The World Bank Board Approves Investigation--Cambodia: Forest Concession Management and Control Pilot Project

WASHINGTON--April 25, 2005.The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors, on April 14, 2005, on a non-objection basis, approved the Inspection Panel’s recommendation for it to conduct an investigation into the matters alleged in the Request for Inspection concerning the Forest Concession Management and Control Pilot Project in Cambodia (“FCMCPP”).

The Panel’s Report was prepared in response to a Request for Inspection it received on January 28, 2005, that was submitted by the NGO Forum of Cambodia on its behalf and on behalf of affected local communities living in the districts on Tbeng Meanchey in Preah Vihear Province; Siem Bok and Sesan in Stung Treng Province; and Anlong Veng in Oddar Meanchey Province, Cambodia.

The Request claims that during design, appraisal and supervision of FCMCPP the Bank violated a number of its own operational polices and procedures, which are causing harm and potential future harm to people living in the project-affected areas.Management Response states “it believes that the Bank has made every effort to apply its policies and procedures and to pursue concretely its mission… Management believes that the Requesters’ rights or interests have not been, nor will they be, directly and adversely affected by a failure of the Bank to implement its polices and procedures”. During the course of the Investigation, the Panel will be looking into the following Bank operational policies and procedures that are cited in the Request for Inspection: OP/BP 4.01 Environmental Assessment; OP/BP 4.04 Natural habitats (September 1995); OPN 11.03 Cultural Property; OD 4.20 Indigenous People; OP/BP 4.36 Forestry; OP/BP 8.40 Technical Assistance; OP/BP 13.05 Project Supervision and BP 17.50 Disclosure of information.

The Panel’s Eligibility Report, the Request for Inspection and the Management’s Response are available via our webpage atwww.inspectionpanel.org.Hard copies of the Report can be obtained from the World Bank’s Infoshop, Bank’s field office in Phnom Penh and through our office.For more information about the Inspection Panel, please contact Mr. Eduardo G. Abbott, Executive Secretary, at Tel: 202 458 5200.