Knowledge

News

Ties that bind: possible shifts on conditionality?

28 May 2004

The extent to which efforts to review conditionality represent a desire for better implementation rather than a fundamental re-examination of the impact of policy conditions remains unclear.

Conditionality

Commentary

Lula and Kirchner want IMF to relax its grip

A new initiative to rewrite the rules of engagement with the IMF could mark the biggest change in creditor-debtor relations in a generation.

24 May 2004 | Guest comment

IFI governance

Analysis

The World Bank’s knowledge roles: dominating development debates

Since 1996 the World Bank President has emphasised his institution’s roles as a “knowledge bank“. But just as one person’s terrorist is another’s freedom fighter, what some see as knowledge is viewed by others as propaganda for a particular world view.

28 May 2004 | At Issue

Knowledge

News

New debt sustainability framework: too little, too subjective

Civil society groups welcome the intention but not the detail of a new IMF, World Bank framework for assessing countries’ debts and their potential to take on new lending.

28 May 2004

Accountability

News

US lawmakers scrutinise World Bank record on corruption

At hearings in the US Senate commentators criticised World Bank anti-corruption activities and proposed new approaches.

28 May 2004

IFI governance

News

G8 governments review IFI mandates

The world's most powerful governments are assessing the roles of international financial insitutions.

28 May 2004

Rights

News

Concerns about Brazil soya project

Brazilian NGOs challenge proposed World Bank Group support for soya farming in the Amazon region.

28 May 2004

Rights

News

Middle-income strategy threatens safeguards

A coalition of NGOs led by International Rivers Network has raised alarm bells that a proposed World Bank middle income country strategy will seriously weaken policies meant to protect vulnerable groups and the environment.

28 May 2004

Conditionality

News

Gender "poorly rooted"

Gender has been incorporated within the framework of standard macroeconomic and sector policies.

28 May 2004

Private Sector

News

Haitian victory

Thirty-four union members at a free-trade zone plant financed by the IFC - laid off for over six weeks - were reinstated on 14 April.

28 May 2004

IFI governance

News

African Executive Directors' support fund

The African Economic Research Consortium has been awarded the contract by the sub-saharan African Executive Directors at the Bank and Fund to act as the commissioning agent for the Analytical Trust Fund.

28 May 2004

Rights

News

Peoples' movement tackles IFI anniversary

A special publication by the National Alliance of Peoples' Movements India features a range of critical articles on international financial institutions.

28 May 2004

IFI governance

News

Disclosure in private sector financing

The World Bank’s private sector arm, the International Finance Corporation, is conducting a review of its 1998 Policy on Disclosure of Information.

28 May 2004

IFI governance

News

Symbolic vote does nothing to change Fund leadership stitch-up

Unsurprisingly, former Spanish Finance Minister Rodrigo Rato was confirmed as Managing Director of the IMF in a mock voting procedure on 4 May. Disappointment was widespread that the Fund had failed to end the stitch-up that allows Europe to nominate the Fund's head.

24 May 2004

Trade

News

Parliamentarians’ trade working group

On 20 April, the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank launched a working group on international trade.

24 May 2004

Infrastructure

News

Wolfensohn discusses human rights, environment at Greenpeace lecture

The World Bank’s president made interesting statements on human rights and climate change. But he was not specific and he asserted brashly that his institution has not harmed indigenous people since he has been in charge.

24 May 2004

IFI governance

News

Bank trade evaluation: assume the position

The World Bank Operations Evaluation Department's plan for an evaluation of Bank assistance on trade shies away from many of the key issues according to ChristianAid.

24 May 2004

Trade

News

IMF Trade Integration Mechanism: Sweetening a sour deal

With much fanfare, the Board of the IMF approved the Trade Integration Mechanism in April, a new insurance policy to entice developing countries back to the multilateral trade table.

24 May 2004