Bretton Woods
Update 47
World Bank support for extractives: complicity in human rights violations
Refers to the Bank’s failure to adequately and explicitly address human rights in its policies, as well as the causality between Bank supported extractive projects and the exacerbation of conflict. Looks at case studies from Democratic Republic of Congo, Guatemala and Chad and Camerooon.
The World Bank, the apartheid wall and the ghettoisation of Palestine
Comment by Jamal Juma, campaign coordinator of the Palestinian anti-apartheid wall campaign: StoptheWall.
How much trust should we put in the funds?
In 2004, the World Bank was responsible for the disbursement of over $3 billion through the 903 trust funds that it manages. The amount of funds being channelled through trust funds looks set to take off as increased international aid commitments chase limited spending channels. Recipients of these funds may see them as manna from…
Controversy surrounds Bank role in India water privatisation
Accusations emerged in late July that the World Bank had pressured the Indian government to select Price Waterhouse Coopers for advisory work undertaken as part of the Delhi Water Sector Project.
Fund economists whistle different trade tune
In two recent papers, Fund economists have questioned the institution’s strict adherence to the free trade doctrine.
IMF accused of exacerbating famine in Niger
The IMF’s external relations department has spent the last two months furiously rebuffing charges that the Fund has exacerbated famine in Niger. The debate centres around the impact of structural adjustment measures and accusations that donors initially refused to allow the government to distribute free food to affected areas.
Pick and choose:Bank on extractive recommendations
Summary and highlights of IFC’s response to civil society regarding the implementation of the World Bank Group’s own recommendations of the Extractive Industry Review (EIR)
IMF conditions blocks achievement of goals in education, health
Two papers by ActionAid International, released at the UN Millennium Review Summit in New York in September, point the finger at the IMF for blocking achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
Indigenous policy undermines rights
Summary of the recent paper by UK-based NGO Forest Peoples Programme regarding Indigenous peoples and the World Bank: experiences with participation
Climate change and the World Bank: dubious green credentials
Critique of the new role assigned to the World Bank by the G8 in tackling climate change by creating a framework for clean energy and development. Summary of recent documents examining the Bank’s perpetuation of fossil-fuelled economic expansion and false claims made in relation to the Clean Development Mechanism
World Bank – IMF annual meetings 2005
Members of the staff of the Bank and Fund, board members, development and finance ministers are gathered in Washington 23 – 25 September.
Dam review 5 years on: lessons not learned
Brief update of some of the key concerns and projects in relation to Bank-funded hydropower five years on from the WCD and the Bank’s failure to adopt many of the WCD recommendations
UK cuts through World Bank spin on conditionality
The business-as-usual findings emerging from a Bank review of conditionality released late July have been challenged by the British government and are contradicted by the findings of a study by Irish NGO Debt and Development Coalition.
UK reports on its activities at the World Bank and IMF
The UK’s Department for International Development published its first annual report of the UK’s involvement with the World Bank in March. Treasury published its annual report on UK activities at the IMF in late July.
WB parliamentary network meeting
The sixth annual conference of the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank will be held 21 – 23 October in Helsinki, Finland.
Wolfowitz watch
A new initiative from US NGO Bank Information Center will provide information with the appointments made by president Wolfowitz, as well as his speeches and travel schedule.
Global Health Watch: BWIs bigger than WHO
In July the Global Health Watch 2005 report was released, targeting the BWIs for their role in weakening public health care systems.
Haiti – “year of progress” or whitewash?
A letter from Haitian solidarity NGOs, faith groups and academics was sent to president Wolfowitz in August to protest the Bank’s mis-portrayal of the situation in the country.
Transparency charter for IFIs
The Global Transparency Initiative will be holding a three-month consultation starting 28 September, on a draft charter of transparency principles which the international financial institutions should uphold.
Parliamentarians return to Washington, progress in Malawi
Elected representatives from Indonesia, Ghana, Malawi and Mexico will be travelling to Washington for the annual meetings to press the points raised by the International Parliamentarians’ Petition.
More white guys to top posts at IFC, finance
President Paul Wolfowitz named two Europeans to senior posts in early September.
Wolfowitz appoints accountability guru
Bank president Paul Wolfowitz initiated an external review of Bank systems of transparency, accountability, ethics and integrity at the end of July.
IEO new head, new work programme
In June, the IEO appointed a new head and finalised its work programme for fiscal year 2006.