Charges for primary education and health care at the point of use, user fees were introduced in poor countries by the World Bank and other donors in the 1980-90's to tackle severe under-funding. The financial burden of user fees restricts access to basic resources and the World Bank states that it no longer supports them but is so far unable to eliminate them despite pressure to do so.
Background
Background
Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative
EITI aims to ensure that revenues from extractive industries contribute to sustainable development and poverty reduction. It was launched in September 2002 by British PM Tony Blair at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg and is carried out by U.K. Department for International Development.
Background
Private Enterprise Partnership
Established in 2000, PEP is the IFC's business advisory program and implementer of technical assistance projects in the countries of the former Soviet Union and Mongolia.
Background
Environmentally and Financially Sustainable Development Network
ESSD is a World Bank network on issues related to agriculture and rural development, environment, and social development.
Background
Poverty and Social Impact Assessment
PSIA includes a variety of 'tools' and techniques, drawn from both economic and social approaches, which are used in combination to analyse a reform.
Background
Ecological Debt
Owed by the World Bank and richer countries to citizens of borrowing, poorer countries, ecological debt includes atmospheric pollution and other costs to the global environment of unsustainable living. See Andrew Simmons, "Ecological Debt: the health of the planet and the wealth of nations", 2005: Pluto Press.
Background
Odious Debt
An "odious debt" is incurred and used for ends which, to the knowledge of the creditors, are contrary to the interests of the nation. The term was coined by Alexander Nahum Sack in 1927 in the wake of the Spanish American war, and is used to describe debts incurred by contemporary despotic regimes which ought to be legally unenforceable unless as personal debts of the regime.
Background
Development Gateway
DG is an internet portal on development issues which seeks to promote sustainable development and poverty reduction through knowledge and resource sharing. Having been conceived and designed by the World Bank, it commenced operations as an independent not-for-profit organisation in July 2001.
Background
Middle Income Countries
MICs are defined by the World Bank as having: "1. Similar incomes (by definition between $3,036 and 9,385 per capita); 2. Better Policies (but not consistently so); 3. Better institutions (but not all); 4. Better access to external finance (but only 22 out of 69 were investment grade and another 20 had volatile access); 5. Alternatives to the Bank for funds and advice; a test of the Bank's value added." From WB Conference on Effectiveness of Policies and Reforms: 4/10/2004
Background
Development Committee
A joint Bank-IMF forum, the DC meets twice a year to set broad Bank policy and advise the Board of Governors on development issues. DC'S 24 members are appointed by the executive Board of Directors. They are representative of all the member countries and usually ministers of Finance or Development.
Background
Low Income Countries Under Stress
LICUS is a World Bank initiative for engaging in countries with "very weak policies, institutions and governance - including those emerging from conflict".
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.
