A report by Friends of the Earth finds that the 'roundtable dialogue' set up by the World Bank's Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) has been unable to fulfil its objectives to intervene effectively in conflicts between the IFC-supported Yanacocha mine company and affected communities in Cajamarca, Peru.
Extractives
Environment
News
Global energy solutions bank on carbon trading
In the midst of climate talks in Nairobi and the release of the Stern review on the potential catastrophic economic impacts of climate change, the World Bank has been touting the most recent draft of its investment framework on clean energy and development, and stepping up its role in devising market-based solutions to climate change. Critics have decried the hypocrisy of the Bank's role in funding fossil fuel projects, and the perverse rationale behind carbon trading
Rights
News
World Bank on human rights: “active support” but no politics
In October the Swedish minister of foreign affairs launched a Nordic trust fund for justice and human rights, and the World Bank Institute devoted its latest edition of Development Outreach, to human rights and development
Accountability
Analysis
The IFCs lessons of experience & the Chad-Cameroon oil and pipeline project
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.
Environment
News
World Bank energy policy under scrutiny
A new report published by a coalition of international environment and development non-governmental organisations concludes that the World Bank's promise to seriously support alternative energy sources remains unfulfilled.
Accountability
News
BTC: destruction, abuse and betrayal
In July, as the oil in the IFC-supported Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline finally began flowing a year behind schedule, civil society groups from affected countries and elsewhere presented evidence of destruction, abuse and betrayal.
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.
Rights
News
The IFC at fifty: All that glitters is too much gold
As the International Finance Corporation (IFC) marks its golden anniversary, the institution claims to serve "as a catalyst for innovative, market-based solutions for reducing poverty and addressing environmental and social challenges". The reality fails to justify such a glittering perspective. Problem gold mine projects in Ghana, Peru and Kyrgyzstan and serious weaknesses in its recent human rights impact assessment programme undermine the future credibility of an institution that is increasin
Environment
News
Bank environmental commitment under fire
Details of the World Bank's current sustainability disasters in light of the dismantling of ESSD
Accountability
News
Justice or conditionality by another name?
In a statement at the first session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva in June 2006, the World Bank stated that the advancement of human rights is "critical" to its poverty reduction mission, including the "global fight against corruption and the promotion of good governance". It has been greeted with scepticism from civil society.
Featured briefings
6 April 2022
The Bretton Woods Observer: Spring 2022
8 December 2021
The Bretton Woods Observer: Winter 2021
8 November 2021
IMF surveillance and climate change transition risks
New briefing by ActionAid USA and the Bretton Woods Project highlights research showing that IMF policy advice has undermined a just energy transition since the Paris Agreement was signed.