Investments by the World Bank-hosted Global Financing Facility (GFF) do not reflect the family planning priorities identified by developing countries and local communities. The GFF also continues to suffer from a lack of transparency and meaningful civil society participation, raising doubts about the new mechanism’s effectiveness.
Cameroon
Environment
Analysis
Forest Investment Program (FIP)
Challenges in measuring progress were noted for the Forest Investment Program (FIP), in particular greenhouse gas accounting. Investment plans for Mozambique and Ivory Coast have been approved. Questions were raised over the reasoning for a commercial teak plantation project in Ghana.
Environment
Analysis
Climate Investment Funds Monitor 14
New edition of the Bretton Woods Project's biannual Climate Investment Funds (CIFs) Monitor, including an update on the Green Climate Fund, published to coincide with the World Bank-hosted CIFs trust fund committee meetings.
Rights
Commentary
World Bank project fails to safeguard the rights of workers in Cameroon
Workers in World Bank-financed Lom Pangar Hydro Power Project in Cameroon have filed a complaint with the Bank's Grievance Redress System over alleged breaches of workers rights.
Environment
Analysis
Climate Investment Funds Monitor 13
New edition of the Bretton Woods Project's biannual Climate Investment Fund (CIFs) Monitor, published to coincide with the World Bank-hosted CIFs trust fund committee meetings.
Environment
Analysis
Forest Investment Program (FIP)
The rationale for adding new pilot countries to the Forest Investment Program (FIP) given funding constraints has been questioned, as well as the focus on providing loans rather than grants. The CIF strategic directions paper noted challenges for the FIP, and proposed a new private sector window. Questions were raised about the consultation of ethnic minorities in relation to a Laos project.
Environment
Analysis
Forest Investment Program (FIP)
Six new countries were invited to join the Forest Investment Program (FIP), with a further nine invited to develop investment plans, despite insufficient funds. Potential support for oil palm plantations in Democratic Republic of Congo and industrial logging in Indonesia and Peru were questioned.
Infrastructure
Analysis
World Bank pitches mining to drive energy investment in Africa
A World Bank report calling for closer collaboration between mining and energy companies in Africa is criticised for underplaying risks and neglecting more efficient energy options for the poor.
Other news
Accountability
News
IMF faces wave of calls to suspend loan disbursements in Africa
Activists call for suspension of IMF disbursements, raising alarm about lack of accountability for several African loans.
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.
Private Sector
News
Civil society letter re: the IFC and lessons learned
A letter from civil society in response to the IFC's lesson learned briefing
Rights
News
Witness: The World Bank's damage to communities and the environment
Bretton Woods Project and Oxfam are pleased to invite you to a meeting with leading activists including from Cameroon, India, and Argentina who are visiting London as part of a European lobby tour. 11 March 2014 at 14:30.
Accountability
News
CAO to facilitate dispute resolution over Chad-Cameroon pipeline
In November, the Compliance Advisor/ Ombudsman (CAO), the accountability mechanism for the Bank's private sector arm, published its assessment of a 2011 complaint from a Chadian group of NGOs on behalf of local inhabitants and communities affected by a pipeline in Chad.
IFI governance
News
Sachs argues for transparency
As the International Finance Corporation, the World Bank's private sector lending arm, continues the review of its sustainability policy, performance standards and disclosure policy, Jeffrey Sachs of Columbia University has warned of the importance of transparency and public accountability in the extractive industries.
Infrastructure
News
Chad-Cameroon non-completion
A report by NGOs in Chad, Cameroon and the US finds that the World Bank’s Implementation Completion Report (ICR) for the Chad-Cameroon pipeline is seriously at odds with the findings of official project monitors.
Rights
Background
Chad-Cameroon pipeline: implementation, challenges and lessons learned
Minutes of meeting on the Chad-Cameroon pipeline