CAO finds complaints from Marikana community eligible for further assessment.
South Africa
IFI governance
Background
Gender and development: What is happening now?
Notes from a meeting on gender and development during the World Bank spring meetings.
Environment
Analysis
Clean Technology Fund (CTF)
Concerns have been raised about a projected shortfall of resources for the Clean Technology Fund, with an early warning mechanism due to be discussed. Questions were raised about development benefits of a Colombia project and on safeguards for a Vietnam project.
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.
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
Finance
Analysis
The IFIs in 2013: year in review
The Bretton Woods Project review of the most important developments at the World Bank and IMF in 2013.
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.
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.
Environment
Analysis
Clean Technology Fund (CTF)
Updates on the Clean Technology Fund (CTF) from CIFs Monitor 9
Accountability
Commentary
World Bank accountability mechanisms: Any lessons learned yet?
The effectiveness of the Bank's accountability mechanisms relies on the extent their findings are accepted by Bank management. In three recent cases the Bank president has not responded seriously to their findings. The mechanisms must be made powerful and independent enough to hold the Bank to account.
Land
News
World Bank and agriculture: Cultivating controversy?
The World Bank’s push for ‘climate-smart agriculture’, including a new joint initiative, was criticised by CSOs. An Inspection Panel case on forced labour in Uzbekistan cotton fields was postponed for up to 12 months.
Finance
Analysis
BRICS Bank: New bottle, how’s the wine?
Last year BRICS' leaders agreed to launch a BRICS development bank. Whether this is considered positive depends in part what questions are being asked. Sameer Dossani of ActionAid International highlights the flaws in the World Bank and IMF, analyses whether a BRICS Bank could be different from these institutions and proposes what it should do and what it should look like.
