in APPL sent to IFC for Official Response
September 6, 2016 – CAO’s final investigation report of IFC’s investment in Amalgamated Plantations Private Limited (APPL) was sent to IFC for Official Response on September 6, 2016. IFC has 20 working days to submit a response to CAO. Once the response is submitted, CAO will send the final investigation report and IFC’s response to the President of the World Bank Group for clearance.Learn more about this case
Egypt: Terms of Reference for Compliance Investigation of IFC Financing of Alexandria Portland Cement
September 2, 2016 - CAO publishes Terms of Reference for its upcoming compliance investigation of IFC's financing of Alexandria Portland Cement Company (APCC) in Egypt..The ToR and full details about this case can be found via link below.Learn more about this case
Summary of CAO Cases: August 2016
August 26, 2016 - CAO's 6-weekly summary of cases in assessment, dispute resolution, and compliance is available at the link below.CAO Case Summary August 2016
Colombia: CAO releases Compliance Investigation of IFC Investments in Eco Oro
August 25, 2016 - CAO releases its compliance investigation of IFC's investments in Eco Oro, a junior mining company which owns the Angostura gold and silver exploration project in Colombia. The investigation makes a number of findings in relation to IFC's appraisal and supervision of environmental and social risks and impacts of the project. CAO's Investigation Report in English and Spanish, a communiqué regarding the case, and IFC's Response, are available at the link below
Learn more about this case
Cameroon: CAO publishes Progress Report regarding Chad-Cameroon Pipeline project dialogue process
August 17, 2016 - CAO publishes a Progress Report regarding dispute resolution process addressing concerns about the Chad-Cameroon pipeline project in Cameroon. The Progress Report and more information about the case are available at the link below.Learn more about this case
Guatemala: CAO publishes Compliance Appraisal Report of IFC's Investment in CIFI
August 17, 2016 - CAO releases its compliance appraisal report of IFC's investment in Corporacion Interamericana para el Financiamiento (CIFI) - Hidro Santa Cruz project. CAO has decided that a compliance investigation was warranted in response to this complaint, and will prepare Terms of Reference for the investigation. The compliance appraisal report and more information about the case are available at the link below.Learn more about this case
CAO Newsletter: Issue 4 / August 2016
August 15, 2016 - CAO’s latest newsletter provides an update on CAO’s compliance investigation of IFC’s investments in a palm oil refinery in Ukraine, CAO’s publication of its interactive Grievance Mechanism Toolkit, progress that’s been made through a dispute resolution process in Albania and recent CAO mediator workshops, amongst other updates.CAO Newsletter - Issue 4
Honduras: CAO publishes second Compliance Monitoring Report regarding the Dinant Audit
August 15, 2016 - CAO publishes its second monitoring report in relation to CAO's 2014 Audit of IFC's investment in Corporación Dinant. The monitoring report and more information about the case are available at the link below.Learn more about this case
Togo: LCT Investigation Report sent to IFC for Official Response
August 9, 2016 - CAO's final investigation report of IFC's investment in Lome Container Terminal (LCT) in Togo was sent to IFC for official response on August 8, 2016. IFC has 20 working days to submit a response to CAO. Once the response is submitted, CAO will forward the final investigation report along with IFC's response to the President of the World Bank Group for clearance. Learn more about this case
Egypt: CAO Compliance Appraisal of IFC Financing of Alexandria Portland Cement Company
August 3, 2016 - CAO releases its compliance appraisal of IFC's financing of Alexandria Portland Cement Company. The appraisal concludes that the complaint raises substantial issues related to IFC's appraisal and supervision of the environmental and social impacts of the project. CAO has decided that a compliance investigation is warranted. The compliance appraisal report and more information about the case are available at the link below.Learn more about this case
Cambodia: New Progress Report and latest Joint Statement on Dispute Resolution Process with regard to VEIL II-01 Complaint
August 01, 2016 - CAO has posted a Progress Report summarizing process and outcomes to date regarding the dispute resolution process in Cambodia, which addresses a complaint regarding the IFC’s VEIL II project. The parties have also issued a further Joint Statement regarding the ongoing mediation process. Both the Progress Report and Joint statement are available at the link below: Learn more about this case
Colombia: Eco Oro Investigation Report sent to IFC for Official Response
July 11, 2016 - CAO's final investigation report of IFC's investment in Eco Oro in Colombia was sent to IFC for official response on June 30, 2016. IFC has 20 working days to submit a response to CAO. Once the response is submitted, CAO will forward the final investigation report along with IFC's response to the President of the World Bank Group for clearance. Learn more about this case
Summary of CAO cases: July 2016
July 06, 2016- CAO's 6-weekly summary of cases in assessment, dispute resolution, and compliance is available at the link below.CAO Case Summary July 2016
Indonesia: Complaint regarding MIGA's Rajamandala Hydropower Plant Project
July 06, 2016 - CAO has accepted a complaint regarding MIGA's supported Rajamandala hydropower plant project in Indonesia . An assessment of the complaint is underway with the relevant parties. Learn more about this case
CAO Publishes Grievance Mechanism Toolkit
CAO Advisory has published a new toolkit for project level grievance mechanisms. This toolkit has been developed in the context of CAO’s mandate to improve the environmental and social performance of IFC and MIGA projects. Its focus is on small and medium-sized companies in non-extractive sectors, who often face a lack of hands on tools for consulting on, designing, and managing project level grievance mechanisms. We hope this toolkit will also be helpful to practitioners in the field, and encourage your feedback through the survey mechanism embedded in the toolkit.
View the Grievance Mechanism Toolkit Here
CAO Meets with Civil Society Organizations from Across Mexico
June 15, 2016 - More than 80 representatives of Mexican civil society organizations (CSOs) from 17 Mexican states met for the first time with CAO and four other independent accountability mechanisms (IAMs) on June 8 in Mexico City. Learn more about this event
CAO Publication: Building Hope and Health Through Dialogue - A Story of Company-Community Dispute Resolution in Nicaragua
June 14, 2016 - This is the story of how a dispute-resolution process convened by CAO resulted in a company and community working together to solve their issues. It is also the story of what seemed at first to be a dispute between a specific company and former workers, soon proved to be a local manifestation of a much larger public health issue.
This
publication is available in English and Spanish at the links below.
English
Spanish
Berta Cáceres - A Powerful Voice for the Voiceless
March 7, 2016 - It is with deep sadness that we have learned of the murder of Berta Cáceres, one of the leading indigenous and environmental rights campaigners in Honduras. CAO had received a number of complaints related to hydropower and other energy projects in Honduras from Berta Cáceres, in her capacity as general coordinator and co-founder of the National Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH). For more information
What's New
Conflict Resolution Day 2015: Conflict, Gender & Development: A Conversation with Alaa Murabit
November 2, 2015 - On 16 October 2015, CAO hosted a discussion with Alaa Murabit to mark Conflict Resolution Day. The discussion centered on the why and how of achieving participation of women in development and mediation processes. To see highlights from the conversation, see video via link below.Conflict Resolution Day 2015
World Bank Group Spring Meetings: CAO-Inspection Panel High Level Event: Accountability for Better Development Outcomes
April 16, 2015 - CAO hosted a high level panel during the Spring Meetings with the Inspection Panel, on “Accountability for Better Development Outcomes”, Thursday April 16, 2015. The event featured Miguel Castilla, Ambassador to the United States for Peru, Ray Offenheiser, President of Oxfam America, and Deirdre White, CEO of PYXERA Global, with a video Introduction by President Jim Kim. Watch Event Recording
Members of the World Bank Group