This Inside the Institutions explores the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank Group’s private sector arm. It examines the function of the IFC as a development institution focused solely on private sector solutions to development and considers civil society critiques.
World Bank praises Myanmar for improvement in Doing Business ranking, ignoring the implications of proposed reforms on country’s complex conflict dynamics.
International Finance Corporation announced new ‘green equity’ policy to encourage financial intermediaries to divest from coal, while Bank pulled plug on mooted Kosovo coal project.
As inequality in Asia continues to deepen, civil society renews calls for IMF and World Bank to be held accountable for exacerbating inequality.
The IFC is set to expand operations in fragile and conflict-affected states such as Burma, despite indications that systemic problems identified in Honduras persist.
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”.
The World Bank has announced big spending programmes in health, electricity and telecoms in Burma, however, critics point to its failure to protect human rights or consult properly with civil society.
IFC investments in luxury hotels and shopping malls highlight projects with weak development outcomes.
Civil society letter condemns World Bank statements as ‘weak’.
Notes of a meeting on Myanmar's transition to full country partnership at the World Bank/IMF annual meetings 2014
Sponsor: WBG (Operations Policy and Country Services Department) Panelists: Edward Mountfield (Manager, OPCS), John L.…
After leaving over suspended debt repayment in the late 1980s, the Bank officially returned to Burma, also known as Myanmar, in early August.
Minutes of Burma and IFIs meeting, Washington DC, 18 April 2012
Civil society groups from Burma have written to the heads of the IMF and World Bank requesting that the IFIs involve grass roots actors in their newly revived activities in Burma and that their operational policies "guarantee maximum transparency, accountability, social inclusiveness and safeguards".
