Panel registers Request for Inspection on the World Bank-financed Project: Strengthening the National Statistical System in Ecuador

On October 21, 2024,  the Inspection Panel registered a Request for Inspection related to the World Bank-financed Project on Strengthening the National Statistical System in Ecuador. The Request was submitted by the leaders of the Federation of Indigenous and Peasant Organizations of Azuay, the Water Board of Victoria del Portete and Tarqui, the Association of Afro-Descendants Cimarrón, the Black People’s Social Organization, the Transgender Project – Different Bodies Equal Rights, and the organization La Colectiva. Ec. The leaders affirmed they are submitting this Request on behalf of their respective organizations as well as the community members and individuals these organizations represent. The six organizations authorized the Bank Information Center (BIC), a US-based, non-governmental organization, to advise them during the Panel process.

The Request states that the World Bank-financed Strengthening the National Statistical System in Ecuador Project is implementing a national population and housing census and a new income and expenditure survey on consumption patterns.  The Request alleges individual and collective harm resulting from the census and its communication strategy, which it claims include, but are not limited to four core issues. First, the Request claims that underreporting of Indigenous Peoples and Afro-Ecuadorians affects their collective rights, especially their collective right to consultation and consent. According to the Request, minority groups are being excluded from benefits associated with the census data. These include access to community water rights, labor quotas, bilingual and intercultural education systems, social benefits, Indigenous Peoples’ justice systems, the right to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent, and affirmative action policies. Second, the Request alleges the inadequate design of census questions in relation to Indigenous Peoples and Afro-Ecuadorians has led to biased census results and has also posed risks to environmental defenders and people hiding their ethnic identities due to concerns for their safety. Third, the Request alleges the lack of consultation and engagement with LGBTI+ organizations and groups led to the underreporting of this population, to the detriment of excluding this population from public policies, affirmative actions, political representation, and access to targeted social programs. Fourth, it alleges the Stakeholder Participation Plan was not implemented and that relevant stakeholders were not consulted.

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 November 19, 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.