IFC accountability mechanism formally links World Bank client to human rights abuses on palm oil project in Honduras, and highlights systemic problems with IFC procedures.
Agriculture
Rights
Commentary
CSO response to the CAO investigation into IFC investment in Corporación Dinant, Honduras
An international statement, signed by 70 organisations, in response to the publication in mid January of a CAO audit and the IFC response and action plan related to IFC investment in Corporación Dinant, Honduras.
Social services
News
Palestinian NGOs reject Red Sea-Dead Sea canal
In the wake of the April publication of the World Bank funded feasibility study of the Red Sea – Dead Sea canal, a coalition of 19 Palestinian organisations and three experts have rejected the plan and described the participation process as a “mockery”.
Rights
News
IFC financed tea plantation investigated over human rights violations
An in-depth investigation is currently being taken out by the CAO into human rights violations on IFC financed Tata tea plantations.
Land
News
World Bank push for agribusiness in Africa
A World Bank report on land governance has been criticised by NGOs. Meanwhile the Bank pushed ahead with the Benchmarking the Business of Agriculture initiative despite civil society concerns.
Infrastructure
Background
Civil society meeting with Stewart James, UK Alternate Executive Director to the World Bank
Minutes of CSO meeting with Stewart James, UK Alternate Executive Director to the World Bank, 15 July 2013
IFI governance
News
World Bank-led Burundi coffee privatisation challenged on human rights grounds
In mid April two UN special rapporteurs raised the alarm about the World Bank-led privatisation of Burundi's coffee industry and called for suspension of the policy pending a full human rights-based impact assessment.
Private Sector
Analysis
IFC financed 'land grabs' in Cambodia, Laos and Honduras exposed
While the World Bank's leadership is further embracing private equity funds, the IFC's investment in financial intermediaries is again hitting the headlines over allegations of 'land grabs' in South East Asia and lack of respect for indigenous people's rights in Honduras.
IFI governance
News
World Bank moves on 'land grabs'
In April World Bank president Jim Yong Kim said that the Bank shares the concerns "about the risks associated with large-scale land acquisitions" and that "additional efforts must be made to build capacity and safeguards related to land rights".
IFI governance
News
Thai CSOs walk out of FCPF process
In mid April four independent advisers to the UN urged that all of the World Bank's activities should be included in the Bank's safeguards review to ensure consistency with international human rights standards.
Featured briefings
12 October 2020
World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings 2020
6 October 2020
The Bretton Woods Observer: Autumn 2020
6 October 2020
Repairing harm caused: What could a reparations approach mean for the IMF and World Bank?
It is time for the IMF and World Bank to understand their own responsibility and decolonise their approach.