The Independent Accountability Mechanism offers two types of services:
- Work with parties to help resolve a conflict, available to both project-affected parties and DFC clients
- Conduct an investigation about how DFC applied its relevant policies to a project and is available to project-affected parties, as well as DFC’s Board and President
The Independent Accountability Mechanism is mandated to provide these services upon request in a manner that is accessible, fair, objective, and transparent. In providing its services, the office complements DFC’s mission as a financial institution that promotes environmentally and socially sustainable development.
- About Us
On September 9, 2020, the DFC Board of Directors approved the implementation document: Independent Accountability Mechanism for the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation.
On December 4, 2024, the DFC Board of Directors approved the Terms of Reference for the Independent Accountability Mechanism of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation. Documents associated with the process of developing the new Terms of Reference are linked in the Archive below
The Director of the Independent Accountability Mechanism coordinates all office services, updates its website, and manages its budget. The Director reports directly to DFC’s Board of Directors.
Archive
- Redline comparison of Dec 4, 2024, Final TOR with May 30, 2024, Draft ToR
- Final report of public consultation (Dec 2024)
- Spreadsheet of public comments and IAM responses (Dec 2024)
- Stakeholder Engagement Plan for IAM TOR
- Draft TOR (May 2024)
- Discussion Notes (June 2024)
- Virtual Webinar (June 20, 2024)
- Virtual Webinar (June 21, 2024)
- Independent Accountability Mechanism Handbook (2014)
Independent Accountability Mechanism Staff
- Public Registry of Cases
Cases
Project Name Action Status Mozambique: Rovuma LNG Project Request received, acknowledged, eligible Assessment stage (November 2024) Nigeria: Indorama Eleme Fertilizer Line 3 Project (2024) Request received, acknowledged, eligible Assessment stage (August 2024) Kenya: Bridge International Academies (2024) Deemed merited for full IAM compliance review. Case will be merged with CEO-requested compliance review. Appraisal report issued October 10, 2024. Israel: Noble Energy Leviathan Project Problem-Solving and Compliance Review Problem-solving Closed
Compliance Review Closed
Unregistered or Ineligible Requests
Country Receipt Date, Sector, and Subject Status and Justification Nigeria On 16 August 2024, the IAM received a request for services relating to a project in the manufacturing of agricultural inputs sector raising numerous concerns about harms linked to environment, gender, and labor issues. The IAM acknowledged the Request on 16 August 2024 and initiated an eligibility determination in line with the 2014 OPIC Handbook for the Office of Accountability. The IAM determined that the Request was eligible on 23 August 2024. You can follow future updates in the section listing all "Cases". Kenya On July 12, 2024, a coalition of Kenyan and international CSOs representing several former pupils of the Bridge International Academies in Kenya, a former OPIC/DFC Project, submitted a Request to the IAM alleging harm related to child sexual abuse which they experienced while in school, perpetrated by a teacher employed by Bridge. This Request relates to an an on-going IAM compliance review of DFC’s Kenya: Bridge International Academies Project, which was requested by DFC’s CEO on 19 March 2024 (https://www.dfc.gov/kenya-bridge-international-academies-2013-opic-loan). The Requesters asked DFC’s IAM to investigate OPIC and DFCs role, and to facilitate appropriate remedy for Requesters. The IAM received and acknowledged the Request on 12 July 2024, and determined it to be eligible on 7 August 2024. This followed engagement with DFC’s Management and Board, and the application of the eligibility criteria detailed in the 2014 OPIC Handbook for the Office of Accountability. For this Request, the criteria relating to a link to an active project were deemed to be moot tests as they were superseded by the CEO-requested and on-going IAM review of a project DFC exited in July 2022. The next steps for the IAM include conducting an Assessment and Appraisal of the Request. Mozambique On August 6, 2021, the OOA (now IAM) received an incomplete request from a coalition of CSOs alleging adverse impacts related to inadequate consultation, resettlement, and livelihood restoration associated with a DFC-supported project in the oil and gas sector. The IAM received a new and complete request on October 15, 2024, including names of the requesters, details of alleged harm, and evidence of CSO representation. The IAM acknowledged the complete Request on October 15, 2024, and initiated an eligibility determination, including engagement with DFC Management. The IAM applied the criteria in the 2014 OPIC Handbook for the Office of Accountability and determined the Request was eligible on November 1, 2024. Among other criteria, IAM determined that DFC was actively considering to support the Project at the time of the Request. The IAM notes concerns about the security context in Mozambique and the Project area in particular. You can follow future updates in the section listing all “Cases.” Management-Requested Reviews
Case Action Status Kenya: Bridge International Academies Compliance Review Compliance Review ongoing Archived Cases
Project Name Action Status Southeast Europe Equity Fund II Problem-Solving Closed Mongolia Big Bend Gold Mining Project Problem-Solving Closed Pakistan K-Electric Project Problem-Solving Closed Pakistan DG Khan Cement Problem-Solving Closed Bolivia Coeur d’Alene Mines Problem-Solving and Compliance Review Closed Mexico Cerro de Oro Hydroelectric Problem-Solving and Compliance Review Closed Baku - Tbilisi – Ceyhan Pipeline Compliance Review Closed Management Requested Reviews
Project Name Action Status Assessment of OPIC's Environmental and Social (E&S) Monitoring of Projects Internally-Requested Review Completed Buchanan Renewables Internally-Requested Lessons Learned Review Completed
- File a Request/Complaint
To file a complaint, please download this template and follow the indicated instructions.
- Reporting
- Follow Us
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LinkedIn: Independent Accountability Mechanism of the U.S. International Development Finance Corp. (DFC)