UK MPs on the International Development Committee took evidence from Myles Wickstead, UK Alternate Director at the World Bank, plus senior DFID officials.
World Bank Group
Rights
News
Call to halt aid after Timorese massacres
Massacres perpetrated and condoned by the Indonesian army have led to calls to halt World Bank and IMF aid programmes to Indonesia.
Knowledge
News
“Knowledge Bank” claims queried
The Bretton Woods Project has received copies of draft papers by two academics critically querying the World Bank’s claims to have become a “knowledge bank”.
Rights
News
Major Bank pollution prevention handbook out
After 5 years of preparation the World Bank and IFC have jointly published a Pollution Prevention and Abatement Handbook.
Land
News
Oil-Palm Watch
Indonesian NGOs, concerned about the spread of oil palm plantations since the onslaught of the crisis, have formed “Sawat (Oil Palm) Watch”.
Accountability
News
Bribes by companies in Bank-funded African project
A dozen major international dam-building companies involved in the World Bank-funded Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) have lavishly bribed a top official on the project, allegedly giving nearly US$2 million in bribes over ten years.
Environment
News
Bank, IUCN sign cooperation agreement
At the end of June IUCN and the World Bank signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalize their partnership agreement.
Private Sector
News
WB corporate governance initiative explained
Ann Simpson, head of the World Bank’s new corporate governance initiative, explained her plans to UK NGOs in August.
Environment
News
NGO review of Bank social assessments
US NGO grouping InterAction is reviewing Bank social assessments.
Conditionality
News
Social Principles limited to crisis situations
The Bank’s paper on best practices for implementing the social principles will be discussed by the Board on 10 September.
Rights
News
China arrests project monitors
On 15 August the Chinese Government arrested three people for trying to investigate the World Bank Western Poverty Project.
Accountability
News
UK committee criticises Bank and Fund over conflict roles
The UK International Development Select Committee of MPs has criticised the IMF and Bank for failing to raise concerns with the Rwandan government about the discrimination and intimidation of Tutsis prior to the civil war.
