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Video Conference with Myanmar CSOs

Staff from theInspection Panel(IPN) andCompliance Advisor Ombudsman(CAO) held a video conference with CSO representatives from Myanmar on November 18, 2015. The purpose of the virtual meeting was to discuss the accountability role and compliance work of the IPN and CAO, and listen to CSO concerns. The event was organized by four Myanmar CSO networks –IFI Watch Myanmar Initiative,Myanmar Alliance for Transparency and Accountability (MATA),Karen Environmental and Social Action Network(KESAN), andPaung Ku– with support from theBank Information Center(BIC) from Washington, DC. The video conference was held at the World Bank Office in Yangon and was preceded by a meeting between the CSOs and the Bank’s Resident Representative and staff to discuss the Bank’s country portfolio.

The two-hour session was chaired by Liz Hlaing (IFI Watch Myanmar Initiative), and had the participation of some 35 CSO representatives from rural communities throughout Myanmar. Participating from the IPN were John Garrison and Serge Selwan, and from the CAO Emily Horgan, Scott Adams, and Vincent Darcy. The session, which had simultaneous interpretation into Burmese, began with detailed presentations and discussion of the investigation, mediation, and problem-solving work of theIPN andCAO (click on acronyms for presentations). Participants expressed their overall satisfaction with the substance, frankness, and usefulness of the information exchange and discussion. Going forward, the Panel will employ the video conference format to expand its outreach efforts to CSOs in other developing countries.