In April Jane Hill, President of the American Anthropological Association, wrote a strong letter to Bank Group President James Wolfensohn and Carol Lee, IFC Vice President and General Counsel.
International
Conditionality
News
ESAF review: new IMF strategy urged
More flexibility and a new approach was suggested in the external review of the Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility (IMF loans to poorer countries) published in March.
Environment
News
NGOs debate IDA issues
The IDA Deputies - government officials who negotiate the refinancing of the World Bank’s International Development Association concessional lending arm - have met twice to discuss the policy framework for future IDA lending.
IFI governance
News
Policing the policemen
The IMF has been urged to be more transparent and accountable by a US Study Group convened by the Centre of Concern, and by the UK Chancellor.
Environment
News
MIGA pressed to reform
Friends of the Earth US and other NGOs wrote to their government representatives in April to stress that the donor discussions about providing more money for MIGA should talk about reforms first and about shifting the portfolio away from mining and fossil fuel projects such as the controversial Lihir Island goldmine in Papua New Guinea.
Finance
News
Preventing private sector debt crises
In addition to extending the IMF’s role, its governors have been examining measures to prevent future financial sector crises.
Rights
News
IMF PR tour
The IMF is holding a meeting in late May in Ghana to explain its strategy to NGOs there.
Knowledge
News
Stiglitz questions outdated “Washington consensus”
Giving the WIDER annual lecture in Helsinki the World Bank Chief Economist called for a…
News
WTO protests grow
The Second Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva was marked by protests in many countries.
Knowledge
News
CAS analysis improves, but still limited
The quality of Bank country assistance strategies (CASs) has improved in the last two years, concludes a recent Bank review.
IFI governance
News
Bank’s “new” adjustment programmes reviewed
The Bank is just completing a review of three years of "Higher Impact Adjustment Lending"…
Rights
News
NGO approach debated
In March the Bank Board discussed the Bank’s approach to NGOs.