CAO Newsletters
CAO Update, Issue 19, April 2020 (FY20, Quarter 3)
CAO Update, Issue 18, January 2020 (FY20, Quarter 2)
CAO Update, Issue 17, November 2019 (FY20, Quarter 1)
CAO Update, Issue 16, July 2019 (FY19, Quarter 4)
CAO Update, Issue 15, April 2019 (FY19, Quarter 3)
CAO Update, Issue 14, January 2019 (FY19, Quarter 2)
CAO Update, Issue 13, October 2018 (FY19, Quarter 1)
CAO Update, Issue 12, July 2018 (FY18, Quarter 4)
CAO Update, Issue 11, April 2018 (FY18, Quarter 3)
CAO Update, Issue 10, December 2017 (FY18, Quarter 2)
CAO Update, Issue 9, October 2017 (FY18, Quarter 1)
CAO Update, Issue 8, July 2017 (FY17, Quarter 4)
CAO Update, Issue 7, April 2017 (FY17, Quarter 3)
CAO Update, Issue 6, January 2017 (FY17, Quarter 2)
CAO Update, Issue 5, November 2016 (FY17, Quarter 1)
CAO Update, Issue 4, August 2016 (FY16, Quarter 4)
CAO Update, Issue 3, April 2016 (FY16, Quarter 3)
CAO Update, Issue 2, January 2016 (FY16, Quarter 2)
CAO Update, Issue 1, October 2015 (FY16, Quarter 1)
CAO Advisory Publications
CAO Advisory Memos on Supply Chain Business Opportunities and Risks
CAO Advisory has released a series of Advisory Memos geared to provide IFC with recommendations on supply chain business opportunities and risks. CAO saw the opportunity to develop advice on this topic given the private sector’s dependence on global supply chains for sourcing raw materials and products, as well as IFC’s focus on developing markets in fragile and conflict-affected states, where supply chain risks are likely to be most acute for IFC clients. CAO based its analysis and advice on lessons derived from a review of CAO cases, particularly compliance findings related to environmental and social supply chain risk, external supply chain expertise, and interviews with IFC staff. The publication comprises three memos related to supply chain issues: Risk Analysis; Policies and Performance Standards; and Voluntary Standards and Certification. To view the memos, please click here.
Advisory Memos on Supply Chain Business Opportunities and Risks
IFC Response to CAO Advisory Memos on Supply Chains - July 11, 2018
CAO Grievance Mechanism Toolkit, July 2016
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.
Grievance Mechanism Toolkit interactive website: www.cao-grm.org
Español: https://www.cao-grm.org/es/
Français: https://www.cao-grm.org/fr/
Grievance Mechanism Toolkit folio, 2016:
Advisory Series Lessons from CAO Cases: LAND, August 2015
Land related issues are raised in over 52% of CAO cases. With the World Bank Group’s growing work in agribusiness in conflict and fragile countries, lessons from CAO cases provide an opportunity to reflect on some of the challenges of land intensive investment.
This paper is the first in a series of papers on critical issues raised through CAO cases. It focuses on the topic of land and highlights some of the challenges related to land in CAO cases, and outlines some of the tools that CAO has used over the years that have assisted communities and companies in overcoming these challenges.
CAO Advisory Land Paper, 2015
CAO Dispute Resolution Publications
Guidance Note on Gender-Inclusive Dispute Resolution
This Guidance Note developed by CAO dispute resolution staff, mediators, and gender experts, identifies common challenges in adopting gender-inclusive approaches to dispute resolution and strategies and tools to address those challenges. Learn more and download the Guidance Note here.
Reflections from Practice
The Reflections from Practice series provides guidance for CAO Dispute Resolution staff, mediators, and consultants, and informs parties about the foundational principles guiding CAO's dispute resolution work. The first three publications in this series are "Getting Started with Dispute Resolution", "Representation", and "Joint Fact-Finding".
Explore the series: www.cao-dr-practice.org
Building Hope and Health Through Dialogue: A Story of Company-Community Dispute Resolution in Nicaragua
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.
In March 2008, 673 residents of communities in Nicaragua filed a complaint with CAO—with the assistance of the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), an international nongovernmental organization (NGO) based in Washington DC—against their former employer the San Antonio Sugar Mill. The complainants were former sugar cane workers who were suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD) of unknown origins. In their opinion this was related to their labor conditions and work as sugar cane cutters. Here is what happened when the two parties decided to engage in the CAO-convened dialogue.
A Journey Toward Solutions: A Story of Community-Company Dispute Resolution in Uganda
The publication documents CAO's dispute resolution work in Uganda to address two complaints from local communities evicted for commercial forestry plantations. Following agreements with the company, the CAO process resulted in land tenure for the communities, who are today resettling households and developing agriculture and livelihood projects.
CAO Annual Reports
CAO Annual Report 2019
CAO's 2019 Annual Report features outcomes from our dispute resolution, compliance, advisory, and outreach activities this year. Learn about CAO’s casework in 35 countries and explore highlights from our year working with communities, companies, IFC and MIGA staff, and other stakeholders for positive impact.
Interactive Digital Report: https://cao-ar19.org/
CAO Annual Report 2018
CAO’s FY2018 Annual Report features outcomes from our dispute resolution, compliance, advisory, and outreach activities this year. Learn about CAO’s casework in 32 countries and explore highlights from our year working with communities, companies, IFC and MIGA staff, and other stakeholders for positive environmental and social impact.
