ADB’s new access to information policy

THE Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a new Public Communications Policy that intends to give the public greater access to the documents it produces.

The public is guaranteed access to decisions by ADB’s Board of Directors Core administrative documents, such as the institution’s budget; project information at early stages; and project monitoring and evaluation information, among others.

The bank, however, exempts certain current and historical information from public disclosure. These include individual records, including terms of employment, performance evaluations, and personal medical information of directors, their alternates, and director’s advisors, members of management, and ADB staff and consultants, as well as proceedings of internal appeal mechanisms and investigations; and analysis of country creditworthiness and credit ratings.

Also covered by the nondisclosure clause are names of those having been declared ineligible (blacklisted) or having been investigated under the bank’s anticorruption policy.

The policy takes effect on Sept. 1.