Accountability in complex organizations
Subtitle: World Bank responses to civil society
By: Alnoor S. Ebrahim, Steve Herz
Contributors: Herz, Steve; Harvard Business School. Division of Research
Series: Working paper / Division of Research, Harvard Business School -- 08-027; Faculty research working papers series -- RWP07-060; Working paper (Harvard Business School. Division of Research) -- 08-027; Faculty research working paper series -- RWP07-060
Publisher: Division of Research, Harvard Business School
Published: 2007
Place of publication: Boston]
Language: eng
Number of pages: 37
Description: Civil society actors have been pushing for greater accountability of the World Bank for at least three decades. This paper outlines the range of accountability mechanisms currently in place at the World Bank along four basic levels: (1) staff, (2) project, (3) policy, and (4) board governance. We argue that civil society organizations have been influential in pushing for greater accountability at the project and policy levels, particularly through the establishment and enforcement of social and environmental safeguards and complaint and response mechanisms. But they have been much less successful in changing staff incentives for accountability to affected communities, or in improving board accountability through greater transparency in decision making, more representative vote allocation, or better parliamentary scrutiny.
Notes: "October 2007"--Top paging.

"Also issued in print in KSG faculty research working papers series."

Includes bibliographical references.