Bank freezes Chad's funds following government violation of agreement with Bank over the Chad-Cameroon oil pipeline
Sub-Saharan Africa
IFI governance
News
The IMF to evaluate its role in determining aid resources to African countries
The IMF's Independent Evaluation Office is undertaking a timely review of the Fund's role in determining aid resources in sub-Saharan Africa, examining the Fund's policy advice and programme design in these countries and its impact.
Accountability
News
World Bank anti-corruption: discourse versus practice
A new report from corruption watchdog Transparency International indicates that despite improved efforts by the World Bank on corruption ahead of other regional development banks, there is still a striking inconsistency between the discourse and practice of the Bank. A new US anti-corruption bill and an oil revenue agreement with Chad are the latest tests.
IFI governance
News
European CSO meeting with European executive directors to the World Bank
Civil society representatives from over twelve European countries, as well as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and a parliamentarian from Malawi, met with World Bank executive directors from the European region in what has become a staple event in the annual meetings diary.
Social services
News
IMF accused of exacerbating famine in Niger
The IMF's external relations department has spent the last two months furiously rebuffing charges that the Fund has exacerbated famine in Niger. The debate centres around the impact of structural adjustment measures and accusations that donors initially refused to allow the government to distribute free food to affected areas.
Land
News
Setbacks to privatisations across Africa
The collapse of a flagship water privatisation in Tanzania, and opposition to both a planned privatisation of the state cotton board and the completed privatisation of the state railway in Mali, highlight the continuing struggle over pressure from the Bretton Woods institutions to privatise in Africa.
Accountability
News
Wasn't that a party…
The music at the farewell party for outgoing World Bank Kenya country representative Mukthar Diop…
Land
News
Aid, death and dogma
A report released in May by UK NGO Christian Aid, documents case studies in India, Ghana and Jamaica where imposed liberalisation has ravaged local industry with devastating social impacts.
Environment
News
West Africa gas pipeline approved
The World Bank's board of directors recently approved an investment guarantee for the US$590 million West Africa gas pipeline (WAGP)
Social services
Commentary
The private sector in Ghana’s water - a strategy to serve or steal?
Rudolf Amenga-Etego of GrassrootsAfrica comments that the Ghanaian government must re-prioritise the national budget in favour of the water sector. However, this will only be possible if the international financial institutions are restrained.
Social services
News
Fund irate over NGO claims that it blocks progress on AIDS
A report released by NGOs ActionAid, Global AIDS Alliance, Student Global AIDs Campaign and RESULTS Educational Fund charges that IMF fiscal targets limit spending on HIV/AIDS programmes.
Rights
News
West Africa Pipeline approved despite resistance
The World Bank's board of directors have just approved an investment guarantee for the US$590 million West Africa gas pipeline (WAGP). Civil society organisations in the region have focussed their concerns on violence and instability in the oil and gas communities of Nigeria’s Niger Delta, and the negative effects of gas flaring.
