This briefing clarifies the landscape of programme conditions and project safeguards and what it implies for a move towards responsible lending standards.
IFC
Environment
Commentary
The World Bank and the West Africa Gas Pipeline Project
A critical analysis of the the World Bank-supported West Africa Gas pipeline, by Michael Karipko of Environmental Rights Action, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Accountability
Background
The World Bank and financial sector reform
Financial sector reform constitutes a major area of work for the World Bank.
IFI governance
News
Questioning the IFC's impact "without embarrassment"
In August, the World Bank's Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) released its evaluation of the development results of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), finding that of the 627 projects surveyed, 59 per cent are claimed to have achieved a high development rating.
Accountability
News
Deforestation and double standards
As the Bank prepares to launch its Forest Carbon Partnership Facility forestry experts fear that this framework will benefit industrial scale logging.
Rights
News
‘Doing Business’ eliminates workers' protection
In September the Bank released its Doing Business Indicators for 2007.
Accountability
News
IFC: ‘badges of excellence’, dubious practice
The IFC is scaling up its investment in high risk and low-income countries "as part of its development mission", and is now on track to double financing for mining in Africa this year. However its attempts to position itself as an environmental and human rights 'expert' in these sectors lacks credibility.
Private Sector
News
Honest broker? The IFC, extractive industries and affected communities
The IFC is planning to double its mining investment in Africa and increase involvement in Southeast Asia, raising civil society concerns about the rights of affected communities.
Environment
Background
The World Bank and energy
Information on the objectives, staffing, and volumes of the World Bank's energy portfolio.
Social services
News
Bank and Fund undermining health, education spending
A high powered working group examining the IMF and health spending found that the Fund has unduly constrained counties’ policy choices, while other recent reports accuse the World Bank and the IMF of undermining quality education. Meanwhile, the Bank’s private sector arm has stepped up its support for private schooling in Africa.
Rights
Background
Chad-Cameroon pipeline: implementation, challenges and lessons learned
Minutes of meeting on the Chad-Cameroon pipeline
Environment
Background
The DRC's natural resources: a roundtable discussion on forestry, mining and the role of donor insti
Minutes of meeting
