Viet Nam - Coastal Cities Sustainable Environment Project - Notice - Agreement to Pursue Dispute Resolution

Jul 19, 2026

Upload by Finn

Notice letter from Orsolya Szekely, Accountability Mechanism Secretary of the World Bank, dated March 12, 2024 (Case No. 23/03 DRS), concerning the Vietnam Coastal Cities Sustainable Environment Project (P156143). It records approvals by the World Bank Board of Directors and a prior offer to pursue dispute resolution under relevant AM and Inspection Panel resolutions. The Parties voluntarily agree to pursue dispute resolution, with the Inspection Panel investigation placed in abeyance. The DRS will facilitate a mutually agreed solution, capped at one year until March 12, 2025, extendable by six months by mutual agreement.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

Notice

Background and Offer of Dispute Resolution

Meetings and Parties’ Choice

Parties’ Voluntary Agreement and Process Setup

Timeline and Case Details

Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Orsolya Szekely Accountability Mechanism Secretary World Bank March 12, 2024 Case No. 23/03 DRS NOTICE – AGREEMENT TO PURSUE DISPUTE RESOLUTION Viet Nam: Coastal Cities Sustainable Environment Project (P156143) 1. On February 5, 2024, the World Bank Board of Directors approved an Inspection Panel recommendation to investigate the Vietnam Coastal Cities Sustainable Environmental Project (P156143) (the “Project”) . 2. On February 8, 2024, I 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. According to the AM Operating Procedures, the AM Secretary offers dispute resolution, and the DRS facilitates an informed decision-making process by the Parties. In this context, together with the DRS, I met with the Parties and relevant stakeholders in Vietnam from March 1 to March 5, 2024, in accordance with section 11 of the AM Operating Procedures. 4. During this mission, we met the Parties and primary stakeholders of the Project including 32 Requesters, the Ministry of Finance of Vietnam, Khanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee, State Bank of Vietnam, to answer questions and provide detailed information on the dispute resolution option. We also met with the World Bank country office and project team. 5. On March 4, 2024, I received a letter from the Requesters in which they shared their choice to pursue dispute resolution. The Khanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee, as implementing agency for the project, sent me a letter on March 8, 2024, stating that they wish to pursue dispute resolution. 6. Pursuant to paragraph 11(b) of the AM Resolution and paragraph 31 of the Panel Resolution, I hereby inform the Executive Directors, the Inspection Panel and World Bank Management that the Parties voluntarily agree to pursue dispute resolution. 7. Pursuant to paragraph 12(a) of the AM Resolution, I convene the dispute resolution process and the Inspection Panel shall hold its investigation in abeyance as set forth in paragraph 32 of the Panel Resolution. The process will be facilitated by the DRS under the AM Operating Procedures in order to reach a mutually agreed solution between the Parties. Pursuant to paragraph 12(e) of the AM Resolution, at any stage in the process the Parties will have an opportunity to agree whether Bank Management may be present as observers. 8. Pursuant to paragraph 12(g) of the AM Resolution, the maximum length of the dispute resolution process is one year from the date of this notification, March 12, 2025. If both Parties agree, the process may be extended for up to an additional six months. 9. This matter has been assigned Case Number 23/03 DRS. Yours sincerely, Orsolya Szekely Accountability Mechanism Secretary World Bank The Executive Directors and Alternates International Bank for Reconstruction and Development International Development Association Mr. Ajay Banga, President International Bank for Reconstruction and Development International Development Association Mr. Mark Goldsmith Chair, The World Bank Inspection Panel Mr. Edward Mountfield Vice President, OPSVP

FAQs

What is the purpose of this notice letter?

It informs that the Parties voluntarily agree to pursue dispute resolution for the Vietnam Coastal Cities Sustainable Environment Project (P156143).

How is the dispute resolution process facilitated and how does it relate to the Inspection Panel investigation?

The DRS facilitates an informed decision-making process to reach a mutually agreed solution, and the Inspection Panel investigation is placed in abeyance during the dispute resolution process.

What is the maximum duration of the dispute resolution process and can it be extended?

The maximum length is one year from the notification date, March 12, 2025, and it may be extended for up to an additional six months if both Parties agree.

Jul 19, 2026

Upload by Finn