Guide to filing a complaint

Do you believe you have been harmed by an IDB Group project? These three steps will guide you in filing your complaint with MICI.

  1. Answer these questions to confirm that MICI is the right channel for submitting your complaint. 
     

    a)  Does the complaint refer to an IDB Group project? Sometimes, it is easy to identify whether the IDB Group is financing the project because national law requires the disclosure of this information. If you are unsure, you can check the lists of IDB projects and IDB Invest projects.

    b)  Does the potential impact or harm relate to environmental and social issues covered by the operational policies of the IDB or IDB Invest? These safeguards are mandatory for all projects, from design to execution, and cover aspects such as effective community participation, risk management and impact mitigation, the promotion of gender equality, and the protection of indigenous peoples' rights, among others. 

    Complaints related to ethical issues; corruption, fraud, or prohibited practices; or management, internal finance, or procurement or contracting processes, will be transferred to other IDB Group offices responsible for these issues. 

    c)  Have you already tried to contact the people in charge of the project? Before contacting MICI, you might try to work out a solution with the IDB or IDB Invest teams. However, if you fear possible reprisals for voicing your complaint, you may go directly to MICI. 
     

   2. Be sure to include all the information required. 

You can use this checklist to review these basic criteria, which summarizes the exclusions and requirements in paragraphs 19 and 22 of the MICI policy.  

  • The complainants must be two or more persons who may be affected by a project, and they must be residents of the country where it is being implemented. 
  • The complaint is not anonymous, and it provides the names and contact information of all complainants. If a representative is supporting the complainants, he or she must have the written authorization of all the complainants.
  • The alleged harm is related to an IDB Group-financed project already approved by the Board of Directors. If more than 24 months have passed since the Bank’s last disbursement, the complaint will not be eligible but might be managed by the IDB or IDB Invest teams. 

  3. Send your complaint in writing.  

You can write us in any of the IDB official languages (English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French) or any original language of Latin America and the Caribbean. Although there is no predefined format, you can use this sample letter as a guide. Send it by email, mail, or fax, addressed to the MICI director. Our contact information is: 

Information required for a MICI complaint

If your complaint is within MICI’s scope of action and does not refer to any of the applicable exceptions, you are ready to prepare your request.

How is it filed? 

Submit your complaint in writing to the director of MICI, in any of the languages of the region, by email, fax, or mail. 

What should we include?

The complaint does not require a specific format, but it must include all of the following information:

  • Names and contact information (home address, telephone number, email and/or mailing address) of each complainant. MICI does not accept anonymous complaints, but if complainants fear reprisals and wish to protect their identity, MICI will keep their information confidential at all times.
  • Do you require confidentiality? If so, why?
  • Do you have a representative to act on your behalf? If so, the representative’s name and contact details must be included, and all complainants must sign a written authorization for the representative to act on their behalf.
  • Description of the operation or project that may be causing the harm and the location and country where it is being carried out.
  • Detailed description of the harm you are experiencing or may experience. If you wish, include evidence or proof of the harm or damages caused: photographs, videos, written notes, reports, etc. …
  • Reasons you believe that the IDB Group is responsible for this harm.
  • Description of previous contacts you have had with the IDB Group (you can use this grievance management system for the IDB and for IDB Invest) to report the problem and seek a solution, and the response you received. If you have not contacted the IDB Group due to fear of reprisals, please say so.
  • Specify whether you wish to resort to the Consultation Phase, the Compliance Review Phase, or both.

 

If you need more information before deciding, feel free to ask MICI.

 

You can contact us at:

 

Email address

mecanismo@iadb.org

Mailing address

Independent Consultation and Investigation Mechanism

1300 New York Avenue, NW

Washington, D.C. 20577

United States

Fax +1 202 312 405