NOTICE - NO AGREEMENT TO PURSUE DISPUTE RESOLUTION - Bolivia: Santa Cruz Road Corridor Connector Project (San Ignacio - San José) (P152281)

Jul 19, 2026

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Notice issued by the World Bank’s Accountability Mechanism Secretary for the Santa Cruz Road Corridor Connector Project (San Ignacio - San José) in Bolivia. The document records Board approval to investigate and the offer of voluntary dispute resolution under specified AM and Inspection Panel resolutions. It explains that no agreement was reached to enter dispute resolution, so the Inspection Panel will commence its investigation. It also addresses process neutrality, meeting arrangements, and limits around GBV/SEA-related concerns, emphasizing survivor-centric assessment and non-replacement of criminal proceedings.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

Context

Dispute resolution offer and decision

GBV/SEA considerations and procedural limits

Correspondence and next steps

Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Orsolya Székely Accountability Mechanism Secretary World Bank May 12, 2023 Case No. 22/07/DRS NOTICE– NO AGREEMENT TO PURSUE DISPUTE RESOLUTION Bolivia: Santa Cruz Road Corridor Connector Project (San Ignacio-San José) (P152281) 1. On March 31, 2023, the World Bank Board of Directors approved an Inspection Panel recommendation to investigate the Santa Cruz Road Corridor Connector Project (San Ignacio - San José)(P152281) in Bolivia (the “Project”) . 2. On April 4, 2023, the Accountability Mechanism Secretary (AM Secretary) wrote to the Parties in this case, offering the opportunity for dispute resolution, pursuant to paragraph 11(a) of Resolution No. IBRD 2020-0005/Resolution No. IDA 2020-0004 (the “AM Resolution”) and paragraph 30 of Resolution No. IBRD 2020-0004/Resolution No. IDA 2020-0003 (the “Panel Resolution”) . 3. To facilitate the Parties’ ability to make an informed decision, the AM Secretary offered to meet with the Parties, in accordance with paragraph 11 of the AM Operating Procedures. 4. If either of the parties do not agree to pursue dispute resolution, the case is to be returned to the Inspection Panel. Pursuant to paragraph 11(b) of the AM Resolution and paragraph 31 of the Panel Resolution, the AM Secretary hereby informs the Executive Directors, the Inspection Panel and World Bank Management that the Government of Bolivia opted for dispute resolution and the Requesters opted to proceed directly to an investigation. 5. As there is no agreement from both Parties to enter dispute resolution, in accordance with paragraph 11(b) of the AM Resolution and paragraph 33(a) of the Panel Resolution, following this notification the Inspection Panel will now commence its investigation. Context 6. The AM Secretary offers dispute resolution neutrally, and the DRS facilitates informed decision making directly with the Parties, by following the steps in para. 11 of the AM Operating Procedures. This includes meeting with them and having a discussion, including any concerns the Parties may wish to raise in relation to the dispute resolution process. The Parties then indicate, within the 30-working day period, whether they are willing to proceed with dispute resolution. 7. The AM Secretary and the DRS held direct meetings with the Government of Bolivia. However, there was no direct meeting with the Requesters, the indigenous people’s leaders of four “Centrales Chiquitanos”who signed the request, or with the communities affected. 8. In relation to GBV/SEA issues, the Panel noted in the review section of its Report and Recommendation that “there appears to be cases linked to workers involving girls younger than 18. The Panel is unable at this stage to comment on the adequacy of the systems in place […] At this stage, the Panel is unable to assess the adequacy of the SEA/H systems in place.” It was raised prior and during the dispute resolution decision phase whether dispute resolution should be available for GBV/SEA-related issues. Dispute resolution is available when the parties want it, on a voluntary basis. The AM Secretary can always advise the Board of certain situations where dispute resolution would not be recommended, which would take into account the nature of the complainants’ consent to engage in dispute resolution, including their agency and capacity to do so. Any such assessment would only be possible through a careful survivor-centric approach, which could not happen in this case without in-person meetings. It may also be noted that the AM Operating Procedures provide that ifthe DRS has reason to believe that the Parties intend to include anything in a Dispute Resolution Agreement that is inconsistent with relevant domestic or international law, the AM Secretary will request the Parties to make appropriate modifications. In no circumstances would any Accountability Mechanism process replace a criminal process under domestic or int

FAQs

What outcome does the notice report regarding dispute resolution for the Bolivia project?

No agreement was reached by both parties to pursue dispute resolution, and the case will proceed to the Inspection Panel investigation.

What process steps were offered to the parties under the Accountability Mechanism procedures?

The AM Secretary offered meetings and discussion to enable informed decision-making, and the parties were to indicate within the specified working-day period whether they would proceed voluntarily.

How does the notice address GBV/SEA-related issues in relation to dispute resolution?

It notes concerns raised in the Panel’s report review, explains that dispute resolution is voluntary, and states that any assessment would require a careful survivor-centric approach supported by in-person meetings. It also clarifies that AM processes would not replace criminal processes under domestic or international law.

Jul 19, 2026

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