The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved the launch of a public consultation process to obtain what it termed “robust feedback” from all interested parties over its proposal to adopt a new Access to Information policy.
The Washington-based financial institution said the new policy is aimed at increasing transparency, enhance corporate governance, and improve accountability.
The public consultation comes as the IDB, whose transparency standards already rank among the highest of any international financial institution, aims to increase transparency and trust not just at the bank, but also across the entire Latin America and the Caribbean.
The bank said its research has shown that trust and transparency are vital to economic development and the IDB aims to lead the region by example, showing that the bank itself is committed to adhering to the highest standards of transparency and accountability.
The public consultation also comes after the IDB in 2019 launched a review of its Access to Information policy and approved a Policy Profile that was submitted for public consultation. Based on the outcome of that consultation, and following recommendations from the IDB’s Policy Evaluation Committee, the bank presented a new policy proposal to the Board of Executive Directors in April 2022.
“The new policy proposal aims to maximize access to information by adopting the clearer language, reducing exceptions to disclosure policies, facilitating procedures, and making it easier and more efficient for people to ask questions and get answers.”
The IDB said the public consultation will comprise three phases, details of which will be shared through the Public Consultation Process Portal, and it is inviting all interested parties to participate in the process and offer feedback about how the bank can improve its Access to Information Policy.
“To engage with the widest possible audience, the IDB will carry out a virtual consultation session open to receive inputs from a wide range of organizations, as well as multiple real-time meetings with civil society organizations working on transparency, open government, and access to information related issues to receive technical comments.”
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