The IMF board announced in mid February that the voting rights of Zimbabwe would be restored after seven years of suspension for unpaid debt, meaning that Zimbabwe can now participate in Fund decision making.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Environment
Commentary
Eskom loan blackens the World Bank's name
The World Bank, Business Unity South Africa and the African National Congress got their way with a major loan for Eskom, the national power authority, despite broad based opposition from local people, the poor, community organisations, the churches, unions, and environmental and social justice NGOs locally and globally.
Infrastructure
News
World Bank energy lending causes uproar
Debate about the World Bank energy portfolio and its impacts on climate change has reached the boiling point with hundreds of civil society organisations campaigning against the Bank's $3.75 billion loan for a new coal plant in South Africa.
Infrastructure
News
World Bank's DRC hydro project derailed
The ongoing rehabilitation of the Inga dams in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which receives financial assistance from the World Bank, will be delayed for three years.
Finance
News
World Bank hinders Southern Sudan's reconstruction
Government officials and development groups have criticised the failure of the World Bank and developed countries to deliver financial aid promised to Southern Sudan.
Social services
News
World Bank health insurance not delivering in Ghana
In a forthcoming paper, NGO Oxfam will criticise the national health insurance scheme in Ghana, which has received technical assistance from the World Bank, for failing to deliver equitable health care.
Accountability
News
Nigerian law makers: World Bank loan invalid
In December the Nigerian House of Representatives declared a $300 million loan from the World Bank invalid, because the National Assembly was not consulted before the government began negotiations for the loan.
Accountability
News
IMF urges donors to pay up in Malawi
In mid January, the IMF took the unusual step of asking a group of donors to release budget support grants to Malawi, which they have been withholding until a new IMF programme is approved.
Environment
News
Human rights landmark in ICSID tribunal
For the first time ever, a tribunal of the World Bank's International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) will hear human rights arguments.
Environment
News
Contract transparency missing as IFC expands oil investments in Africa
As the World Bank's private lending arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), expands its role in the African oil and gas sector, civil society groups are insisting that it adopt a requirement for full contract transparency in all of the extractive industries projects that it finances.
Conditionality
News
IFIs and Zimbabwe
The allocation of special drawing rights to Zimbabwe have stirred controversy about whether the country should use these to bolster its flagging public finances, while the fragile coalition government struggles with an external debt burden projected by the IMF to hit almost $7 billion by the end of the year.
Rights
News
Inspection Panel raps World Bank in Ghana
A complaint to the World Bank Inspection Panel by the NGO, Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE), on behalf of the Agyemankata community has resulted in a report confirming violations of Bank policies on forced evictions and environmental hazards related to a planned landfill near Accra, Ghana.
