World Bank establishes task force to evaluate merger of its independent accountability mechanisms

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).

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.

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