New IMF report highlights the impact of legal barriers on women’s employment, as World Bank’s message on gender equality is undermined by the absence of a gender safeguard.
India
Land
News
World Bank targeted over role in land grabs
As activists staged global protests highlighting the potential damage from new World Bank agriculture rankings, Cambodian groups expressed concerns over reports that the Bank is considering resuming loans to Cambodia.
Social services
News
Nigeria water privatisation questioned
Civil society in Nigeria has criticised and called for disclosure of a water privatisation scheme in Lagos involving the World Bank.
IFI governance
Background
Emerging markets in transition: growth prospects and challenges
Notes of a meeting on emerging markets in transition at the World Bank-IMF annual meetings 2014
Environment
Analysis
Clean Technology Fund (CTF)
Clean Technology Fund (CTF) funding approvals continue to rise, including private sector projects for geothermal energy. Revisions for investment plans were approved for Nigeria and the MENA region, with Libya added as a new country.
Environment
Analysis
A new dawn for climate investment as Climate Investment Funds sunset?
This week, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) gathers in Barbados for the eighth meeting since its inception.
Rights
Commentary
Dangers of dilution: World Bank’s new weak environmental and social framework
World Bank’s new draft environmental and social framework is criticised as a step backwards that could lower the standards for the international development community.
Private Sector
News
“Affordable hotels”: IFC’s luxury development projects
IFC investments in Burma hotels have been criticised for weak poverty reduction impact. IFC claims that investment in luxury hotels in India will provide “affordable hotels”.
IFI governance
News
Accountability mechanism strongly criticises IFC loan to Honduran bank
An audit by the IFC’s accountability mechanism says the IFC failed to adequately address environmental and social risks when it approved a $70 million loan to Honduran bank Ficohsa.
IFI governance
Analysis
A major political move: the BRICS launch the New Development Bank and a reserve arrangement
A new article, co-written by Eurodad and the Bretton Woods Project, analyses the BRICS' newly launched bank and reserve arrangement.
Knowledge
News
Who’s poor? New estimates of PPPs led to halving of World Bank’s poverty numbers
A May World Bank-led statistical operation has used a new method to estimate purchasing power parities, allowing it to more than halve the estimated number of people living on below $1.25 per day.
Infrastructure
Analysis
The rise of the infrastructure giants
World Bank faces increased competition over large scale infrastructure in Asia, with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the BRICS Bank.