International

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.

15 April 1998

Private Sector

News

Bank "Business Partnerships" scheme launched

The World Bank has committed $3 million to a “Business Partners for Development” initiative to undertake studies and pilot projects involving companies, NGOs and governments.

15 April 1998

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.

15 April 1998

News

International Finance Guide

A Citizen’s Guide to the Globalisation of Finance outlines current trends, and examines the recent financial crash in Southeast Asia and the potential for a similar crisis in India.

15 April 1998

Rights

News

IMF PR tour

The IMF is holding a meeting in late May in Ghana to explain its strategy to NGOs there.

15 April 1998

IFI governance

News

Sibling rivalry: can the Fund and Bank cooperate?

UK Secretary of State for International Development Clare Short told the Financial Times in April: “We are in a very silly situation. The international institutions are meant to be complementary, but the IMF keeps charging around taking other peoples’ jobs in areas where it is not necessarily competent”.

15 April 1998

News

WTO protests grow

The Second Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva was marked by protests in many countries.

15 April 1998

IFI governance

News

Bank builds muscle to deal with crises

The Bank will spend $50m over the next two years recruiting financial sector experts for a new Special Financial Operations unit.

15 April 1998

Rights

News

NGO approach debated

In March the Bank Board discussed the Bank’s approach to NGOs.

15 April 1998

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.

15 April 1998

Knowledge

News

Faith meets finance

In February World Bank President James Wolfensohn met the leaders of nine religious faiths to discuss views on development.

15 April 1998

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.

15 April 1998