Panel Registers the Request for Inspection from Serbia Public Sector Efficiency and Green Recovery Program

On August 27, 2024,  the Inspection Panel issued a Notice of Registration of a Request for Inspection related to the World Bank-financed program Serbia: Public Sector Efficiency and Green Recovery Development Policy Loan.

The Request for Inspection was submitted on March 31, 2024, by A11 – Initiative for Economic and Social Rights (“A11”), a civil society organization in Belgrade, Serbia on behalf of six Requesters, including members of the Roma community, who live in various locations in Serbia. A11 asked Amnesty International, an international civil society organization, to serve as their advisor in the Panel process.

The Request alleges that the Program supported the Social Card Registry of the Government of Serbia which has negatively and disproportionately impacted approximately 44,000 people, many of whom are vulnerable members of the Roma community.  The Request alleges that misclassification and miscalculation of income in the Registry has resulted in the loss or significant reduction of financial benefits to deserving beneficiaries . It also alleges that, due to the Registry’s semi-automated nature, social workers cannot correct errors recorded in the system and, moreover, Social Card beneficiaries have no opportunity to document their entitlements before a mistaken reduction or benefit withdrawal is made. The Request claims that the absence of written notifications prevents beneficiaries from exercising their rights to legal remedy. The Request also alleges a lack of information about the appeal system, which is available to individuals. It further alleges that the period granted to challenge an exclusion as too short, and the appeal process – during which most social card beneficiaries receive no entitled benefits – as too long.

The Panel’s registration implies no judgment whatsoever concerning the merits of the Request. As mandated in the Inspection Panel process, the World Bank Management must provide the Panel with a response to the issues raised in the Request for Inspection by September 26, 2024. After receiving Management’s response and engaging with the relevant stakeholders, the Panel will make a recommendation to the Board of Executive Directors on whether the matter should be investigated.  Learn more about the case here.