Highlights of meeting between Tom Scholar and UK NGOs, April 2007
United Kingdom
Accountability
News
Wolfowitz sits tight amidst more allegations and divided ministers
The latest in Washington indicates that Wolfowitz will remain as World Bank head for a while yet, despite an increasingly shaky defence.
Infrastructure
News
More fossil fuels and faith in the private sector
As part of its commitment to solve the global problems of energy poverty and climate change, in late March the World Bank and the European Investment Bank launched the Carbon Fund for Europe. However the Bank’s recent Implementation of the Management Response to the Extractive Industries Review 2006 reveals an alarming rise in its fossil fuel operations and show that little progress has been made on its environment and development indicators.
Environment
Background
Highlights of meeting with Tom Scholar and UK NGOs
Highlights of meeting between Tom Scholar and UK NGOs, December 2006
Social services
News
Split highlights growing call to rethink conditionality
Differences of opinion over conditionality blew up into an embarrassing spat between the Bank and the UK at the annual meetings in Singapore, forcing the Bank into a second review of its use of conditionality.
Environment
News
Global energy solutions bank on carbon trading
In the midst of climate talks in Nairobi and the release of the Stern review on the potential catastrophic economic impacts of climate change, the World Bank has been touting the most recent draft of its investment framework on clean energy and development, and stepping up its role in devising market-based solutions to climate change. Critics have decried the hypocrisy of the Bank's role in funding fossil fuel projects, and the perverse rationale behind carbon trading
Accountability
Background
Global Transparency Initiative (GTI) - regional launch
This is a summary of the Global Transparency Initiative (GTI) regional launch held at Westminster on the 2nd of November 2006.
Infrastructure
Background
Highlights of UK NGO meeting with Paul Wolfowitz
Highlights from a UK NGO meeting held with Paul Wolfowitz, head of the World Bank, in London on 13 November 2006. Issues covered include: the Bank's anti-corruption framework; financing 'fragile' states; conditionality; debt; and the extractive industry, energy infrastructure and climate change
IFI governance
Background
Highlights of Hilary Benn meeting with UK NGOs
Highlights of semi-annual meeting between UK Secretary of State for International Development and UK NGOs. Topics covered include CSO access to annual meetings, conditionality, anti-corruption, odious debt, clean energy, education in LICUS, bank internal governance, IFC safeguards
IFI governance
Background
Highlights of Tom Scholar meeting with UK NGOs
Highlights of quarterly meeting between UK executive director to the World Bank and IMF and UK NGOs. Topics covered include CSO access to annual meetings, IMF strategic review, conditionality, anti-corruption and education.
IFI governance
Commentary
IMF quota reform is inadequate, reaction to IMFC communiqué
The Bretton Woods Project - a UK-based network of NGOs including Oxfam, ActionAid, Christian Aid, One World Trust and new economics foundation (nef) - called the IMF proposal to reform its voting structure completely inadequate to address the institution's problems. In reacting to the IMFC communiqu
Finance
News
UK parliament says support for Bank fossil fuel investments is unacceptable
The United Kingdom's accountability systems for World Bank and IMF policy have scored successes and failures over the summer of 2006. A cross-party parliamentary enquiry into the role of the IMF produced a hard hitting report that called for substantial reform. However the ministry responsible for World Bank policy has been criticised over its energy and climate change policy, latest aid white paper and its response to the IFC safeguard policy.
