Allegations of corruption made against Bank-backed projects in Lesotho, Uganda and Kenya have raised questions about the Bank’s recent anti-corruption crusade. A report from Mozambique complains that the Bank is rewarding “good performance” by allowing corruption.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Finance
News
G8: “Absolutely zilch” for Africa
Civil society organizations were disappointed by the outcome of talks at the G8 summit in Canada on an Africa Action Plan, HIPC and education.
Land
News
What was IMF role in Malawi famine?
The worst famine in fifty years has resulted in several thousand deaths in Malawi in early 2002.
Rights
News
Malawi Economic Justice Network Civil Society Briefing Issue 16
Malawi Economic Justice Network Civil Society Briefing Issue 16
Infrastructure
News
World Bank Inspection Panel Report reinforces criticism of the controversial Bujagali Hydropower Pro
The World Bank Executive Board has delayed the decision over a political risk guarantee of $250m for the Bujagali Dam Project until June 18.
Conditionality
Background
The Ugandan PRSP Experience
Meeting with Rick Rowden, RESULTS, 31 May 2002
Land
News
Bank fingered in Malawi famine
According to Action Aid, famine in Malawi has been compounded by World Bank-guided food policies.
Accountability
News
Bujagali dam affected by Enron-fallout
U.S. power company AES Corp. has been forced to delay building the $550 million Bujagali dam, Uganda, because of a financing shortfall.
Social services
News
Ghanaians contest Bank-backed water privatisation
A broad coalition of organisations is challenging the plan to privatise Ghana’s water system. They complain that the World Bank and IMF-promoted scheme will not extend services to poorer people or ensure fair pricing. The deal - which the IMF has just made part of its new conditions for Ghana - reflects the biases of the consultants which drew it up at a cost of $3million.
Accountability
News
Bank downplays Lesotho dam corruption
The World Bank has recently announced that it will not be taking action following allegations of corruption levelled at corporate clients in Peru and Lesotho. The Peru goldmine and Lesotho dam cases lead some Bank-watchers to question the Bank’s high-profile commitment to rooting out corruption.
Conditionality
News
Nigeria sends IMF away
The Nigerian government has cancelled its IMF programme. IMF spokesperson tests Argentinians’ sense of humour by agreeing that mistakes may be made again in the future. He explained: “that is economics. And that is why it is so much fun”.
Environment
News
Arrests of Tanzania mine activists
In late November the Tanzanian authorities took action against an organisation which has been investigating the death and dispersal of artisanal miners at a project backed by the World Bank Group.
Featured briefings
6 April 2023
World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings 2023
5 April 2023
The global financial architecture and the international debt crisis: An urgent call for reform
Influence of unreformed international financial institutions and creditor interests in debt solutions in low- and middle-income countries plagued by delay and ineffective when undertaken.
4 April 2023