Panel Explains its Mandate and Operations in Video Conference with Civil Society Representatives in Ethiopia
![Ethiopia Video Conference](/sites/default/files/news-images/Ethiopia%20VC.jpg)
The Inspection Panel on May 2 , 2019, participated in a video conference (VC) to explain its mandate, policies and operations to civil society representatives in Ethiopia. Operations Officer Birgit Kuba and Senior Communications Officer Rob Doherty represented the Panel on the VC, which was organized by the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) of the International Finance Corporation and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency in partnership with Transparency International-Ethiopia.
During the VC, Ms. Kuba explained who can file a complaint with the Panel and how, described the Panel’s compliance review process, and discussed two recent Panel cases. Representatives of the Panel and CAO also responded to a range of questions from the civil society representatives – including how the two mechanisms assess complaints and how they make civil society and communities aware of their existence, and what they can do to prevent problems related to development projects Taking part in the video conference for CAO were Anne-Claire Olivera and Abisola Odutola. The civil society representatives who took part represented organizations with a variety of interests, such as disabilities, health, agriculture and women’s and children’s issues.
The video conference was part of the Panel’s ongoing efforts to make stakeholders aware of its role within the Bank, and to listen to their perspectives and concerns. In late April, the Panel and CAO took part in a similar VC with civil society representatives in Haiti.