The World Bank's controversial Global Partnership for Social Accountability, a new mechanism for the Bank to provide financing directly to civil society organisations, opened its first call for proposals from mid February to mid March.
Accountability
Rights
News
Safeguards: World Bank urged to incorporate human rights commitments "in all of its activities"
As the consultations on the World Bank's safeguards review progress, indigenous peoples groups and NGOs raised concerns over the process. There were also increased calls for the Bank to respect human rights in its policies, including a report from a UN Special Rapporteur.
Accountability
News
IFC Honduran client linked to death squads
The International Finance Corporation (IFC, the Bank's private sector arm) loan to Honduran palm oil producer Corporaci
Accountability
News
French police raid Lagarde home
French police searched the Paris apartment of IMF managing director Christine Lagarde in late March as part of an investigation over the way Lagarde, as French minister of finance, handled the compensation settlement of French millionaire Bernard Tapie.
Accountability
News
Letter to World Bank President Dr. Jim Yong Kim re: IFC investment in the financial sector
We, the undersigned organisations, welcome the audit by the Compliance Advisor/Ombudsman (CAO) on the International Finance Corporation's lending to the financial sector. The IFC's response to the audit fails to acknowledge the gravity of the findings and is notable for its lack of commitment to addressing them. In advance of the IFC's planned consultation with civil society this month, we urge you to commit to revise the IFC's strategy for investment in this sector.
Accountability
Background
UK Civil Society Meeting with Minister of State Rt Hon Alan Duncan MP
This was a meeting on 1 October 2012, between the Minister of State of the UK's Department for International Development (DFID) and civil society representatives, focusing on the World Bank.
Accountability
News
IEG finds declining impact at Bank, IFC
An annual Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) report on the Results and performance of the World Bank Group 2012 showed declining effectiveness at the Bank Group, with its worst ratings in the areas where its lending is increasing the fastest or it is prioritising work, such as infrastructure and public-private partnerships (PPPs).
Accountability
News
ICSID billion dollar cases prompt criticism
The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), an arm of
Accountability
News
IFC investments "rarely touch the poor"
Criticism of the International Finance Corporation's lack of poverty focus has again caught the spotlight, as the IFC continues to fund projects that stretch the interpretation of development.
Private Sector
News
IFC oblivious to impact of lending to financial sector
An audit of the IFC's investments in financial intermediaries reveals a lack of assessment of environmental and social impacts.
