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 Releases Animated Video to Explain Its Work - Now in Spanish and French
September 12, 2018 - What is CAO and how do we work? CAO has released an animated video to answer these questions and introduce its work. The two-minute video is now available in English, Spanish, and French. Video: What is CAO and How Do We Work
Panama: CAO Determines Complaint Regarding IFC’s Advisory Services Project with Empresa de Transmisión Eléctrica S.A Eligible
September 12, 2018 – CAO has determined that a complaint related to IFC’s Advisory Services project with Empresa de Transmisión Eléctrica S.A, Panama’s state transmission company, is eligible. An assessment of the complaint is underway. A copy of the complaint and more information about the case are available at the link below.
Learn more about the case
Ukraine: Communique regarding CAO compliance investigation of IFC's investment in Axzon/Danosha
August 29, 2018 - CAO has released a communique, available in English and Ukrainian, regarding its investigation of IFC's investment in Axzon/Danosha pig farming operations in Ukraine. A CAO team conducted a field visit to Ukraine August 20-23 as part of the investigation, which is ongoing. Learn more about the case
Togo: Parties agree to a CAO dispute resolution process regarding the second complaint related to the IFC supported Lomé Container Terminal (LCT) Project
August 21, 2018 - CAO has completed its assessment of the second complaint related to the IFC supported Lomé Container Terminal (LCT) project, which involves the development, construction and operation of a greenfield container terminal within the Port of Lomé, in Togo. The parties have agreed to engage in a voluntary dialogue process convened by CAO. The assessment report is available in English and French.Learn more
Summary of CAO Cases: August 2018
August 16, 2018 - CAO’s 6-weekly summary of cases in assessment, dispute resolution, and compliance is available at the link below.Case Summary August 2018
Georgia: CAO Transfers Complaint Related to the IFC & MIGA-supported Adjaristsqali Georgia LLC Hydropower Project to Dispute Resolution
August 15, 2018 - CAO has completed its assessment of the complaint related to the IFC & MIGA-supported Adjaristsqali Georgia LLC (AGL) project, which involves the development of a hydropower plant in the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, in Georgia. The parties have agreed to engage in a voluntary dialogue process jointly convened by CAO and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s Project Complaint Mechanism, with Asian Development Bank’s Office of the Special Project Facilitator acting as observer. The assessment report is available in English and Georgian.Learn more
Chile: CAO Publishes Terms of Reference for Alto Maipo Investigation
August 8, 2018 – CAO has published the Terms of Reference (ToR) for its upcoming investigation of IFC’s investment in the Alto Maipo hydropower project in Chile. The ToR in English and Spanish, and more information about the case, are available at the link below.Learn more about the Alto Maipo-01 caseLearn more about the Alto Maipo-02 case
CAO Newsletter: July 2018
August 6, 2018 - CAO's latest newsletter provides an update on progress made through dispute resolution in Cambodia and Morocco, the launch of an animated video explaining CAO's work, the release of a compliance investigation related to a paper project in Malaysia, new CAO advisory supply chain work, and outreach events in the Africa region.
CAO Newsletter - July 2018
Uganda: CAO Concludes Dispute Resolution Process Regarding Bujagali Hydropower Project
August 1, 2018 - CAO has concluded the dispute resolution process related to the fifth complaint received regarding the IFC and MIGA-supported Bujagali hydropower project, in Uganda. CAO has monitored full implementation of agreements reached between the parties. In the absence of any outstanding issues related to the complaint, the case has now been closed. A dispute resolution conclusion report is available in both English and Luganda.Learn more
Ukraine: CAO Accepts Complaint Regarding IFC’s Investment in Myronivsky Hliboproduct (MHP)
July 26, 2018 – CAO has accepted a complaint related to IFC’s investment in Myronivsky Hliboproduct (MHP), a poultry producer in Ukraine. A summary of the complaint and more information about the case are available at the link below.Learn more
Albania: Kurum Hydro Case Transfers to CAO Compliance for Appraisal of IFC Due Diligence
July 26, 2018 - CAO has concluded a dispute resolution process in Albania related to IFC’s investment in Kurum International. Per CAO’s Operational Guidelines for complaints that are not amenable to, or cannot be resolved through, dispute resolution, the case has been transferred to CAO’s Compliance function for an appraisal of IFC’s due diligence. CAO has issued a conclusion report summarizing the dispute resolution process, which is available in English and AlbanianLearn more
CAO Releases Advisory Work on Supply Chains
July 17, 2018 - CAO has released an advisory series on Supply Chain Business Opportunities and Risks. CAO developed the series based on lessons from CAO cases, and inputs from external experts and IFC staff. The series comprises three memos focused on supply chain risk analysis; policies and performance standards; and voluntary standards and certification.
Learn more about CAO's Supply Chain Memos
Albania: CAO sends Enso Albania Investigation Report to IFC for Official Response
June 26, 2018 - CAO has finalized its investigation report of IFC's investment in Enso Albania relating to a hydropower plant on the Lengarica river in Albania. IFC management has 20 days to submit a response to the investigation report.Learn more about this case
Uganda: IFC Management Response to CAO Bujagali Investigations – Terms of Reference for Worker and Household Studies
June 21, 2018 – IFC has disclosed Terms of Reference for studies as part of its Management Response to CAO’s Bujagali-06 and Bujagali-07 investigations. The Terms of Reference provide further details in relation to IFC’s response to complaints from construction workers and households whose land was acquired for the construction of the project transmission line.Learn more about the Bujagali-06 caseLearn more about the Bujagali-07 case
Indonesia: CAO Closes Third Wilmar Case After Monitoring
June 19, 2018 – CAO has published a final compliance monitoring report following its 2016 investigation of IFC’s performance in relation Delta Wilmar / Wilmar Group in Indonesia. More details about the case, and the compliance monitoring report, are available at the link below.Learn more
Myanmar: CAO Concludes Assessment of Complaint Related to IFC Investment in Myanma Awba Group Company Ltd.
