This section complements the One World Trust’s annual Global Accountability Report, an assessment of the accountability capabilities of global organisations as measured by their policies and management systems.  It provides a forum for the presentation and debate of case studies on organisational practice and experience of stakeholders with specific accountability mechanisms. 

The case studies presented here show both how organisations have been able to fulfil their commitments, and where discrepancies exist. Neither an assessment of policy and systems, nor individual case studies of practice, will on their own offer a definitive picture of how accountable an organisation is to the people it affects at all times. However, taken together they highlight where more efforts are required, and where opportunities exist for cross-sector learning.

If you would like to contribute a case study on the accountability practices of a global organisation, please contact Robert Lloyd.

Case studies in Global Accountability Practice

Briefing papers written by stakeholders of organisations assessed in past Global Accountability Reports

• GAP US - UNDP whistleblower policy practice review

In the first paper of this new OWT series, the Government Accountability Project (GAP), a US based non-profit organisation that defends whistleblowers, investigates the gap that can exist in global organisations between what is on paper and what happens in reality through an analysis of UNDP’s whistleblower protections. Based on evidence from individual cases that GAP has worked on over the past year, it argues that, despite its policy commitments, the UNDP is still failing to put into practice key protections for complainants, such as the independence of investigations and protections from retaliation.

Accountability Spotlights

Short descriptions of how the accountability policies of global organisations assessed in the 2008 Global Accountability Report play out in practice.  These are contributed by the external stakeholders of these organisations.

AfDB (African Development Bank)

• The Bank Information Center on the African Development Bank's Information Disclosure Policy

UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)

• Asylum Access on the UNHCR's policy-making process

IFC (International Finance Corporation)

• Crude Accountability on the IFC's external complaints policy

IOC (International Olympic Committee)

• Laura Misener of the University of Windsor on the IOC's transparency

EBRD (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development)

• The EDEN Center on the EBRD's civil society engagement and external complaints policies
• Green Salvation on the EBRD's stakeholder engagement
• Eco Museum on the EBRD's information disclosure and civil society engagement policies

EIB (European Investment Bank)

• CEE Bankwatch Network on the EIB's external complaints mechanisms
• CEE Bankwatch Network on internal member control at the EIB
• CEE Bankwatch Network on public participation and inclusion in the EIB's policy making process
• CEE Bankwatch Network on EIB's transparency

Unilever

• Rainforest Alliance on Unilever's commitment to addressing its environmental impact
• Greenpeace on Unilever’s engagement of external stakeholders in the policy-making process