The Climate Investment Funds (CIFs) are financing instruments designed to pilot low-carbon and climate-resilient development through the multilateral development banks (MDBs). They are comprised of two trust funds - the Clean Technology Fund (CTF) and the Strategic Climate Fund (SCF).
Indigenous peoples
Environment
Background
Safeguards and climate finance in Indonesia in the context of REDD+
Notes of meeting, Washington DC, September 23, 2011
Rights
News
Community files complaint against IFC in Papua New Guinea
The Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank's private sector arm, has accepted a complaint by local communities in Papua New Guinea referring to the IFC's role in advising the government on drawing up laws for special economic zones (SEZs).
Infrastructure
Analysis
Power surge
This paper about energy and women in India highlights examples from visits to NGO projects, social entrepreneurs and social movements in five Indian states over the course of three months, as well as conversations with energy and women rights experts. The paper then highlights lessons drawn from field visits and what they mean for the development community with particular focus on the World Bank.
Rights
News
IFC updated performance standards
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.
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.
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.
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.
Featured briefings
5 October 2023
World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings 2023
4 October 2023
The Bretton Woods Observer: Autumn 2023
4 October 2023
The IMF and World Bank talk good governance, but walk with state- capturers
From South Africa to Tunisia, Libya and Egypt, the Bank and Fund have demonstrated they are not appropriate allies to address the scale of the crisis the world is facing, especially, given their record.