Interactive Digital Report: www.CAO-AR18.org
Año en Revisión - Español (Spanish)
CAO Annual Report 2017
CAO’s FY2017 report highlights landmark agreements reached between communities and companies through CAO dispute resolution processes in Cambodia, Chad, and Mongolia; new compliance investigations in the agribusiness, infrastructure, and mining sectors; advisory work focused on grievance mechanisms, supply chains, and learning from agribusiness projects; and CAO's outreach activities around the world. The report can be downloaded at the link below.
CAO Informe Anual 2017 (Spanish)
Interactive Digital Report:
CAO Annual Report 2016: Solutions + Accountability +Learning
A Focus on Impacted Communities—In Cambodia, a company in dialogue with local communities agrees to halt land clearance around rubber plantations. In Indonesia and India, CAO publishes compliance reports in relation to the environmental and social impacts of IFC investments. For a full report on CAO's activities in FY2016, click the below link. A summary of the report is also available below in both English and Spanish. The full Spanish report is forthcoming.
CAO Annual Report 2016 (Spanish)
CAO Annual Report 2015
CAO’s FY15 Annual Report includes a full update on CAO’s activities over this past fiscal year and includes reflections on trends from 15 years of CAO cases. This fiscal year CAO has continued to see growth in the volume and complexity of its cases and anticipates this being a consistent trend. Looking forward, CAO’s efforts remain focused on its effectiveness in making a difference for local communities, and contributing to better projects and better development outcomes by IFC and MIGA.
CAO at a Glance: Fiscal Year 2014
This is a one page summary of CAO cases handled in FY2014.
CAO Annual Report 2014
The FY14 Annual Report reflects on the continued growth in CAO’s work and provides an overview of notable outcomes delivered in FY14 including efforts made to strengthen the dispute resolution capacity in the various regions in which CAO is present. Furthermore, the report showcases CAO’s compliance work and the continuous provision of robust oversight of IFC’s environmental and social performance.
CAO Informe Anual 2014
CAO Annual Report 2013
In 2013 CAO continued to see a steady increase in the number of complaints received, with a 30 percent increase in the cases handled in the last twelve months alone. CAO's Annual Report 2013 speaks to the office's solid body of work, providing a full summary of outcomes delivered through CAO’s Dispute Resolution and Compliance functions, as well as updates of CAO’s Advisory work, monitoring and evaluation, and outreach activities.
CAO Annual Report 2012
CAO's 2012 Annual Report provides an overview of CAO's work in the busiest year for the office since it was established in 1999. CAO has seen a consistent increase in requests for its services, and handled 33 cases during the year through its dispute resolution and compliance functions. This year's report focuses on outcomes delivered by CAO in FY2012, in addition to a summary of outreach activities, M&E findings, and advisory work.
CAO Annual Report 2011
CAO's 2011 Annual Report introduces the second decade of CAO's operations. It was a busy year for the office, with a surge in the number of complaints filed and requests for the CAO’s dispute resolution services and compliance work on the increase. In addition to case updates, the report highlights CAO's outreach activities and systems in place to track CAO outcomes.
CAO at 10: Review of CAO's Work, 2000-2010
This report captures 10 years of the CAO’s work as the independent recourse mechanism for people affected by IFC/MIGA projects, and the mechanism which holds IFC/MIGA accountable for their social and environmental performance. In addition to lessons learned from CAO's dispute resolution and compliance work, the report analyzes data gleaned from complaints received over 10 years to reveal the types of social and environmental issues that give rise to conflict.
CAO at 10: Annual Report and Review FY2000-10
La CAO a los 10: Informe Anual y Repaso del AF 2000-10
CAO Annual Report 2009
CAO Annual Report 2008
CAO Annual Report 2007
CAO Annual Report 2006
CAO Annual Report 2005
CAO Annual Report 2004
CAO Annual Report 2003
CAO Annual Report 2002
CAO Annual Report 2001
Podcasts
'In Their Own Words' IFC Series
As part of IFC’s ‘In Their Own Words’ podcast series, CAO Dispute Resolution lead Gina Barbieri discusses engaging with communities and the different ways of helping people with Mimi Keita of IFC’s Infrastructure and Natural Resources Advisory team. The new series features candid conversations between sustainable development experts.
CAO Monographs: Building Consensus - History and Lessons from the Mesa de Dialogo y Consenso CAO-Cajamarca, Peru
The Mesa de Diálogo y Consenso CAO-Cajamarca was convened to address and resolve conflicts between Yanacocha, the largest gold mine in Peru, and the surrounding communities affected by its operations. The Mesa sought consensus-based solutions under a framework of good faith, cooperation, and tolerance. This series of monographs documents CAO's experience through the Mesa, and the history and lessons learned through the process.
THE POWER OF DIALOGUE: Executive Summary
English
Spanish
MONOGRAPH 1. THE FORMATION AND FIRST STEPS OF THE MESA (2000–2003)
English
Spanish
MONOGRAPH 2. THE INDEPENDENT WATER STUDY (2002–2004)
English
Spanish
MONOGRAPH 3. INDEPENDENT WATER MONITORING AND THE TRANSITION OF THE MESA (2004–2006)
English
Spanish
CAO Films
View short films about CAO's work on YouTube (CAO ombudsman):
Recent Films
Two-Minute Video: What is CAO and How Do We Work?
Common Ground: A Story of Community-Company Dispute Resolution in Uganda
Mongolia: New Tripartite Council Video on CAO Mediation Process
Building Hope and Health Through Dialogue in Nicaragua
Outcomes of the CAO Dialogue Process in Nicaragua
In 2012, 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.
Synopsis of the Films
Research on Chronic Kidney Disease by Boston University, Nicaragua
Food Aid for ASOCHIVIDA Members, Nicaragua
Microfinance Project: Bakery
Microfinance Project: Community Hardware Store
Microfinance Project: Small Store
Members of the World Bank Group