There is evidence that the IFC's financing of small and medium enterprises, almost all of which occurs via financial intermediaries, is under-supervised, and that direct lending is still focused on large companies in emerging market economies with questionable value-added.
Private Sector
Environment
News
Ecuador withdraws from ICSID?
Ecuador intends to prevent oil and mining disputes from going to the Bank's International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes.
Accountability
News
Public campaigns to reform IDA
In Europe, Asia and the United States, civil society has campaigned for reform of the World Bank through the replenishment process of the International Development Association.
Accountability
Commentary
El Banco Mundial y el Gasoducto de África Occidental
Análisis crítico sobre el gasoducto de África Occidental, un proyecto apoyado por el Banco Mundial.
Rights
News
‘Doing Business’ eliminates workers' protection
In September the Bank released its Doing Business Indicators for 2007.
Accountability
News
IFC: ‘badges of excellence’, dubious practice
The IFC is scaling up its investment in high risk and low-income countries "as part of its development mission", and is now on track to double financing for mining in Africa this year. However its attempts to position itself as an environmental and human rights 'expert' in these sectors lacks credibility.
Accountability
News
Ghana Inspection Panel request
COHRE has filed a complaint to the Inspection Panel.
Environment
News
Gold mining undermines rights in Mali
A report by French NGO FIDH looks at the negative impact of gold mining on the prorection of human rights in Mali
Private Sector
News
Threats to withdraw from Bank's investment tribunal
End April the leaders of Bolivia, Venezuela, and Nicaragua agreed to withdraw from the World Bank's International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes, a tribunal which rules on cases against governments brought by foreign investors.
Land
News
IFC: Cowboys in the Amazon
In March the IFC approved $90 million towards a $424 million expansion and modernisation programme for Brazil's leading beef and leather processor Bertin Ltda.
