The International Finance Corporation (IFC, the Bank's private sector arm) loan to Honduran palm oil producer Corporaci
Indigenous peoples
Rights
News
Safeguards: World Bank urged to incorporate human rights commitments "in all of its activities"
As the consultations on the World Bank's safeguards review progress, indigenous peoples groups and NGOs raised concerns over the process. There were also increased calls for the Bank to respect human rights in its policies, including a report from a UN Special Rapporteur.
Environment
Commentary
Dr Kim, where is Mongolia's economic diversification?
In late February the World Bank's private sector arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) boards decided to spearhead a $4 billion dollar syndicated loan to a copper, gold and silver mine located in the Gobi Desert in Mongolia. An increasing number of people believe that it is going to lead Mongolia to dependence on one product and one corporation, driving the country into deep insecurity.
Environment
News
IFC-funded mines: still courting controversy
Following a year of violence associated with IFC-funded mining projects, the IFC's mining investments in Guatemala, Mongolia, Peru and Colombia are still provoking controversy.
IFI governance
News
World Bank's safeguards review extended
The first phase of the Bank's safeguard review has been extended to mid-April with global consultations planned, including on seven emerging areas.
Accountability
News
A forest of failures
A leaked copy of an evaluation of the Bank's forest strategy criticises the Bank's failure to address social and environmental goals. Further criticism has also been raised over the Bank's Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF).
Accountability
News
Inspection Panel examines Afghan mining project
The World Bank's Inspection Panel compliance body received two complaints in December relating to the Sustainable Development of Natural Resources Project in Afghanistan.
Accountability
News
IFC investments "rarely touch the poor"
Criticism of the International Finance Corporation's lack of poverty focus has again caught the spotlight, as the IFC continues to fund projects that stretch the interpretation of development.
Finance
Commentary
Hastily introduced World Bank projects threaten to undermine peace process in Burma
In late 2012 the World Bank announced its first lending to Burma in over 20 years. The concern among many grassroots activists, however, is that the areas to which this money will be funnelled are still in the earliest stages of the peace process, and that huge influxes of money will undermine efforts for sustainable peace.
Rights
News
Safe in Bank hands? World Bank safeguards review launched
The World Bank finally launched the two-year review of its environmental and social safeguard policies in October.
Featured briefings
6 April 2023
World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings 2023
5 April 2023
The IMF at the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: The need for governance reform
As the world celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it is time the IMF’s shareholders use the opportunities provided by the anniversary and growing calls for reforms to the international financial architecture to redesign the IMF’s governance structures and programmes to ensure they are consistent with the commitments outlined in 1948 and with international human rights law.
5 April 2023
The global financial architecture and the international debt crisis: An urgent call for reform
Influence of unreformed international financial institutions and creditor interests in debt solutions in low- and middle-income countries plagued by delay and ineffective when undertaken.