Comments on the Public Information Interim Policy of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
...Despite some strengths, in many areas the Interim Policy fails to meet the minimum information disclosure standards established by international law and the practice of other international financial institutions (IFIs). As a result, there is a clear need for fundamental revision of the rules regarding the disclosure of information at the AIIB, whether this is done by amending the Interim Policy or by adopting a new comprehensive policy. This need is particularly urgent since the AIIB has now begun to finance projects...Key areas for improvement of the rules include the development of detailed procedures relating to the processing of requests, which is something other IFIs have put in place. The system of appeals also needs development, most importantly because it currently fails to provide for an independent appeal, such as are found in a growing number of IFI information disclosure policies. But the most significant need for reform is the regime of exceptions, which determines the line between what information is public and what is not...Finally, the AIIB must also significantly strengthen its steps to implement the Policy in practice, in particular by ensuring that requests are processed in accordance with the rules...