A CITIZEN'S GUIDE TO GENDER ACCOUNTABILITY AT INTERNACIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Although publicly-funded International Financial Institutions (IFIs) have missions to reduce poverty and promote economic growth, IFI projects often ignore gender inequality and increase poverty, prostitution, and HIV/AIDS, particularly among women and girls.
Most IFIs have taken inadequate steps to try to address these concerns, although nearly all have committed to promoting gender equality. Half of the eight IFIs we reviewed have policies to integrate gender into their work. However, these policies tend to be weak, are poorly resourced and understaffed. Gender experts comprise less than one percent of staff at all the IFIs.
This Guide compares IFI accountability mechanisms and gender policies to facilitate efforts by locally-impacted and other concerned individuals to raise gender-related concerns and to seek redress for gender-related impacts resulting from IFI operations. See full text, pdf format.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary
Introduction
The International Financial Institutions
International Financial Institution Gender Safeguard Policies & Accountability Mechanisms
Part I. Description of Policies and Accountability Mechanisms
1. World Bank
1.1 Gender Policy, Strategy, and Action Plan
1.2 Inspection Panel
2. International Finance Corporation and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency
2.1 Gender Initiatives
2.2 IFC, MIGA Compliance Advisor/Ombudsman
3. International Monetary Fund
3.1 Gender Inclusion at the IMF
3.2 IMF Independent Evaluation Office
4. African Development Bank
4.1 Gender Policy and Plan of Action
4.2 Independent Review Mechanism
5. Asian Development Bank
5.1 Gender Policies
5.2 ADB Accountability Mechanism
6. European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
6.1 Gender Inclusion at the EBRD
6.2 EBRD Independent Recourse Mechanism
7. European Investment Bank
7.1 Gender Inclusion at the EIB
7.2 Ombudsman of the European Communities—1994
8. Inter-American Development Bank
8.1 Women in Development Policy and Gender Action Plan
8.2 IDB Independent Investigation Mechanism
Part II. Comparative Analysis of Policies and Accountability Mechanisms at Each Institution
Gender Policies
Accountability Mechanisms - Comparative Analysis of Usefulness
Which Accountability Mechanisms are Best Suited to Hear Claims on the Basis of Gender?
References Cited
Annex 1. International Financial Institution Gender Guidelines and Accountability Mechanisms
Annex 2. Comparative Analysis of International Financial Institution Gender Guidelines
Annex 3. Accountability Mechanisms
Annex 4. How to File a Claim a Gender Discrimination Claim with the IFIs
Annex 5. Sample Requests for Intervention
