The Asian Development Bank needs to be more transparent in the “failed” programs and projects of its public communications policy, according to the NGO Forum on ADB.
“The biggest issue that surfaced in our consultation is the failure of the PCP to provide people, who have been directly affected by ADB programs and projects, effective access to information,” the network of some 250 local and international civil society organizations said in a statement.
The Manila-based lender launched in February a review of its PCP. It has sought input from various stakeholders, including government officials, civil society and the private sector to keep its PCP effective, transparent and relevant.
From February to April, ADB sought views on the policy from all interested parties, primarily through the Internet. Consultations were held with stakeholders, including government officials, civil society and the private sector. It will also be conducting in-country consultations in several member countries during the second quarter of 2011. Reviewing the policy every five years is a mandatory requirement.
ADB’s failure to include an operational mechanism in implementing the PCP indicates the bank’s “soft commitment” to institutional policy regarding providing effective, adequate and timely information to people affected by ADB projects, the CSO coalition argued.
The forum also pushed for the establishment of an independent appeals mechanism to allow for an autonomous review on concerns raised by people who deem that ADB has violated their access to information.
“We recommended that the joint development of communication plans for ADB-assisted projects and programs be made mandatory instead of discretionary as provided in the draft PCP,” said Hemantha Withanage, executive director of the Center for Environmental Justice in Sri Lanka.
The forum, together the Global Transparency Initiative, submitted to ADB its assessment of the bank’s PCP, recommending changes based on international standards on the right to information, Business Mirror reports.