Orsolya Székely Appointed World Bank Accountability Mechanism Secretary

Accountability Mechanism Houses World Bank Inspection Panel and Dispute Resolution Service

WASHINGTON, May 3, 2021-The World Bank today announced the appointment of Ms. Orsolya Székely as Accountability Mechanism Secretary for the World Bank.

The World Bank Accountability Mechanism (AM) was established by the Bank's Board of Executive Directors on September 8, 2020, to reinforce the WB's accountability framework. The Accountability Mechanism will house the Bank's Inspection Panel and the Dispute Resolution Service (DRS), while preserving the independence of the Inspection Panel members. As announced in October 2020, the Accountability Mechanism will become operational once the Accountability Mechanism Secretary is hired and begins work.

Székely, a Hungarian national, has a distinguished track record as an accountability mechanism leader. A lawyer and senior conflict-resolution professional, she brings in-depth knowledge of environmental and social issues, and wide-ranging experience in international development.

Székely has more than twenty years' experience working with a broad range of multilateral organizations and the private sector. In her latest function, holding the rank of Ambassador, Székely serves as the Senior Advisor and Coordinator in the Executive Office of the Secretary General, with responsibility for enhancing good governance at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

Székely previously worked as senior advisor with communities and high-level stakeholders in India, Myanmar, China, Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan, and on projects in Bangladesh and Nepal. She has worked on women's empowerment and women's participation in peace processes. Prior to these assignments, she was Head of Operations at the Council of Europe Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina and served as Special Representative of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe in Kosovo.

In her managerial roles at the Council of Europe Office in Pristina, Székely was instrumental in establishing the accountability mechanisms in the UN and EU Missions in Kosovo and facilitated the transition of the Ombudsperson Institution from internationally-led to locally-led. Prior to joining the Directorate of Political Affairs and Democracy of the Council of Europe, Székely was a case lawyer at the European Court of Human Rights.

Ms Székely holds a Master's degree in Law from the University of Pécs, Hungary. She is an Accredited Mediator, gaining her Certificate from the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR), UK. She also has a Certificate from the Harvard Law School, Program on Negotiation.