EYE has created a chart to explain where to make requests for information from the eight major international financial institutions (IFIs).
See the guide here: EYE’s Guide to Requesting Information from IFIs
In most cases, requests can be made via e-mail.
The IFI’s access policies describe how long to should take to process requests. They also detail what exemptions might be applied. The chart links to the access polices.
It’s possible to appeal denials. The procedures vary, however, and not all the institutions have independent review panels.
Only two institutions, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, disclose digests of the requests received, though without listing the names of requesters.
A valuable guide on how to file appeals at the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation was published in February of 2023 by the Centre for Law and Democracy and the Bank Information Center, both non-governmental organizations.
How Many Requests Are Made?
The IFIs report that every year hundreds of requests are made, most from the private sector. A large percentage of them are fulfilled or partially granted. These statistics can be found in annual reports.
The World Bank’s 2021 report said that 388 requests were handled by the AI system. “Of these, 372 requests were fulfilled in whole or in part, and 16 requests were denied without fulfilling any part of the request.”
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development said in its 2021 report on implementation (here) there were 837 requests for information.
The Inter-American Development Bank’s 2020 report said 1,709 requests came in from 70 countries. Broken down by source, 39 percent of the requests came from the private sector, 25 percent from academia, 17 percent from civil society, 13 percent from government, 4 percent from multilateral organizations and 2 percent from the media.
The IDB reported that there were 20 denials (5 were partial denials and 15 were full denials) in which the Bank invoked one of the exceptions to disclosure provided in the Policy. Most of the denials (13) were because of “information provided in confidence.”
The Asian Development Bank said it received 2,806 valid requests for information, according to its 2021 report. The ADB denied 27 requests for information because they fell under one or more of the AIP’s exceptions to disclosure. The greatest number of requests were for project information, 39% of the total, and 41% of the requests came from the private sector.
The African Development Bank reported a “steady increase” has occurred in the number of requests received and processed between 2014 and 2019 (from 15 requests in 2014 to 499 requests in 2019), with a slight reduction in 2020 (454). The data was provided in a report issued in 2022. (See July 2022 EYE article.)
