In September 2006 the IFC published its first issue of a new publication entitled Lessons of Experience. However, the IFC's lessons drawn from the external compliance monitoring group in the Chad-Cameroon project read more like a tool to market the concept of external monitors to IFC clients than lessons meant to design a more effective role for the external monitor in improving implementation of social and environmental commitments.
Anti-corruption
Accountability
News
World Bank corruption fight drags on
The World Bank's anti-corruption framework was the subject of one of the most bruising Development Committee debates in memory at the annual meetings. Further challenges for the Bank include the impact of a rapid rise in Chinese lending to developing countries on anti-corruption efforts, and debt campaigners use of the corruption issue to highlight creditor responsibility for 'illegitimate lending'.
Accountability
News
German firm debarred over Lesotho fraud
In November, the Bank debarred German engineering firm Lahmeyer International over bribery convictions in the Lesotho Highlands Water project.
Accountability
Background
Global Transparency Initiative (GTI) - regional launch
This is a summary of the Global Transparency Initiative (GTI) regional launch held at Westminster on the 2nd of November 2006.
Infrastructure
Background
Highlights of UK NGO meeting with Paul Wolfowitz
Highlights from a UK NGO meeting held with Paul Wolfowitz, head of the World Bank, in London on 13 November 2006. Issues covered include: the Bank's anti-corruption framework; financing 'fragile' states; conditionality; debt; and the extractive industry, energy infrastructure and climate change
IFI governance
Background
Highlights of Hilary Benn meeting with UK NGOs
Highlights of semi-annual meeting between UK Secretary of State for International Development and UK NGOs. Topics covered include CSO access to annual meetings, conditionality, anti-corruption, odious debt, clean energy, education in LICUS, bank internal governance, IFC safeguards
IFI governance
Background
Highlights of Tom Scholar meeting with UK NGOs
Highlights of quarterly meeting between UK executive director to the World Bank and IMF and UK NGOs. Topics covered include CSO access to annual meetings, IMF strategic review, conditionality, anti-corruption and education.
Accountability
Commentary
Time to listen to Lesotho! - The World Bank and its new anti-corruption agenda
Comment piece by Hennie Van Vuuren on corruption and bribery in the Bank-supported Lesotho Highlands Water Scheme
Accountability
News
Bank anti-corruption framework: "A lot of rhetoric and arm-waving"?
Amidst a storm of controversy about the causes and solutions to corruption, the World Bank has announced a corruption amnesty and released an anti-corruption framework. The issue is high on the global development agenda, as the Bank pulls project finance in Indonesia and Cambodia, and the fiasco continues over oil revenues in Chad.
Accountability
News
Evaluation echoes civil society critique of World Bank-IMF debt relief efforts
An evaluation of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative by the Bank's Independent Evaluation Group released in April begs the question what next for debt relief efforts.
Featured briefings
16 October 2024
The Bretton Woods Observer: Autumn 2024
16 October 2024
The lost call for international financial architecture reform in the G20
At the 80th anniversary of the World Bank and IMF, global civil society must maintain pressure on the Brazilian and South African G20 presidencies to ensure the forth Financing for Development Conference in 2025 results in urgently required international financial architecture reform.
16 October 2024
Sustainable development requires sustainable finance: why local currency financing is part of the solution
Multilateral development banks can reduce their dependence on hard currency lending and make local currency financing a central element of their developmental mandate.