Compliance Investigation Concerning IFC’s E&S Performance Related to the Baynouna Solar Power Project in Jordan
COMMUNIQUÉ
Washington, D.C., February 3, 2023 – The Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO), the independent accountability mechanism for the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, is conducting a compliance investigation of IFC’s investment in the Baynouna Solar Energy Company to support a solar power plant project 30 kilometers southeast of Amman, Jordan. CAO’s investigation responds to a complaint filed in 2020 by local communities raising environmental and social concerns about the solar project.
CAO initiated the investigation in May 2022 after completing an appraisal of IFC’s environmental and social performance related to the project. The investigation focuses on whether IFC’s due diligence and supervision for the project has complied with their environmental and social policies and whether there is related harm to local communities arising from any IFC non-compliance.
A CAO team visited the project area in November 2022 as part of the fact-finding process for the compliance investigation. This investigation process also includes a review of project documentation, interviews with the complainants, IFC client, IFC project team, and other relevant stakeholders, and observations of project activities and conditions at the project site.
The investigation is ongoing, and CAO expects to complete its work by late 2023. The process will include factual review and comment on the draft report by the parties and the final investigation report will be publicly released by CAO, along with any IFC management response and action plan, as relevant, approved by the IFC Board of Directors.
The Terms of Reference outlining the scope of CAO’s investigation is available in English and Arabic. Information about the case is available on CAO’s Jordan: Masdar Baynouna-01/East Amman webpage.
Information about IFC’s investment is available on IFC’s website.
CAO contact in Washington, DC:
Emily Horgan
Tel: +1.202.473.8353
Email: ehorgan@worldbankgroup.org
