Asian Development Bank Water Policy

ADB's Water Policy Implementation Review, Civil Society Consultation 17-18th November 2005

The civil society consultation was part of the ADBs Water Policy Review. NGO Forum on ADB presented a synthesis report that came out of a 3 day workshop and summarised case studies from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Indonesia and the Philippines. The case studies and report highlighted the impacts of ADB funded water and sanitation projects. FAN co-sponsored this event.

Press statement: 'Water for All or Water for the Private Sector

NGO Forum on ADB Synthesis Report to ADB

Country case studies

NGO Forum on ADB

ADBs Public Communication Policy (June 2005)

The ADB has a new policy for providing information about its activities, and will now post these documents on its web site.

• decisions by ADB's Board of Directors
• core administrative documents, such as ADB's budget
• project information at early stages, to enable more involvement of local people
• project monitoring and evaluation information

Documents can also be obtained from the Office of External Relations in Manila. The ADB efforts to be more open are welcomed, but many NGOs remain unconvinced. Documents that could damage the business of the ADB may not be disclosed. This leaves a wide loophole. The NGO Forum for Urban Water and Sanitation in Nepal are also concerned that the final policy doesnt prioritise access to information for project-affected communities as against other stakeholders.  We welcome comments from all members about their views on the new policy and will also provide future guidance notes on how to use the new procedures.  

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ADBs Public Communications Policy June 2004

Visit the ADB website

In response to public demands for accountability, the Asian Development Bank is reviewing its information and communication policy.

It has prepared a Public Communications Policy which merges the PR/Communications strategy and the Public Participation/Disclosure of Information strategy. 

Danielle Morley, the FAN coordinator attended a consultation for stakeholders in London.  

If you would like to read the recommendations from the London workshop, please email us. Briefly, stakeholders comments were:

• Merging the two policies has merit, but there is a risk that public participation/ disclosure of information policies would lose out to public relations whenever there was any conflict of interest.
• The presumption by ADB in favour of disclosure of information was welcomed, but in reality it will be almost meaningless by the fact that ADB can withhold information that might damage interest of the Bank. Participants recommended a significant harm test, so that this is not used as a blanket reason for withholding information.
• ADB should prepare a list of documents produced during a project cycle so that people know what can be requested.
• Board of Directors voting records should be minuted and released.

ADB Accountability Mechanism

FAN members will also be interested in the ADB new Accountability Mechanism, which replaces the old Inspection Function.  This is the route that people affected by ADB-assisted projects must follow if they want to complain about direct harm. There is a process to follow from the filing of a complaint to assessment to resolution. The process will seek consensus and agreements among all the involved stakeholders through a facilitator employed by the ADB, but if a solution cannot be reached it is possible to request a compliance review.    

Allegations of corruption by any firm or individual associated with ADB financed projects should be referred to the Office of the General Auditor for screening or investigation at anticorruption@adb.org or PO Box 789, 0980 Manila, Philippines

ADB-NGO Dialogue, Water Week, January 2004

The discussion was to explore how NGO-ADB collaboration can be strengthened and helpful in preparation for the comprehensive review of ADB's water policy implementation that is scheduled for 2005.  More than 75 representatives from NGOs participated in the dialogue 

A wide range of discussions were held between NGOs and other Stakeholders. The dialogue mainly focused on the participation of civil societies, NGOs and other grass-root organisations in ADB projects in different countries. It was accepted, in principle, that the involvement of NGOs and other grass-root organisations in the process of implementation of ADB projects in respective States, countries and regions was a good thing.

View other civil society comments 

View participants follow up actions to move the water agenda forward to benefit the poor 

View the outcomes of the ADB-NGO Dialogue

View the minutes of the ADB-NGO Dialogue

ADB-NGO Breakfast Dialogue at 3WWF Kyoto, 17th March 2003

Issues Discussed

• Privatisation
• Role of Communities and Women
• Water Rights
• Governance/Capacity Building
• Water and Sanitation