Bob Deacon, Director of the Globalization and Social Policy Programme (based in Sheffield and Helsinki) criticised the World Bank’s stand on social policy at a recent Overseas Development Institute discussion meeting in London.
World Bank Group
Knowledge
News
Major new Bank report on aid
A major new Policy Research Report by the Bank argues that it is pointless to provide aid money to countries unless they have certain economic policies and a good institutional environment.
IFI governance
News
MPs’ committee to Washington
The UK parliamentary committee on international development travelled to Washington in early November to interview World Bank, IMF and NGO staff.
Accountability
News
IFC new ombudsman, consultation document
The IFC is appointing an environmental and social compliance ombudsman to monitor implementation of environmental and social policies.
Accountability
News
New Bank fraud hotline
The World Bank Group has set up a telephone hotline to provide a central point for reporting allegations of fraud and corruption.
Conditionality
News
Brazil stabilisation means cuts for key donor projects
The IMF with multilateral banks and other donors has agreed a $41bn package to help Brazil fend off international currency speculators.
Knowledge
News
New Bank paradigm: Stiglitz and Fine approaches clash
In October World Bank Chief Economist Joe Stiglitz made another major speech going “beyond the well-documented failures of the Washington consensus to begin providing the foundations of an alternative paradigm”.
Accountability
News
Controversial Brazil eviction project budget slashed
Last year the Brazilian government narrowly managed to persuade the World Bank’s Board not to send its Inspection Panel to investigate the Itaparica hydroelectric project, subject of controversy over the forced eviction of 40,000 people.
IFI governance
News
The future of NGO World Bank strategy discussed
In October the Bank Information Center held a strategy meeting for 80 people from NGOs and foundations concerned about the World Bank.
WB/IMF roles
News
Bank is “not the IMF”
Bank President James Wolfensohn spent much of the Bank Annual Meeting distancing his institution from its sibling, insisting that it is not a “second level IMF” and does not provide bail-out funds.
Land
News
Mexico project reveals Bank planning, supervision failings
A detailed paper by Trasparencia traces the history and execution of the Mexican Rainfed Areas Development Project.
Conditionality
News
WB/IMF collaboration plans
In response to the external ESAF Review, the World Bank is to collaborate with the IMF in pilot projects in Nicaragua, Vietnam, Tajikistan, Ethiopia, Cameroon and Zimbabwe over the next 12-18 months.
