Accountability

Commentary

An accountability mechanism without teeth?

26 June 2013

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank, is under internal scrutiny for two projects in Albania.

Infrastructure

Analysis

World Bank says "stars are aligned" for large infrastructure

The World Bank, in conjunction with the G20, is reinvigorating its infrastructure focus, paying particular attention to leveraging resources from the private sector and investing in fragile and conflict affected states. It announced a return to big hydropower projects, despite continued concerns about projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guatemala and Uganda.

26 June 2013

Social services

Analysis

The Doing Business review: a test of World Bank leadership

By this year's October annual meetings, we will know what the World Bank board has decided on what happens next to that institution's controversial and most popular publication, the Doing Business report.

24 June 2013 | At Issue

Environment

Analysis

The World Bank and the Green Climate Fund: "an ironic contradiction"?

Since the creation of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Green Climate Fund (GCF) in 2010, concerns have grown about the World Bank's potential role in designing policies to determine the allocation of resources for adaptation and mitigation activities in developing countries.

20 June 2013 | Guest analysis

Accountability

News

5-star development

Controversial IFC investments in tourism and infrastructure projects continue to cause friction with local communities, prompting a new complaint to the Compliance Advisor/Ombudsman.

26 June 2013

IFI governance

Analysis

World Bank's new strategy: 'deliverology' for the private sector?

As the World Bank's attention moves from goal-setting to implementation of a new strategy, it is becoming clear that it intends to further prioritise the role of the private sector and adopt many practices of its private sector arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), as the main pillars for the whole group.

26 June 2013

Private Sector

Analysis

IFC financed 'land grabs' in Cambodia, Laos and Honduras exposed

While the World Bank's leadership is further embracing private equity funds, the IFC's investment in financial intermediaries is again hitting the headlines over allegations of 'land grabs' in South East Asia and lack of respect for indigenous people's rights in Honduras.

26 June 2013

Rights

Analysis

IMF's labour pains

Two April IMF reports purport to present a new view on labour market policy, however, they have attracted heavy criticism from trade unions as inaccurate and flawed.

26 June 2013

Infrastructure

News

IMF push for MENA subsidy reforms

The IMF signed a deal with Tunisia in June, after its renewed attempt to lend to Egypt failed in April, while civil society remained concerned about the legitimacy and transparency of the negotiations.

26 June 2013

Accountability

Analysis

World Bank "short-sighted and cross-eyed" on fossil fuels

As the World Bank released a new report on the impacts of climate change and is due to discuss its energy focus, it defended its engagement in fossil fuels, including the Kosovo coal power plant.

26 June 2013

Social services

News

A healthy step forward? World Bank outlines vision for healthcare

Bank president Jim Yong Kim has publicly prioritised universal health coverage and education however, critics worry about increased support for private companies to deliver these services.

26 June 2013

Finance

News

IMF champions growth

As global economic risks and stagnation in major economies are expected to persist, the IMF's rhetoric is increasingly anti-austerity, reflecting changing priorities in member states. However, states where IMF policy influence is greatest, spending cuts continue.

26 June 2013

Knowledge

News

Education for all?

World Bank president, Jim Yong Kim has put global education on his priority list, however major ideological differences are emerging between education coalitions about whether this should be delivered through a private or public model.

26 June 2013

Social services

Analysis

IMF's Greek mea culpa

In June the IMF released an ex post assessment of its 2010 lending programme to Greece which described a series of errors and found that the Fund consciously chose to break its own rules on the sustainability of the programme.

26 June 2013

Finance

Background

IFC blended finance

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank's private sector arm, has recently formalised its 'blended finance' approach, undertaking investment in the private sector at lower than market rates using subsidies provided by donors. Donors' concessional funds are combined with the IFC's own non-concessional funding.

26 June 2013 | Inside the institutions