Background

Background

Department of Institutional Integrity

INT investigates allegations of fraud and corruption in Bank operations and allegations of staff misconduct. It also assists in preventive efforts to protect Bank funds such as staff training.

13 January 2006 | Glossary

Background

International Parliamentarians' Petition

Following scrutiny of IFI activities by parliaments in recipient countries, IPP is a petition of MPs calling for democratic accountability of IFIs.

13 January 2006 | Glossary

Background

Country Policy and Institutional Assessment

Initiated by the Bank in the late 1970s, CPIAs consist of a set of criteria representing the different policy and institutional dimensions of an effective poverty reduction and growth strategy (e.g quality of budgetary and financial management, debt policy, gender equality...), and are intended to guide the allocation of IDA lending resources. For each criterion, countries are rated on a scale of 1 (very weak performance) to 6 (very strong performance), and a total rating for each country is calculated.

13 January 2006 | Glossary

Background

International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes

A member of The World Bank Group, ICSID is an arbitration tribunal created in 1966 to settle investment disputes between governments and private foreign investors.

13 January 2006 | Glossary

Background

Compliance Advisor Ombudsman

CAO is a mechanism to allow individuals and communities impacted by IFC and MIGA projects to raise their concerns directly and to enhance the social and environmental outcomes of such projects. Its 3 roles are overseeing IFC/MIGA projects' overall environmental and social performance (Compliance); providing independent advice to the President and management on specific projects as well as broader environmental and social policies, guidelines, procedures and resources (Advisor); and addressing the complaints of impacted people to find mutually satisfactory solutions (Ombudsman).

13 January 2006 | Glossary

Background

World Development Report

WDR is the World Bank's major analytical publication, printed annually.

13 January 2006 | Glossary

Background

IDA 14

The 14th replenishment of the International Development Association's (IDA's) resources promised $33 billion to the world's 81 poorest countries during fiscal years 2006-2008. This represented a 25% increase since the previous replenishment.

13 January 2006 | Glossary

Background

Committee on Governance and Executive Directors' Administrative Matters

An 8-member standing committee of the Board of Executive Directors, COGAM advises the Board on issues of governance and administrative policy such as codes of conduct on corruption. It is the key committee in following up on the agenda to increase the 'voice' and participation of developing countries at the Bank. Previously CODAM.

13 January 2006 | Glossary

Background

World Commission on Dams

The WCD was an independent, international, multi-stakeholder process which addressed the controversial issues associated with large dams, and whose report was released in 2000: "Dams and Development: A new framework for decision-making".

13 January 2006 | Glossary

Background

Host Government Agreement

An HGA is a legal agreement between a foreign investor and the local government which is designed to reduce financial and political risks posed to investors by sudden changes in national law. If a country breaks an agreement by interrupting or modifying a project it must pay a penalty, which can risk deterring interventions necessary to protect rights and enforce national laws that apply elsewhere in the country.

13 January 2006 | Glossary

Background

Committee on Development Effectiveness

Established in 1994 as an 8-member standing committee of the Board of Executive Directors, CODE oversees the operations evaluation system of the Bank and the IFC operations, reviewing their output and management responses to it.

13 January 2006 | Glossary

Background

World Bank Institute

Capacity development arm of the World Bank which delivers training and knowledge-sharing activities

13 January 2006 | Glossary