In January, some 50 South African civil society activists challenged World Bank Chief Economist Joe Stiglitz in Johannesburg, concluding that his responses “shattered the illusion that the World Bank is undergoing fundamental transformation”.
International
Knowledge
News
Bank/Fund growth model questioned
Both ENDS and the Bretton Woods Project co-organised a roundtable meeting in early March to discuss the World Bank and IMF’s core economic models.
News
Surveys show tough views on Bank and Fund
Respondents to two recent surveys revealed widespread continuing mistrust of Bank and Fund approaches.
Private Sector
News
New IFC chief expresses need for new inspiration
Peter Woicke, new Executive Vice President of IFC (the World Bank’s private finance investment arm) told IFC magazine Impact why he left J.P. Morgan Securities after 29 years.
IFI governance
News
World Bank outlines plans for more active European engagement
The Bank’s new Vice President for Europe, Jean-Francois Rischard aims to increase the Bank’s engagement with European NGOs and academics.
Infrastructure
News
Narmada dam construction restarts
Construction has restarted on the Sardar Sarovar (Narmada) dam, Western India, after a decision by the Supreme Court.
Infrastructure
News
Conflict of interest in Bank energy initiatives
A new briefing from the Institute for Policy Studies highlights the Bank’s reluctance to take decisive action on climate change.
IFI governance
News
Transparency
The G7 has agreed to the G22 Working Group on Transparency and Accountability’s recommendation to establish a formal mechanism to evaluate IMF policies and programmes, but it is not clear what form this will take.
Knowledge
News
Poverty WDR virtual consultations
In September the World Bank organised an electronic consultation on its planned poverty World Development Report, due out October 2000.
Knowledge
News
Green accounting debate in crucial stage
For about a decade the World Bank has made occasional statements that countries should move away from orthodox national accounts and integrate environmental and social costs and benefits.
Environment
News
New social code in response to “human tragedy”
Leaders are at last recognising the extent of the human crisis caused by the financial crash and failure of the growth process to deliver socially sustainable development.
Knowledge
News
Globalization and institutions: the Bank aims to set agenda
The World Bank’s World Development Report for next year will tackle the thorny questions of which institutions can direct economic, social and environmental policies in an age of globalization.
