Ugandan newspaper New Vision called attention to the "horrific sanitation conditions" of a Bank-funded waterway in Uganda in November 2011
Water
Social services
News
Despite evidence, World Bank still promoting water privatisation
Bank-funded private water projects across the world are facing serious problems due to financial, socio-political and operational concerns, but recent trends show that more such projects are coming up in the name of innovative approaches.
Land
News
Red-Dead sea plan in hot water
Three civil society groups have filed a complaint with the World Bank's Inspection Panel, its complaint mechanism, over the Bank's feasibility study for a project to channel water from the Red Sea to replenish the Dead Sea.
IFI governance
News
Big infrastructure, small participation
The World Bank, in conjunction with the G20, is prioritising massive, cross-border infrastructure with private sector involvement, but has failed to involve any local communities.
Infrastructure
News
World Bank assesses water strategy, faces barrage of criticism
In September, the Bank released a progress report on the implementation of its 2003 water resources strategy, while criticism mounts over its hydropower lending, water resource management and support for private sector provision.
Environment
News
Court finds fault with IFC-backed paper mill
Controversy over the Botnia paper mill, which was part financed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank's private sector arm, continues as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Uruguay breached regional treaty obligations by failing to properly inform neighbouring Argentina when authorising its construction.
Social services
News
IEG: World Bank neglects most water-deprived countries
A recent report by the World Bank's Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) finds the Bank's water lending to be overlooking the most water-stressed countries.
Infrastructure
News
Large hydropower: renewable or not?
Contradictions in the World Bank's approach to hydropower call into question its burgeoning portfolio in the sector.
Social services
News
World Bank's water privatisation slammed
Indian NGO Manthan Adhyayan Kendra has updated its book Water: Private, Limited.
Land
News
Egyptian NGO appeals against Bank project
The $145 million World Bank 'West Delta' project has come under fire. Egyptian NGO, Land Centre for Human Rights (LHCR) has filed an appeal on behalf of farmers in the Egyptian delta and they want to change the course of the planned irrigation scheme.
Featured briefings
9 June 2025
New data reveal World Bank DPF ‘climate finance’ carries strong private sector bias, undermining a just transition
New BWP briefing finds the World Bank counted 70 per cent of energy-sector reforms in Development Policy Financing as having 'climate co-benefits' between 2018-2023 - but most of these promoted a private-led energy transition.
15 April 2025
The Bretton Woods Observer: Spring 2025
2 April 2025