73393 Pilot of a Model Where Most Senior non-Chair Inspection Panel Member Serves on Full-time Basis The discussion in CODE of the External Review of the Oversight and Accountability Units of the World Bank Group concluded with an agreement "to test model where most senior non-Chair member serves on full-time basis. After 1 year, IPN to evaluate experience then recommend to Board whether long-term change is warranted." 1 The Panel notes that it is within the Panel's mandate to recommend to the Board that one or both of the non-Chair Panel members should work full-time based on the Panel's workload. The Panel Resolution states that" ... members of the Panel shall be expected to work on a full-time basis only when their workload justifies such an arrangement, as will be decided by the Executive Directors on the recommendation of the Panel'' (Resolutions establishing the Inspection Panel, IBRD 93-10, IDA 93.6, paragraph 9). As agreed with CODE, the Panel is pleased to submit the following recommendation on how to carry out such a trial. 1. Justification The intent of this trial, as discussed with CODE, is to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the Panel's work. Throughout the Panel process, this entails more frequent and effective interaction and communication with all stakeholders in the Panel process, namely, Executive Directors, Requesters and Management. It involves increased due diligence at the early stages of the Panel process, exercising judgment beyond technical eligibility determination in making Panel recommendations, and it involves completing investigations within a shorter time period (i.e. about six months or less from having mobilized the required expertise). These are enhancements elaborated in the ongoing process of updating the Panel's Operating Procedures. In working out practical modalities for implementing these enhancements there will be increased demands on the Inspection Panel. 2. Trial period The Panel recommends that the senior-most non-Chair Panel Member (Ms. Eimi Watanabe) will work on a full -time basis beginning February 2013. Her full-time assignment will thus overlap with the curtent Chair of the Panel (Mr. Alf Jerve) whose term expires on October 30, 2013. Hence, for the period February until end-October 2013, the proposal signifies that two of the three Panel members will work on a full-time basis in Washington. 3. Evaluation Given the intent of this trial, its success or otherwise will be evaluated principally on the extent to which full-time membership facilitates the implementation of the above, and 1 CODE Green Sheet, Meeting of July 18, 2012. CODE/GS2012-0019 will be based on a self-evaluation by the Panel and the Panel Secretariat, and simple but objective feedback to be obtained from a small sample of the key stakeholders, namely Executive Directors, Requesters and Management. The Panel will recommend to the Board by December 31, 2013 whether to continue with two full-time Panel members (for a period) or revert to having only the Chair working full-time. 4. Costs Depending on certain assumptions with respect to salary level and savings on travels to DC the added costs of the trial is estimated at about 3% of current budget on an annual basis. A trial period commencing in February 2013 would be budget neutral for FY 2012/13. For FY 2013/14 the Panel will adjust its budget accordingly.