This collection of essays provides diverse perspectives on the promise, challenges, effectiveness, and future of the World Bank Inspection Panel and similar independent accountability mechanisms (IAMs) found at many multilateral development banks, bilateral financial institutions, United Nations agencies, commercial banks, private companies, and international conservation organizations. These IAMs provide local communities the opportunity to defend their human rights and protect their environment when threatened by internationally financed development decisions.
Contributing their perspectives are current and past IAM members and staff, top World Bank lawyers, civil society advocates, and leading academics who have studied the mechanisms since their very beginning.
