The World Bank has been very active at the Johannesburg summit.
Water
Social services
News
World Bank pushed to open up TNC arbitration process
NGOs protest “secret court” to decide on Bolivia water privatisation follow-up.
Infrastructure
News
Commissioners urge better water strategy
The twelve prominent individuals who served as commissioners on the World Commission on Dams have written to the World Bank President demanding that he do more to implement their recommendations.
Environment
News
Update on key World Bank policies
The World Bank is in the process of “reformatting” a wide range of its key safeguard policies.
Rights
News
NGOs criticise the Bank’s water strategy
The Bank’s draft Water Resources Sector Strategy has been faulted by critics for distorting the findings of the World Commission on Dams, continuing to support high-cost megaprojects and emphasizing privatisation.
Social services
News
Ghanaians contest Bank-backed water privatisation
A broad coalition of organisations is challenging the plan to privatise Ghana’s water system. They complain that the World Bank and IMF-promoted scheme will not extend services to poorer people or ensure fair pricing. The deal - which the IMF has just made part of its new conditions for Ghana - reflects the biases of the consultants which drew it up at a cost of $3million.
Social services
News
Company seeks compensation after Bolivians force re-nationalisation
US multinational Bechtel is seeking compensation from the Bolivian government after protests forced the cancellation of its contract to provide water in Cochabamba. The case has been accepted by the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes, a little-known arm of the World Bank Group. Campaigners are preparing to challenge the process.
Social services
News
Bank steps up journalist training
At the World Water Forum, Bonn, the World Bank distributed flyers advertising a training programme for journalists running up to the World Water Forum 2003.
Environment
News
Coal India problems inspected
The World Bank’s Inspection Panel has visited India in response to a claim filed against the Bank’s Coal India loans.
Social services
News
Privatisation of water not “pro-poor”, NGOs warn
Ghanaian and international groups raise concerns about Bank-backed plans to privatise metropolitan water supply.
Featured briefings
12 December 2024
The Bretton Woods Observer: Winter 2024
12 December 2024
Missing in action: accountability is noticeably absent from the World Bank Group’s new Corporate Scorecard
The Corporate Scorecard’s accountability gap is symptomatic of a broader failure on the part of the WBG to fully internalise, integrate and learn from the work of its accountability mechanisms.
16 October 2024