BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) is co-hosting the 22nd Annual Meeting of the Independent Accountability Mechanisms Network (IAMNet) from October 6-9, 2025, in Barbados, bringing together accountability professionals from development finance institutions worldwide.
CDB is joining forces with the Inter-American Development Bank’s (IDB) Independent Consultation and Investigation Mechanism (MICI) and the Office of the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency to stage the four-day event. Participants include representatives from the World Bank, IDB, IFC, Asian Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and other international finance institutions.
IAMNet was established to strengthen cooperation among independent accountability mechanisms and promote best practices in addressing complaints related to development projects. Member mechanisms provide platforms for communities and individuals affected by development projects to raise concerns about environmental and social harm.
CDB president, Daniel Best said, “It’s a privilege to host the 2025 IAMNet Annual Meeting in Barbados. As development challenges grow more complex, strong accountability frameworks become even more critical, and this gathering offers an important opportunity to deepen collaboration, strengthen best practices, and reinforce our collective commitment to development that is transparent, effective, and responsive to communities across the globe.”
The meeting agenda addresses critical challenges facing accountability mechanisms in an era of off-track Sustainable Development Goals, shrinking aid budgets, and intensifying climate disasters. Sessions will cover IAM policy reviews, safeguarding requesters in IAM processes, accountability in climate change projects, data and technology innovations, and strategies for addressing retaliation against complainants.
A dedicated full-day session on October 8 will convene representatives from civil society organisations to discuss building accountability capacity, early solutions facilitation, remedy mechanisms, and strengthening partnerships between IAMs and development advocates.
Emphasising the importance of accountability in the Caribbean context, president Best said, “In the Caribbean, accountability isn’t a luxury; it’s a matter of survival. With our small, open economies, massive debt burdens, and limited fiscal space, there is zero room for error. Every development dollar must count, and the work of Independent Accountability Mechanisms is fundamental to making development finance work for the people it’s meant to serve.”
CDB established its Office of Integrity, Compliance, and Accountability in 2015 as an operationally independent office covering five core functions: institutional integrity, ethics, accountability through a Projects Complaints Mechanism, compliance, and whistleblowing.
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