Inherent Bias in Multilateral Development Bank Accountability Mechanisms: An Examination of the Asian Development Bank

Abstract

This paper aims to explain one of the reasons behind the persistence of underdevelopment through the examination of the accountability mechanism of the Asian Development Bank. Multilateral Development Banks, such as the Asian Development Bank, have initiated and implemented numerous projects and programs in various fields and sectors for development. Yet many of them lead to more harm than good due to poor planning and execution, and communication problems. To solve the detrimental effects of the harm caused, accountability mechanisms were institutionalized but many problems have persisted. The paper focuses on the issue of bias in the accountability mechanism of the Asian Development Bank. After an analysis of related studies and the structure and processes of accountability mechanism, all cases in the Asian Development Bank accountability mechanism from 2004 to 2016 are analyzed in relation to the determination of eligibility, the execution of the process, and the reporting of results. In the analysis, the research found that a significant number of the Office of the Special Project Facilitator complaints had questionable reasons for ineligibility

that sixty percent of dissatisfactory Compliance Review Panel cases had accusations of bias in the review

that there are still serious issues such as deaths and human right violations given insignificant attention in the Compliance Review Panel review

and that the Office of the Special Project Facilitator has shown less signs of bias in its process as compared to the Compliance Review Panel due to the nature and scope of its function.