The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Bank's private sector arm, has concluded a two-year review of its performance standards on environmental and social sustainability, but its weak human rights approach has angered rights organisations.
Human rights
Environment
Analysis
A faulty model?
This paper critically assesses the appropriateness of the Bank-housed Climate Investment Funds (CIFs) as a model for the Green Climate Fund (GCF). It takes proposals and recommendations by civil society groups and uses them as benchmarks to analyse the CIFs. It finds that in terms of institutional arrangements the CIFs have achieved some notable progress, however, in operations and performance there are serious concerns.
Rights
News
World Bank project in Sri Lanka criticised by Tamils
In April Tamilnet.com, an independent newswire service dedicated to issues concerning Tamil people in Sri Lanka, accused the World Bank of contributing to the "the dismemberment of the Eezham Tamil nation in the island."
Infrastructure
News
Conflict of interest? World Bank's role in global climate fund causes outcry
As civil society groups and developing countries continue to warn against World Bank influence in the design and management of the new Green Climate Fund (GCF), further criticism is emerging of existing Bank climate initiatives.
Environment
Commentary
World Bank's Africa strategy remains rutted in comfort zone
A critical analysis of the World Bank's new strategy for Africa
Land
News
Unease over Bank approach to global food crisis
NGO criticism of the World Bank's market-based approach to the global food crisis, particularly with regard to foreign agricultural investment, increased in recent months, while the Bank reiterated its existing position in April meetings.
Accountability
News
El Banco Mundial aumenta los prestamos a las industrias extractivas a pesar de los abusos a los dere
Los grupos de la sociedad civil han acusado al Banco por no haber previsto o respondido a los casos de las violaciones de los derechos humanos en el oleoducto Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan patrocinado por el Banco (BTC) en el Caucaso y Turquia, justo en el momento en el que el Banco anuncia un aumento en las inversiones en las industrias extractivas.
Land
News
Open for business: World Bank to reinvest in palm oil amid criticism
Early April saw the launch of the new World Bank Group strategy for engagement in the palm oil sector, which failed to resolve civil society concerns over several issues, including the rights of indigenous peoples and how performance standards will be applied across supply chains.
Accountability
News
Cambodia and the limits of World Bank accountability
The World Bank Inspection Panel released an investigation report in March, which found that the Bank breached its operational policies by failing to properly design and supervise the Cambodia Land Management and Administration Project (LMAP), contributing to "grave harm" to affected families.
Accountability
News
World Bank safeguards and independent scrutiny at risk?
Civil society groups have challenged Bank plans to rush through a new lending instrument, Program-for-Results, that would mean safeguards or equivalent standards no longer apply to a major portion of Bank lending. Meanwhile, a secretive review could strip the Bank's accountability bodies of their independence and safeguards could be scaled back for projects deemed "low risk".
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.