Bringing Together IAMs and Civil Society to Strengthen Accountability: Regional Workshop in Almaty, Kazakhstan
On September 17 and 18, 2026, CAO co-organized a regional workshop in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on strengthening accountability for project-affected communities. The workshop was co-hosted with the Complaints Mechanism of the European Investment Bank Group, the World Bank’s Dispute Resolution Service and Inspection Panel, the Independent Redress Mechanism of the Green Climate Fund, the Project-affected People’s Mechanism of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the Social and Environmental Compliance Unit of the United Nations Development Programme, and civil society partners CEE Bankwatch Network and Accountability Counsel.
The two-day workshop brought together nearly 25 civil society participants from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The training shared practical information about the roles and mandates of Independent Accountability Mechanisms (IAMs) and how communities and civil society organizations can access them when concerns arise in connection with development projects. A key component focused on how to identify development projects using online available tools – an important first step in determining which IAM may be available to address their concerns.
Sessions covered key IAM functions, including dispute resolution and compliance review, as well as how to file a complaint and what communities can expect as it moves through the accountability process. Participants also had the opportunity to engage in dialogue on accountability issues related to development projects.
Outreach activities like this are central to making accountability mechanisms more accessible to the people they are intended to serve. By working with peer IAMs and civil society organizations, CAO helps strengthen awareness of available complaint processes, clarify how its dispute resolution and compliance functions work, and improve understanding of the options available to communities affected by development projects.
CAO thanks the participating civil society representatives, peer IAMs, CEE Bankwatch Network, and Accountability Counsel for their engagement and collaboration in Almaty.
