Indigenous peoples

Environment

Analysis

Climate Investment Funds Monitor 4

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).

27 October 2011 | Briefings

Environment

Background

Safeguards and climate finance in Indonesia in the context of REDD+

Notes of meeting, Washington DC, September 23, 2011

26 September 2011 | Minutes

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).

23 September 2011

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.

21 September 2011 | Reports

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.

14 September 2011

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.

21 June 2011 | Reports

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."

14 June 2011

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.

14 June 2011

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.

13 June 2011

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.

14 April 2011