I am pleased to announce the publication of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Annual Report of the World Bank Administrative Tribunal (WBAT). The Annual Report provides an overview of the Tribunal’s activities, user demographics, judgment highlights, and trends observed between July 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021.

The issue category most frequently raised in Tribunal applications during FY 2021 was employment contract issues, which includes claims pertaining to ending employment, performance, and non-selection, among others.

The demographic data of staff members who submitted cases before the Tribunal in FY 2021 largely mirrored the demographic data of the World Bank Group staff members.

A notable difference, when compared to user demographics in previous FYs, was the steep increase in Tribunal cases filed by country office (CO) based staff members. In FY 2021, 44 percent of Tribunal cases were filed by CO-based staff members, compared to 21 percent in FY 2020, and only 8 percent in FY 2019.

While COVID-19 prompted the need for a remote work environment, WBAT nevertheless continued its work as the only independent judicial forum to provide final and binding resolutions to claims submitted by staff against the World Bank Group. During FY 2021, the Tribunal held its first completely virtual oral proceedings, hearing testimony pertaining to jurisdictional and sexual harassment claims.

The Tribunal is a judicial body that functions independently of the management of the World Bank Group. The Tribunal is not a part of any administrative unit of the World Bank Group, nor is it a part of the Internal Justice Services. Accordingly, the Tribunal will continue to publish its own Annual Report.

Zakir Hafez, Executive Secretary, World Bank Administrative Tribunal