Gender justice. A citizen's guide to gender accountability at international financial institutions

Gender policies and accountability mechanisms at international financial institutions (IFIs) Published by: Gender Action, 2007
Via: Eldis

This guide describes and analyses international financial institution (IFI) gender policies and accountability mechanisms. It identifies weaknesses, and highlights policy provisions that affected communities can use to help prevent and mitigate adverse gender-related impacts.

It finds the African Development Bank (AfDB) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) have strong gender policies, and recognise that economic reforms imposed as loan conditions on borrower countries often worsen gender inequality. The AfDB also has highly gender sensitive non-gender policies.

Although the World Bank states that it aims to promote gender equality in projects, its loans often require borrower countries to implement socio-economically harmful reforms. This is unjustified and must be removed. The 1987 Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) policy on women is weak and outdated. The IDB accountability mechanism is highly criticized for a lack of transparency, timeliness and resources.

Although the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) do not have gender policies it may be possible to gain some relief for gender-related impacts of projects. Their accountability mechanism does not require that a complaint be based on a violation of policy or procedure.

Lacking gender policies and having limited accountability mechanisms, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), European Investment Bank (EIB), and International Monetary Fund (IMF) provide inadequate opportunities for remedying harm resulting from gender discrimination. These IFIs must develop strong gender policies and accountability mechanisms.
(http://www.genderaction.org/images/Gender%20Justice_Final%20LowRes.pdf)