Eimi Watanabe, a Japanese national, was appointed in May to chair the World Bank’s Inspection Panel (IP) for a one year term. The IP reviews complaints about non-compliance with Bank policies from people affected by Bank-funded projects. Watanabe has taken over from Alf Jerve, a Norwegian national who chaired the panel from February 2012 but is retiring this year. Watanabe, a sociologist and former director of the UN Development Programme’s Bureau for Development Policy, has been a member of the panel since November 2009. Jerve’s retirement means the IP is recruiting a new member, with applications due by end June.