A report by Can and Leader analyses the concession agreement for the Bank-supported Nam Theun 2 dam in Lao PDR (Update 45), between the country's government and the Nam Theun 2 Power Company Ltd (NTPC).
Private Sector
Accountability
News
World Bank anti-corruption: discourse versus practice
A new report from corruption watchdog Transparency International indicates that despite improved efforts by the World Bank on corruption ahead of other regional development banks, there is still a striking inconsistency between the discourse and practice of the Bank. A new US anti-corruption bill and an oil revenue agreement with Chad are the latest tests.
Environment
News
Infrastructure update: Wolfowitz "watching for arrogance"
Highlights of a Bank-CSO meeting where Kathy Sierra, Bank vice-president for infrastructure, struck a conciliatory tone, saying that the Bank "intended to learn the lessons of the past".
Social services
News
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.
Environment
News
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
Environment
News
The G8, the World Bank and climate change
Environmentalists expressed dismay at the G8’s failure to make progress on the issue of climate change. What will be the World Bank’s involvement in the follow-up programme?
Land
News
Setbacks to privatisations across Africa
The collapse of a flagship water privatisation in Tanzania, and opposition to both a planned privatisation of the state cotton board and the completed privatisation of the state railway in Mali, highlight the continuing struggle over pressure from the Bretton Woods institutions to privatise in Africa.
Land
News
Aid, death and dogma
A report released in May by UK NGO Christian Aid, documents case studies in India, Ghana and Jamaica where imposed liberalisation has ravaged local industry with devastating social impacts.
Social services
Analysis
Secretive World Bank tribunal confronts calls to open up
Civil society groups are backing official calls for reform of the World Bank's International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes - however, the future of the reforms looks uncertain due to resistance from developing countries.
Environment
News
Slow progress on World Bank’s oil, gas and mining commitments
Update on the World Bank Group’s progress on the management response to the Extractive Industries Review. Problems relating to the BTC pipeline on its inauguration. Summary of the book The risks we run, on political risk insurance and the mining industry.
