CAO audit finds IFC failed to identify gaps in project’s social and environmental assessment, while communities impacted by the project face impacts on water source, livelihoods and levels of violence.
Energy
Environment
News
Shared prosperity? WBG fails to progress on energy access for poor
A new civil society report criticises the World Bank for not doing enough to help meet Sustainable Energy for All (SEforAll) objective of achieving universal energy access by 2030.
Infrastructure
Background
Getting energy access right - Trends and lessons learned in public finance
Notes from a meeting at the IMF/World Bank 2017 spring meetings on energy access.
Infrastructure
Analysis
The rise and fall of World Bank funded megaprojects
The World Bank has announced funding for the controversial Southern Gas Corridor, while exiting two other high profile but problematic megaprojects, Inga 3 in Democratic Republic of Congo and Simandou in Guinea.
Rights
News
World Bank-funded Kenya company targets complainants
Community representatives involved in a World Bank Inspection Panel complaint have been targeted with a court injunction by a Bank-funded company.
Infrastructure
News
Report calls on the World Bank not to invest in Kosovo power plant
A report has cast further doubts on the viability and efficiency of the proposed lignite coal power plant in Kosovo which the World Bank is considering supporting.
Infrastructure
Commentary
Powerless: a call for World Bank community engagement in Nepal
Following a longstanding conflict over a World Bank-funded power line in Nepal, communities call for a fair dispute resolution process and meaningful consultation.
Environment
Analysis
Clean Technology Fund (CTF)
An impending shortfall in available resources for the Clean Technology Fund continues to concern, leading to cancellation of projects. Questions were raised about development impacts and reliance on geothermal energy in India and Indonesia's revised investment plans, and on debt sustainability in a Caribbean project.
Environment
Analysis
Scaling Up Renewable Energy Program (SREP)
Concerns have been raised about the slow progress with the Scaling up Renewable Energy Program in Low Income Countries (SREP). Ghana, Haiti and Nicaragua's investment plans were approved, with questions asked about the loan/grant ratio, promotion of PPPs, and reliance on funding from the Green Climate Fund.
Environment
Analysis
Climate of controversy
Despite efforts to boost its influence within climate finance circles and a call to “decarbonise development”, the World Bank continues to support fossil fuels.
Featured briefings
25 July 2018
The World Bank and the globalisation of housing finance
In prioritising capital market expansion, the needs of the lowest income groups are not being effectively addressed through World Bank interventions.
23 July 2018
The Bretton Woods Observer: Summer 2018
10 April 2018