The Inspection Panel Annual Report 2026

Overview & Synopsis

This annual report highlights the activities and achievements of the World Bank Inspection Panel during FY 2026. The Panel handled a significant caseload, processing ten new Requests for Inspection across multiple countries and conducting investigations, verifications, and eligibility assessments related to World Bank-financed projects. A major focus of the year was supporting the integration of the Inspection Panel, Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO), and Dispute Resolution Service (DRS) into a unified World Bank Group Independent Accountability Mechanism, approved by the Boards in June 2026. The report details casework outcomes, stakeholder engagement, collaboration with international accountability mechanisms, updates to operating procedures, and efforts to enhance institutional learning, including the development of a case compendium and exploration of artificial intelligence tools. It also summarizes outreach activities, staffing developments, budget utilization, and trends in accountability requests, confidentiality concerns, and allegations of reprisals, reaffirming the Panel’s commitment to independent oversight, accountability, and support for project-affected communities.