Indigenous peoples in Bangladesh have submitted a complaint to the Inspection Panel regarding a World Bank funded transport feasibility study.
Compliance mechanisms
Finance
News
World Bank withholds new lending for Uganda
The World Bank has announced that it is withholding new lending for Uganda, following the cancellation of a criticised road project.
Accountability
News
World Bank accused of reporting false consent on Nepal power line project
Communities affected by a World Bank-funded power line project in Nepal have accused the Bank of reporting false information on consent to the project.
Accountability
News
World Bank accountability mechanisms look to improve complainant protection
In response to increasing concern about the safety of human rights and environmental defenders, the World Bank’s accountability mechanisms look to improve complainant protection against retaliation and intimidation.
Accountability
Analysis
The World Bank’s failed accountability experiment: Why the Inspection Panel’s ‘Pilot’ should dead end
The Inspection Panel's Pilot is criticised for undermining the Panel’s authority, allowing World Bank management to circumvent compliance investigations, and perpetuating existing power imbalances between the Bank, its clients and communities.
Rights
News
Renewed warnings over World Bank safeguards “dilution”
Further concerns have been raised over dilutions of the World Bank’s proposed new safeguards framework, as controversy arose over a Bank waiver of the indigenous peoples policy for a Tanzania project.
Infrastructure
News
Investigation on World Bank support for Mongolia mining project deferred
The Inspection Panel has deferred a decision to investigate a complaint regarding environmental, social and economic damage related to a World Bank funded mining project in Mongolia.
Accountability
News
World Bank Uganda road project cancelled
The World Bank has suspended a loan to Uganda in response to multiple failures.
Accountability
Analysis
Where’s the remedy? Development banks must do more to remedy harm caused by the activities they finance
A report assessing the effectiveness of 11 development bank’s accountability systems found that they are not effective at consistently providing remedy to those harmed.
Rights
News
World Bank fails to support project critics
Concerns have been raised about the safety of critics of World Bank projects and the adequacy of the Inspection Panel, as a new Bank grievance mechanism has been launched.
Featured briefings
9 June 2025
New data reveal World Bank DPF ‘climate finance’ carries strong private sector bias, undermining a just transition
New BWP briefing finds the World Bank counted 70 per cent of energy-sector reforms in Development Policy Financing as having 'climate co-benefits' between 2018-2023 - but most of these promoted a private-led energy transition.
15 April 2025
The Bretton Woods Observer: Spring 2025
2 April 2025