World Bank establishes task force to evaluate merger of its independent accountability mechanisms
•
Article summary
Task force, charged with evaluating potential the merger of the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman and the Accountability Mechanism, is expected to hold public consultations and establish a ‘reference group’ early in 2026.
News that the World Bank executive board is considering merging the Bank’s two independent accountability mechanisms (IAMs) – the Accountability Mechanism, which serves the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and International Development Association (the Bank’s public arms), and the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO), which serves the International Finance Corporation and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (the Bank’s private sector arms) – has heightened fears of further erosion of a system in dire need of improvement (see Observer Winter 2025, Winter 2024, Winter 2023). As reported by development news outlet Devex in October, the proposed merger is part of World Bank President Ajay Banga’s efforts to “make the lender ‘smarter, faster, and more responsive,’ and to streamline overlapping functions across its public and private-sector arms.” The potential dangers and benefits of the merger were explored during the Annual Meetings at a Civil Society Policy Forum panel (see Dispatch Annuals 2025).
At the Meetings, civil society groups were informed that the executive board has commissioned a task force to examine whether to undertake the merger and, if so, how it should be done. “This process should result in a stronger accountability system that more effectively addresses harms from World Bank Group projects and restores livelihoods,” argues Stephanie Amoako, Policy Director at US-based Accountability Counsel. The executive board will reportedly consider the task force’s approach paper in mid-December, with its final recommendations expected by May 2026. The Bank has also informed civil society that there will be public consultations in the new year as a part of the process and that the task force will convene a “reference group” of stakeholders, including civil society organisations, to discuss various topics.
