World Bank’s Covid-19 vaccination programme contributes to global response but fails to ensure free access to vaccines and healthcare during the pandemic.
Multinationals
Rights
Analysis
World Bank reparations demanded for murder of frontline South African anti-coal activist
Community demands reparations from World Bank for murder of South African environmental activist Fikile Ntshangase for opposing the Tendele coal mine initially financed by IFC.
Rights
News
Unions raise alarm over alleged retaliatory firing at IFC-financed Guinea hotel
IFC accused of violation of performance standards after alleged retaliatory action against workers.
Rights
Analysis
Fears of lawsuits at World Bank’s tribunal constrain efforts to fight pandemic
Covid-19 pandemic highlights the urgent need for ICSID and wider ISDS reforms as cases threaten to undermine state efforts to protect public health.
Private Sector
News
“Affordable hotels”: IFC’s luxury development projects
IFC investments in Burma hotels have been criticised for weak poverty reduction impact. IFC claims that investment in luxury hotels in India will provide “affordable hotels”.
Private Sector
Analysis
Follow the money
New Bretton Woods Project report reveals World Bank Group channelling crucial development resources to banks instead of directly investing in pro-poor projects.
Private Sector
Analysis
IFC: Learning lessons or institutional amnesia?
In response to the IFC’s shaming over its involvement with Dinant corporation in Honduras, the institution produced a “lessons learned” document. However, it has been rejected by campaigners, who are demanding more fundamental reform.
Private Sector
News
Civil society letter re: the IFC and lessons learned
A letter from civil society in response to the IFC's lesson learned briefing
Private Sector
Background
Summary of a meeting between civil society organisations and the IFC on financial intermediary lending
IFC staff and NGO representatives discussed financial intermediaries lending in a closed door meeting on Sunday 13 April.
Private Sector
Analysis
IFC funding to financial intermediaries: unfit for purpose
An IFC investment in ANZ Royal Bank has been criticised after the bank was implicated in a “massive land grab” in Cambodia. Further cases from Guatemala and Honduras reinforce calls for IFC to rethink its investments in financial intermediaries.
Featured briefings
1 October 2024
Year one of World Bank Paris Agreement alignment in the energy sector: ‘green conditionality’ dwarfs green investments
New BWP research finds the Word Bank's approach to Paris alignment is being used to a significant extent to impose ‘green conditionalities' on borrowing countries, especially in the Global South.
3 July 2024
The Bretton Woods Observer: Summer 2024
3 July 2024
Is the World Bank rolling back commitments to citizen engagement, again?
Understanding the Bank’s chequered history with public, community and civil society participation is key for understanding what is at stake and what to do next.