June 15, 2018 - CAO has completed its assessment of the complaint related to IFC’s investment in Myanma Awba Group Company Ltd. in Myanmar. The parties have agreed to engage in a dialogue process convened by CAO. The assessment report is available in English and Burmese.Learn more
Kenya: CAO Accepts Complaint Regarding IFC’s Investment in Bridge International Academies
June 15, 2018 – CAO has accepted a complaint in relation to IFC’s investment in Bridge International Academies in Kenya and has initiated an assessment. A summary of the complaint and more information about the case are available at the link below.Learn more
Peru: CAO Completes Assessment Report for complaint regarding IFC's Investment in Minera Yanacocha
June 15, 2018 - CAO has completed an assessment of the 11th complaint received regarding IFC’s investment in the Minera Yanacocha project in Cajamarca, Perú. The complaint raised concerns in relation to environmental conditions at the La Quinua mine and potential negative environmental impacts at the proposed Conga mine. Based on a decision by the complainants and company, the complaint is being referred to CAO’s Compliance Function for an appraisal of IFC’s adherence to its own environmental and social policies.Learn more
Malaysia: CAO Publishes Compliance Investigation Regarding IFC’s Investment in Bilt Paper
June 06, 2018 - CAO has completed a compliance investigation related to IFC’s investment in Bilt Paper B.V. CAO found shortcomings in IFC’s review and supervision of the requirements of Performance Standard 2 on Labor and Working Conditions. A summary of the findings and CAO’s investigation report is available at the below link.Learn more
Uganda: IFC addendum to Management Response to CAO's Bujagali Investigation
May 23, 2018 - IFC shared with CAO an addendum to the management response to CAO's investigation report for the Bujagali 04/06 and Bujagali 07 cases. CAO monitoring will include a review of the implementation of the actions listed in the addendum and compliance with the Performance Standards. Learn more about the Bujagali-04 case Learn more about the Bujagali-06 case Learn more about the Bujagali-07 case
Uzbekistan: CAO Concludes Assessment of Complaint Related to IFC Investment in Indorama Kokand Textile (ITK) and Hamkorbank
April 20, 2018 - CAO has completed its assessment of the complaint related to IFC’s investment in Indorama Kokand Textile (IKT), a cotton yarn producer in Uzbekistan, and Hamkorbank. The parties have agreed to engage in a voluntary dialogue process convened by CAO. The assessment report is available in English, Russian and Uzbek.Learn more about this case
What's New
CAO Releases Animated Video to Explain Its Work - Now in Spanish and French
September 12, 2018 - What is CAO and how do we work? CAO has released an animated video to answer these questions and introduce its work. The two-minute video is now available in English, Spanish, and French. Video: What is CAO and How Do We Work
CAO Newsletter: July 2018
August 6, 2018 - CAO's latest newsletter provides an update on progress made through dispute resolution in Cambodia and Morocco, the launch of an animated video explaining CAO's work, the release of a compliance investigation related to a paper project in Malaysia, new CAO advisory supply chain work, and outreach events in the Africa region. CAO Newsletter - July 2018
CAO Releases Advisory Work on Supply Chains
July 17, 2018 - CAO has released an advisory series on Supply Chain Business Opportunities and Risks. CAO developed the series based on lessons from CAO cases, and inputs from external experts and IFC staff. The series comprises three memos focused on supply chain risk analysis; policies and performance standards; and voluntary standards and certification. Learn more about CAO's Supply Chain Memos
South Africa: CAO Participates in International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) Annual Conference
May 21, 2018 - CAO participated in the 38th Conference of the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) held in Durban, South Africa, May 16-19, 2018. CAO partnered with other IFI iindependent accountability mechanisms to host a plenary session on the role of the mechanisms in international finance, participated in two technical sessions related to mediation and assessments, and organized an outreach event for South African civil society organizations. Learn more about the event
Nigeria: CAO Conducts Outreach to Civil Society Organizations
May 18, 2018 - CAO hosted a civil society outreach meeting in Nigeria on May 17, 2018. The meeting, which took place at the IFC and World Bank offices in Lagos and Abuja, respectively, included over 30 CSO representatives who received a briefing from IFC staff on the investment portfolio in Nigeria and E&S standards, and a briefing from CAO regarding its accountability role. CAO co-organized the event with the African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) and Global Rights.Learn more about this event
Financing Development through Financial Intermediaries: Exploring Best Practices in Transparency
May 18, 2018 - CAO hosted a policy dialogue during the recent Spring Meetings to discuss best practices in transparency related to financial intermediary investments. A high-level panel of representatives from IFC, the banking sector, and civil society, as well as over 100 attendees, discussed the challenges and opportunities for financial sector transparency. Learn more
CAO Convenes Civil Society Dialogue in Senegal
April 3, 2018 - CAO organized an outreach meeting via videoconference with Senegalese civil society organizations (CSOs) in Dakar on March 13, 2018. The meeting was part of CAO’s broader outreach effort in the Africa region, and followed similar dialogues in Ghana and South Africa. The event was co-organized with two leading Senegalese CSOs, Lumière Synergie pour le Développement (LSD) and Enda Lead Afrique Francophone, and had logistics support from the IFC office in Dakar.Learn more about this event
Members of the World Bank Group