Private Sector

News

Haitian jobs hang in the balance in IFC-funded plant

26 July 2004

The International Finance Corporation, the Bank's private-sector arm, has brought in labour mediators in an attempt to resolve a dispute that threatens to leave hundreds of employees at an IFC-funded plant in Haiti without work.

Environment

News

Georgia puts BP pipeline project on hold

The Georgian government has put a two week halt on BP's controversial Caspian oil pipeline project citing a breach of the environmental permit and other security concerns

28 July 2004

Rights

News

Guatemalan gold project gets financing

Campaigners worry that community rights will be disregarded by a Guatemalan gold mine backed by the IFC.

27 July 2004

IFI governance

News

African directors capacity fund underway

The Analytical Trust Fund for sub-Saharan executive directors at the Bank and Fund will hold its inaugural steering committee meeting in September.

27 July 2004

Rights

News

Annual meetings update: NGO press pass cancelled

A decision has been taken to discontinue the NGO press pass for the meetings, marking a serious step backwards in relations with civil society.

27 July 2004

Conditionality

News

Moving the goalposts: Zambia’s misery prolonged

Despite intensive efforts to implement the necessary conditions, Zambia has been told that it will have to wait even longer for debt relief.

26 July 2004

IFI governance

Background

The World Bank’s project cycle explained

The World Bank's public-lending institutions (IDA and IBRD) lend about US$ 15-20 billion annually to 100 countries to Projects ranging from infrastructure, education, health and government financial management.

26 July 2004 | Inside the institutions

Finance

News

Debt sustainability debates; new proposals for cancellation

Preliminary analysis of the Debt Sustainability framework, early June by US based CNES, points out that if implemented this proposal will emphasise the rights of creditors over all other development challenges, the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) included

26 July 2004

Infrastructure

News

Infrastructure privatisation: “Oversold, misunderstood” … and heavily subsidised

While Bank critics welcome increased flexibility in infrastructure investment, there are fears that a planned expansion of the commercialised model may undermine poverty reduction efforts.

26 July 2004

Social services

Commentary

“Middle-income country”? Over half live in poverty

The recently announced four-year programme of the World Bank for Mexico overstates the involvement of civil society and fails to address the real causes of poverty.

26 July 2004 | Guest comment

Environment

News

Wolfensohn meets with Congolese groups

A videoconference was held in July to bring together Congolese organisations, international forest activists and Bank President James Wolfensohn to discuss a Bank-supported forest zoning plan for the Democratic Republic of Congo.

26 July 2004

Infrastructure

News

Bank response to oil, gas and mining review “completely inadequate”

The Bank management response to the recommendations of the Extractive Industries Review was released 18 June to widespread criticism.

26 July 2004

Finance

News

Who will assess the assessments?

Civil society organizations remain concerned that impact assessments will not not deliver the desired outcomes.

26 July 2004

Trade

News

Bank trade hymn out of tune once again

Pouring cold water on a progressive trade proposal from the EU, the Bank's trade director has once again crossed the boundary from advocacy into ideology.

26 July 2004

Conditionality

News

Bank and Fund evaluation vindicates PRSP critics

The World Bank's Operations and Evaluation Department (OED) has just released the report of an evaluation they have conducted of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper approach.

26 July 2004

IFI governance

News

Landmark decision: Canadian company debarred

Anti-corruption campaigners are applauding the World Bank's decision to debar Acres International, a Canadian company found guilty by Lesotho courts of engaging in corrupt activities in a Bank-funded water project.

26 July 2004

Conditionality

News

Conditionality: two steps forward, two steps back

The World Bank's forum on conditionality was held at the World Bank Conference Centre in Paris in early July. The majority of participants were representatives of bilateral and multilateral aid agencies and the Bank.

26 July 2004

Conditionality

News

Bank review: ‘one-size fits all’ solutions persist

The World Bank's Operation Evaluation Department released its 2003 Annual Review of Development Effectiveness, finding that the Bank's efforts are hampered by "attempts to transplant policies and institutions without adequate analysis of the context".

26 July 2004