IFI governance

News

The future of NGO World Bank strategy discussed

In October the Bank Information Center held a strategy meeting for 80 people from NGOs and foundations concerned about the World Bank.

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.

Land

News

Mexico project reveals Bank planning, supervision failings

A detailed paper by Trasparencia traces the history and execution of the Mexican Rainfed Areas Development Project.

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.

Finance

News

IMF Articles change on hold

Action to change the IMF’s Articles of Agreement to extend the Fund’s purview to cover capital account liberalisation has been put on hold since the financial crisis.

Finance

News

Citizens groups set out 6 point alternative plan

Leading non-governmental thinkers and advocates met in Ottawa in parallel with the Commonwealth Finance Ministers’ meeting to discuss financial crises and the needs of the world’s most vulnerable and poorest people.

Rights

News

IFC policies confirmed

The International Finance Corporation has finalised its rewording of the Bank’s social and environmental policies to fit its clientele and business cycle, and many of the policies are about to be signed off by the Board.

Finance

News

Scaffolding for global architecture

In late October the G7 took limited steps to strengthen the international financial architecture, after the World Bank-IMF annual meetings ended with a plethora of proposals but no substantive agreement.

IFI governance

News

Greening the Bank: next steps

In September over 50 NGOs from 15 countries made recommendations to the World Bank on the environment.

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.

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.

IFI governance

News

New criticisms of the Bank’s resettlement record

A new official report has criticised the Bank’s record in overseeing the resettlement of people displaced by projects it supports.