In 1997 the IFC commissioned a welcome review of its objectives following pressure from NGOs and some Executive Directors who argued that it emphasised deal-making in response to the private sector at the expense of any clear focus on poverty alleviation or environmental protection.
International
Finance
News
IDA talks climax
The World Bank is now in the advanced stages of negotiation with donor countries on funding for the next 3 years of its International Development Association soft loan funding arm.
IFI governance
News
Participation Conference
Participation experiences in 20 Bank-assisted operations will be reviewed in an international conference co-sponsored by the World Bank, to be held in Washington in November 1998.
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.
IFI governance
News
Adjusting the SPA
Donor procedures and aid coordination have improved and resource flows to Sub-Saharan African countries increased under the Special Programme of Assistance for Africa (SPA), according to a recent report.
Finance
News
Loan costs set to rise
Borrowers from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the main World Bank lending arm, may have to pay higher charges for their loans in the future.
Knowledge
News
Faith meets finance
In February World Bank President James Wolfensohn met the leaders of nine religious faiths to discuss views on development.
Knowledge
News
Are the 2015 targets realistic?
A new World Bank paper asks whether and how the international development targets (formerly known as “DAC targets”) for reducing poverty and improving social and environmental indicators might be achieved.
Finance
News
J2000 mobilise 70,000
An estimated 70,000 people demonstrated in Birmingham to call on G8 leaders to cancel poor countries’ unpayable debts.