Papers
Untying the knots: How the World Bank is failing to deliver real change on conditionality, Eurodad
NGO goes head-to-head with the Bank using the Bank’s own database of conditions, forcing the Bank to devote considerable resources in the David vs. Goliath battle. Norway thought Eurodad landed several punches.
http://www.eurodad.org/aid/report.aspx?id=130&item=01804
Seeing “RED”? “Avoided deforestation” and the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, Forest Peoples Programme
Provides a grave caution on the World Bank’s proposed ‘avoided deforestation’ model in light of its recent controversial climate-related initiatives on forests. The report finds that the model may result in the perpetuation of discredited Bank models of forest ‘development’, such as large-scale plantation forestry.
http://www.forestpeoples.org/documents/ifi_igo/avoided_deforestation_red_jun07_eng.pdf
Transparency at the IMF: A guide for civil society on getting access to information from the IMF, Global Transparency Initiative
In advance of a planned 2009 review of the IMF’s disclosure policy, the GTI produces a practical guide for civil society about the valuable information they can get from the Fund and what further information they should demand be made available.
http://www.ifitransparency.org/doc/Transparency_IMF_GTI.pdf
Building scrutiny of the World Bank and IMF: A toolkit for legislators and those who work with them, World Development Movement
A useful resource for both parliamentarians and civil society groups that work on scrutiny of financing agreements with the IFIs.
http://www.wdm.org.uk/resources/reports/debt/toolkitforlegislators19012007.pdf
The second generation Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers: Burkina Faso, Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda, AFRODAD
Country case studies examine the extent to which the second generation PRSPs are different from the first in terms of process and content.
http://www.afrodad.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=58&Itemid=101
Does the IMF constrain health spending in poor countries? Evidence and an agenda for action, Center for Global Development
An independent panel of experts in the health field conclude that the IMF does unduly constrain spending on health and other social services by requiring overly strict macroeconomic policies.
http://www.cgdev.org/doc/IMF/IMF_Report.pdf
Investigation report on World Bank support for forestry reforms in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Inspection Panel
A scathing report finds that the Bank has violated its own safeguard policies, including those protecting indigenous peoples, in its support for forest sector reforms in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It should provoke a wholesale re-thinking of the Bank’s approach to forestry.
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EXTINSPECTIONPANEL/Resources/FINALINVREPwhole.pdf
Conference papers from A decade after: Recovery and adjustment since the East Asian crisis, July 2007, Bangkok, Network IDEAS
A gathering of heterodox economists presented papers looking at the causes of financial crises in East, Southeast and South Asia, Russia and Latin America in the late 90s. The IFIs do not get off lightly.
http://www.networkideas.org/feathm/jul2007/ft17_Bangkok_Conference.htm
Books
Transnational law and local struggles: Mining, communities and the World Bank, David Szablowski
A comprehensive overview of the World Bank’s safeguard policy regime and the influence that transnational advocacy campaigns have had on its development. It finds that local actors are often treated as passive subjects, excluded from informed involvement in decision-making.
Hart Publishing, ISBN-13: 978-1-84113-639-4
Ten years after: Revisiting the Asian financial crisis, edited by Bhumika Muchhala
A collection of essays that examines what we have, and should have, learned from the financial crises of the late 1990s and offers both warnings and policy recommendations to deal with financial globalisation.
Woodrow Wilson Center, ISBN: 1-933549-24-6
Poverty alleviation and human development in the twenty-first century: The role of the World Bank, edited by Catherine Weaver and Susan Park
A collection of academic essays on the World Bank looking at: the Bank’s knowledge role, the Multi-Country AIDS Program, social and sustainable development.
Global Governance, Vol 13 No 4
The World Bank: Development, poverty, hegemony, edited by David Moore
A wide range of scholars and activists examine the efforts of the World Bank to construct a path through poverty and power, and ask “if reform of the Bank is possible or rejection probable”.
University of KwaZulu-Natal Press, ISBN: 1869141008
Electronic resources
World Bank President
This mouse that roared is credited by some (even within the Bank) with helping to bring down Paul Wolfowitz. The site carried all the latest news, gossip and insider analysis of Wolfowitz, his girlfriend and his cronies. Honourable mention goes to Wolfowitz resign, a site run by disgruntled Bank staff.
www.worldbankpresident.org
wolfowitzmustresign.blogspot.com
IFIwatch.tv
Pioneering the latest technology for distributing social justice video online, IFIwatch.tv is a superb resource for educators, activists, journalists, film-makers, students and anyone else who is interested in what multilateral bodies are doing with our money, our neighbours, and our planet.
www.ifiwatch.tv
People’s tribunals on the World Bank
Indian civil society organised a forum in September for people who have faced the impact of projects and policies funded or promoted by the World Bank Group. European groups followed suit in October with a similar forum directed at European governments considering their financial support of the Bank.
www.worldbanktribunal.org
www.worldbankcampaigneurope.org
