WASHINGTON, January 16, 2024-The World Bank Group today announced a settlement with the Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System for Africa and Asia (RIMES) in connection with conduct under the Bhutan Hydromet Services and Disaster Resilience Regional Project (Bhutan Project), and the Climate Adaptation and Resilience for South Asia Project in Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh (CARE Project). RIMES is a regional intergovernmental organization, which is mandated to provide early multi-hazard warning services to its member countries.
RIMES was sanctioned with an 18-month conditional non-debarment, which means it remains eligible to participate in projects and operations financed by institutions of the Bank Group as long as it complies with its obligations under the settlement agreement. Under the settlement agreement, RIMES acknowledged responsibility for the underlying sanctionable practices, and committed to continue its efforts to strengthen its integrity compliance-related internal controls.
The Bhutan Project's objective was to strengthen Bhutan's capacity for Hydromet services and disaster preparedness. The CARE Project aimed to contribute to the creation of a conducive environment for climate-resilient policies and investments in selected sectors and countries in South Asia. According to the facts of the case, under the Bhutan Project, RIMES replaced a key expert with another individual without seeking the client's prior approval. Under the CARE Project, RIMES charged a higher amount in salaries than was paid out and kept the additional amount as its revenue. Both were sanctionable practices according to the conditions outlined in the World Bank Project Agreements.
The settlement agreement reflects RIMES' cooperation with INT, acknowledgement of responsibility, voluntary remediation and steps already taken to improve upon its integrity compliance-related measures. Under the settlement agreement, RIMES agrees to meet specified integrity compliance conditions as a requirement for release from the conditional non-debarment. This includes further developing and implementing integrity compliance measures that reflect the relevant principles set out in the World Bank Group Integrity Compliance Guidelines to address the sanctionable practices underlying the sanction. RIMES also commits to continue to fully cooperate with the World Bank Group Integrity Vice Presidency.
