Presentations Dr Juan Almendares, Madre Tierra We must compare reason and reality; reason might be…
Latin America & Caribbean
IFI governance
Background
IFC – Dinant and lessons learned
Presentation by Morgan Landy, IFC on Dinant Atul, IFC We are development institution, E&S importance…
IFI governance
Background
Mega-project mania?
Sponsors: Heinrich Boell Foundation, Bretton Woods Project, Latindadd, Pacific Environment, International Rivers, European Network on…
IFI governance
Background
CSO roundtable with World Bank Group executive directors
Sponsor: World Bank Group Panelists: Merza Hassan (Executive Director for Kuwait, and Dean of the…
IFI governance
News
IMF facilities review exposes image problem
The IMF facilities review reveals a lack of demand for post 2008 financial crisis lending instruments.
Private Sector
Analysis
IFC funding to financial intermediaries: unfit for purpose
An IFC investment in ANZ Royal Bank has been criticised after the bank was implicated in a “massive land grab” in Cambodia. Further cases from Guatemala and Honduras reinforce calls for IFC to rethink its investments in financial intermediaries.
Private Sector
News
Response letter to the head of IFC Jin-Yong Cai re: IFC investment in the financial sector
This letter was written to respond to an IFC 6 January 2014 reply to a November 2013 civil society letter about the International Finance Corporation’s action plan to reform lending to the financial sector. The 26 groups signed on to the letter believe the IFC’s action plan is inadequate and urge the head of the IFC to do more to address the audit’s findings.
Conditionality
News
Grenada: IMF admits failures
IMF admits its programme in Grenada ignored vital information and was based on false assumptions, as trade unions predict damaging consequences of wage freeze.
Accountability
Commentary
World Bank accountability mechanisms: Any lessons learned yet?
The effectiveness of the Bank's accountability mechanisms relies on the extent their findings are accepted by Bank management. In three recent cases the Bank president has not responded seriously to their findings. The mechanisms must be made powerful and independent enough to hold the Bank to account.
Infrastructure
Analysis
World Bank’s thirst for hydropower
The World Bank and IFC continue push for controversial hydropower, with projects in Guatemala, Democratic Republic of Congo, East Africa, Niger, Pakistan and Macedonia. The Bank warned on long term viability of hydropower, as Uruguay’s state hydro company agreed insurance with the Bank.
Finance
Analysis
BRICS Bank: New bottle, how’s the wine?
Last year BRICS' leaders agreed to launch a BRICS development bank. Whether this is considered positive depends in part what questions are being asked. Sameer Dossani of ActionAid International highlights the flaws in the World Bank and IMF, analyses whether a BRICS Bank could be different from these institutions and proposes what it should do and what it should look like.
Environment
News
World Bank’s mining treasure map
The World Bank is promoting a “billion dollar map” of minerals in Africa, and continues to invest in fossil fuel extraction. Controversy is tainting Bank-funded mines in Colombia and Haiti as locals resist the extractive projects.
