Significant concerns also remain about environmental and social impacts of mega-infrastructure project partially financed by World Bank.
Transport
Infrastructure
News
World Bank infrastucture support: "finance as extraction"
While India is pushing for the World Bank’s Global Infrastructure Facility, the US voted against IFC support for a Saudi Arabian corporation linked to coal power and an Inspection Panel case was registered for a Nepal power transmission project. Concerns were also raised on infrastructure projects in India, Nepal and Burma.
Rights
News
Indigenous peoples lodge complaint over Bangladesh World Bank project
Indigenous peoples in Bangladesh have submitted a complaint to the Inspection Panel regarding a World Bank funded transport feasibility study.
Environment
Commentary
World Bank: greening an airport near you
Just a month before releasing a new report on climate change and the need to "turn down the heat" (see Update 86), the Bank agreed a $50 million loan to the Chinese prefecture of Shangrao, located in the northeast of China's Jiangxi province, to build a new airport.
Infrastructure
Background
Colombia case study: results measurement and poverty eradication
This session examined Colombia's private sector partnerships and poverty eradication programme.
Accountability
Background
Bending the arc of poverty
The session focused on the World Bank's development strategy, poverty eradication goals, global inequality, and the threat of climate change.
Accountability
Background
Financial and housing crises, the Bank's safeguards and the right to adequate housing
This session featured a presentation from UN special rapporteur on the links between financial and housing crises, safeguards and the right to adequate housing.
Accountability
Background
The challenges of advancing sustainability at the World Bank
This panel discussion reflected on the major sustainability challenges facing the World Bank through exploring two World Resources Institute areas - a portfolio analysis on 2012 projects, and the interaction between country systems and World Bank safeguard approaches.
Accountability
Background
World Bank executive directors roundtable with CSOs
Minutes of an open roundtable with EDs that occurred during the 2013 spring meetings.
Accountability
News
World Bank back in on Padma bridge project?
The World Bank has decided to reengage with Bangladesh's Padma bridge project after it suspended its promised $1.2 billion loan last year over allegations of corruption in the consultant selection process
Featured briefings
12 December 2024
The Bretton Woods Observer: Winter 2024
16 October 2024
The Bretton Woods Observer: Autumn 2024
16 October 2024
The lost call for international financial architecture reform in the G20
At the 80th anniversary of the World Bank and IMF, global civil society must maintain pressure on the Brazilian and South African G20 presidencies to ensure the forth Financing for Development Conference in 2025 results in urgently required international financial architecture reform.