The myths of Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers - that they are nationally owned, pro-poor, and poverty-reducing - should be debunked.
Capacity building
Accountability
News
Interim report on the evaluation of the Integrated Framework
Interim report of evaluator Capra International to the heads of agencies of the Integrated Framework for trade-related technical assistance 10 July 2003 in Washington.
Accountability
News
Update on the Integrated Framework
The Integrated Framework for Technical Assistance to the Least Developed Countries (IF) is a multi-agency initiative to coordinate national ministries, donors and multilateral agencies in the provision of trade-related capacity building.
Rights
News
Trade and PRSP study
UK-based Christian Aid has commissioned the Overseas Development Institute to analyse the trade content of PRSPs.
Rights
News
NGO work on trade-finance coherence
A coalition of NGOs have drafted suggestions for the work agenda for the WTO working group on trade, debt and finance.
Accountability
News
New report queries World Bank influence over PRSP analysis
The World Bank plays a powerful role in determining the policies chosen by PRSP countries. A new report provides a critical assessment of the current moves to introduce Poverty and Social Impact Analysis (PSIA), and recommends taking further action to break the Bank’s near monopoly on development analysis and control of policy formulation process.
Conditionality
News
Bank “cornering market” in trade capacity building
The Bank’s role in trade capacity building affords enormous influence over the hearts and minds of trade policy makers and the way in which trade is mainstreamed into national development plans. The initial experience of the Integrated Framework programme shows that there is reason for concern.
Knowledge
Analysis
Cornering the Market: The World Bank and trade capacity building
The Bank’s role in trade capacity building affords enormous influence over the hearts and minds of trade policy makers and the way in which trade is mainstreamed into national development plans. The initial experience of the Integrated Framework programme shows that there is reason for concern. (September 2002)
Accountability
Commentary
Trade policy capacity-building statement
Joint Civil Society Statement Originally Prepared For Donor Pledging Meeting
Accountability
News
Trade policy training challenged, but donors commit more funds
The heads of six major international institutions met to discuss their roles in trade policy formulation. They agreed that the World Bank should play a “lead role”, ensuring that trade policy reform is a major part of PRSPs. NGOs released a statement of concern about official approaches to trade policy capacity building, but donors allocated more money.
Featured briefings
1 October 2024
Year one of World Bank Paris Agreement alignment in the energy sector: ‘green conditionality’ dwarfs green investments
New BWP research finds the Word Bank's approach to Paris alignment is being used to a significant extent to impose ‘green conditionalities' on borrowing countries, especially in the Global South.
3 July 2024
The Bretton Woods Observer: Summer 2024
3 July 2024
Is the World Bank rolling back commitments to citizen engagement, again?
Understanding the Bank’s chequered history with public, community and civil society participation is key for understanding what is at stake and what to do next.