New concerns have been raised on the World Bank’s involvement in the Simandou mine in Guinea, including on the use of biodiversity offsets, while civil society has repeated unaddressed concerns on the Mongolia Oyu Tolgoi mine. Further concerns have been raised on mines in Dominican Republic, Peru and South Africa.
Activism
Accountability
Commentary
An accountability mechanism without teeth?
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank, is under internal scrutiny for two projects in Albania.
Rights
News
Indian protests against IFIs
Indian civil society coalition the People's Front against International Financial Institutions held a People's Forum and demonstrations against the annual meetings of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Delhi in early May.
Accountability
News
World Bank's 'green growth' approach denounced
At the United Nations Rio+20 conference on sustainable development held in Brazil in late June, the World Bank promoted its 'green growth' approach despite concerns from civil society groups.
Rights
News
Ukraine protests against IMF policies
In early July, thousands of protesters took to the streets in the Ukrainian capital Kiev to try to block pension reforms promised as part of the country's IMF loan.
Environment
Commentary
World Bank's Africa strategy remains rutted in comfort zone
A critical analysis of the World Bank's new strategy for Africa
Rights
News
IMF's European austerity drive goes on
The IMF programme in Portugal highlights the heavy conditionality attached to loans. Meanwhile, a big, and very public, fight is brewing over debt in Greece, where the IMF denies any problems.
Rights
Analysis
Debt and austerity - from the global South to Europe
In early May, more than 400 activists in Greece and campaigners and academics from across the world met in Athens to confront the current debt crisis of the European periphery and plan international solidarity and coordinated action against fiscal austerity imposed by governments.
Rights
News
BIC publishes Bank lobby toolkit
In December US NGO Bank Information Center published an Executive Director Advocacy Toolkit. The guide offers advice for civil society organisations in their attempts to engage executive directors (EDs) of the World Bank.
Rights
News
World Bank corners climate funds?
As governments reached an agreement at the climate negotiations in Cancun in December, the World Bank continued to stir controversy as it attained a role in a new global climate fund, launched new carbon market initiatives, and touted the success of the controversial Climate Investment Funds.
Featured briefings
21 July 2022
Ending “absolute immunity” for the International Finance Corporation: The legacy of Jam v. IFC
EarthRights International examines how the Jam v. IFC case has helped to shift the landscape of accountability for international financial institutions by successfully challenging their claim to “absolute” immunity in US courts, potentially opening IFC up to further legal challenges in future.
21 July 2022
The Bretton Woods Observer: Summer 2022
14 April 2022