"quis custodiet ipsos custodes" Decimus Junius Juvenal 50-130 A.D.

The Commentary period for THE NEW DRAFT WORLD BANK INDIGENOUS PEOPLES POLICY OP 4.10 and associated Bank Procedures closed on December 14, 2001. It was originally released for PUBLIC COMMENT ON 5 JULY 2001 (The document placed on the web carries the date of 23 March 2001 with a 31 October deadline), then extended. PROJECT 2001B. The World Bank's Indigenous Peoples Policy (OD 4.20) offers an international standard for the rights of Indigenous people who find themselves "in the way" of development. For background information on international indigenous peoples law and policy, consult the this OP 4.12 Kiosk and World Bank Groups Indigenous Peoples Thematic section. Also see the Bank Information Center’s (an NGO unrelated to the Bank) information on this policy.

On Involuntary Resettlement Policy On 23 October THE WORLD BANK BOARD approved the revision/conversion of their INVOLUNTARY RESETTLEMENT POLICY (OP 4.12). For copies of the OP/BP 4.12 and background information see the International Network on Displacement and Resettlement’s site www.displacement.net COMMENTS ON OP/BP 4.12 TO BE UPLOADED SOON. Please send copies to the Kiosk if you wish your comment published. The "Kiosking"  Method  The POLICY KIOSK is a policy neutral, public forum.  Organizations and individuals are welcome to post unedited copies of their responses to policy maker's requests for public commentary. The KIOSK seeks to enhance the performance of those empowered to influence the lives and resources of others by encouraging transparency in policy dialogue, wide-spread public participation in policy development, and respect for the rights of powerless peoples. The KIOSK encourages transparency and accountability in policy making by its simple, but powerful method. In the past, anonymous agency officers filter and summarize public commentaries for policy-making boards.  Many policies define workloads and responsibilities for agency officers - resulting in a conflict-of-interest.  Moreover, those making comments - NGO's, businesses, academics, individuals, and local populations - are unaware of one another's comments.  The KIOSK encourages accountability by encouraging those making commentary on a policy to post a copy of their comments on a Kiosk set up for the policy.  The public commentaries may be referenced or used by stakeholders in their commentaries.  The public posting also gives policy-makers direct access to the "raw public feed" of information being summarized by their staff.     The Policy Kiosk has successfully opened up the dialogue during the process of policy formation.  Since 1998, the Policy Kiosk method has been adopted by the Bank Information Center USA and, to a limited extent, by The World Bank. The Policy Kiosk hopes that its method will be adopted as standard procedure in the development of international policy - effectively democratizing what is presently a "black box" filled with unchecked conflicts of interest.   For more information on the Kiosk or to initiate a project, contact Ted Downing.

Previous Policy Kiosks 

Project 2001a Public Commentary on Proposed Revision of 

The World Bank Disclosure Policy

On September 7, 2001, the World Bank announced the approval of a new information disclosure policy.

The World Bank conducted its public consultations on a likely revision of its policy on information disclosure. The Bank management has requested public commentary before proposing changes in policy. The Bank disclosure policy is a bedrock standard for global social policy.  Strengthening or weakening the standards for disclosure is critical to  project affected peoples and those concerned about economic and environmental impacts of projects.  Governments and the private sector can be expected to emulate it.  Previous POLICY KIOSK experience has shown that public comments are sometimes heard - especially when they are openly shared on the web.  

The deadline for these comments was 31 March 2001. Read responses on this Kiosk.  Send your comments to the Bank and email a copy to the Policy Kiosk for publication for all to read.  

For Kiosk provide assistance in preparing commentaries at its Project 2001a Disclosure Kiosk.

Project 2001a collaborator: The Bank Information Center USA for an overview of transparency issues.

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Project 99A PUBLIC COMMENTARY ON PROPOSED REVISION OF THE WORLD BANK INVOLUNTARY RESETTLEMENT POLICY

The Public Commentary period ended on October 31, 1999. After 2 to 4 more drafts, a revised policy is being submitted to the Board in March 2001. A revison was resubmitted to the Board and approved on 23 Oct 2001. See web links above.

The World Bank has called for public commentaries on its revised version of its Involuntary Resettlement Policy and associated best practices. As of late December 1999, the Bank staff is processing the comments in preparation for presentation to their Board.  

Visit the Involuntary Resettlement Policy KIOSK to read the latest published

· revised version of its Operational Policy on Involuntary Resettlement OP4.12 and its associated best practices BP4.12

· unedited copies of commentaries on the policies sent to The Bank by other stakeholders 

· valuable background information on resettlement knowledge

· stakeholder comments on a previous version of this policy and The Bank response

· updates on questions concerning the public commentary policies and procedures

After you or your organization send comments to the Bank, email a copy to the KIOSK facilitator for public posting. 

Project 99A Sponsors: International Standards Committee of the Society for Applied Anthropology, Nine Points Alliance,  and the Bank Information Center.   The sponsors do not exercise editorial control nor or they responsible for posted commentaries.

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Kiosk Project 98A. Public Review of the Draft Social and Environmental Policies of the International Finance Corporation (IFC is the private sector arm of The World Bank Group, with whom it shares almost identifical environmental policies).

In 1998, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) requested public comments on its new environment and social policies, review procedures, and its policy on disclosure of information. They hoped this framework will improve the environmental and social performance of IFC projects. By establishing a minimal set of "ground-rules" for the social and environmental responsibilities, this framework will define the environmental and human rights of hundreds of thousands of local populations who are affected by IFC projects. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), scientists, and interested individuals responded and posted their commentaries on the KIOSK. The KIOSK requested, and the IFC granted, more time for the review. This was the first public use of the internet for the fully transparent commentary on the formation of an international socio-environmental policy.

KIOSK impact - your comments are heard. Following our review of the IFC Policy framework:

IFC has released its final Operational Policies on Environmental Assessment (OP 4.01), Natural Habitats (OP 4.04), Pest Management (OP 4.09), Forestry (OP 4.36) and Projects on International Waterways (OP 7.50). The policies on indigenous peoples, safeguarding cultural properties, involuntary resettlement and safety of dams are still pending. The involuntary resettlement policy was released on 9 July 1999 (see above). Of particular interest, the IFC has prepared composite stakeholder questions and answers to the comments made by stakeholders which were posted on this Development Project KIOSK. Readers are encouraged to compare the IFC responses to the original questions raised by stakeholders on the KIOSK.

KIOSK Project 98B. Public Review the Draft Environmental Handbook of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC)

The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) has released a draft of its Environmental Handbook for public comment. These environmental review policies will be used to determine project's eligibility` based on their statutory obligation to decline projects posing "unreasonable or major environmental, health, or safety hazards." applying to project employees and affected public within the vicinity of the project. Public commentary on the Handbook closed on June 25, 1998.

KIOSK Project 98A and 98B were conducted under the auspices of the International Standards Committee of the Society for Applied Anthropology.

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Last Updated: December 21, 2001

The Development Policy Kiosk © is a creation of Theodore E. Downing