CABEI opened a public consultation process to receive suggestions for strengthening its Access to Information Policy (AIP).
The Bank invited all of its external stakeholders to participate in the process and to share inputs and comments to strengthen these regulation.
The initial regulatory proposal can be found at the following link.
The term for the public consultation expired on november 11th, 2023. Therefore, the Bank is currently analyzing the comments received.
When the Bank adopts the updated Policy, it will publish all inputs submitted by external stakeholders who participated in the public consultation.
Antecedents
The Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) adopted its Access to Information Policy (PAI) on February 25, 2020, which became effective on April 1, 2021. Since that date, the Bank has been implementing the regulations in a serious and efficient manner, with the objective of strengthening transparency, accountability and openness. The following are among the main achievements:
- The progressive increase in the classification and disclosure of public information.
- Efficient attention to requests for information under terms shorter than those established in the regulations.
- The launching of a platform of Public Indicators of compliance with the Policy in order to be accountable for its application.
- The implementation of a series of knowledge dissemination and liaison activities to strengthen the relationship with external stakeholders in the framework of the application of the regulations, among other activities.
The annual reports on the implementation of the Policy can be found at the following site.
Objectives of the regulatory update process
Notwithstanding the progress made in its implementation, the Bank considers it important to move forward in deepening the spirit of the Policy and to strengthen its commitment to transparency and maximization of information by improving and updating the text of the regulations. The specific objectives of the process are:
- Align regulations with the main standards on Access to information developed by other international organizations.
- Standardize and improve concepts and practices.
- Deepen the principle of maximum access and protect sensitive information.
- Strengthen the dynamics between access to information, relations with external stakeholders, open data and accessibility.
Introduce lessons learned identified in the process of implementing the Policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who can submit suggestions, recommendations and observations on the proposed policy adjustments?
Borrowing countries, executing agencies, members of the private sector, non-governmental organizations, academia and the general public.
2. When does the term for submitting observations and suggestions expire?
November 11th, 2023.
3. Is there a limit to the number of recommendations or inputs that can be submitted?
There is no limit.
4. Do I have to be an expert in transparency or Access to information to send suggestions?
No, the call is open to all citizens.
5. What criteria will the Bank use to evaluate the suggestions, comments and observations received?
The Bank will take into consideration all the inputs received and will take into account when evaluating them: (a) maximizing access to information and protecting sensitive information; (b) the relevance and technical and operational capacity of the Bank to implement the suggestions received; (c) CABEI's institutional objectives; (d) the difference between the access to information policies of the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and the access to information laws of the countries; (e) the usual practices of other IFIs, among others.
6. What are the next steps at the end of the process?
The Bank will systematize the inputs received and, with the technical support of the Bank's Access to Information Unit, under the guidelines of the Communications and Access to Information Committee, will submit the updated policy proposal to the Board of Directors for consideration. Likewise, once the regulations have been approved, it will publish the updated Policy and all the inputs received in the public consultation process.