This panel discussion reflected on the major sustainability challenges facing the World Bank through exploring two World Resources Institute areas - a portfolio analysis on 2012 projects, and the interaction between country systems and World Bank safeguard approaches.
Social services
Accountability
News
Spring meetings 2013: communiqués coverage
Coverage of the communiqu
IFI governance
Background
From the Arab revolutions to global austerity trends
This session examined issues thrown up by the Arab revolutions, including the fiscal, monetary, tax and investment policies being considered by governments facilitating, or hindering countries in the Arab and other regions in building an inclusive economy and supporting socioeconomic recovery, the impact on public expenditure for the strengthening of education, health, and other social sectors as well as the management of chronic and high unemployment and high food and fuel prices.
Accountability
Background
World Bank executive directors roundtable with CSOs
Minutes of an open roundtable with EDs that occurred during the 2013 spring meetings.
Social services
Background
Leveraging private finance with public money: Positive Innovation? Corporate Welfare?
This event explored how modalities to "leverage" the private sector are beginning to appear in different ways in the World Bank and donors' agenda, and the challenges they pose.
Accountability
Background
The private sector and poverty eradication
Minutes of an IFC event at the World Bank / IMF 2013 spring meetings
Accountability
News
IFC invests in Kenyan private international school
The International Finance Corporation (IFC, the private sector arm of the World Bank) in mid-March proposed a $7 million investment in Kenyan private education firm, Brookhouse Schools Limited.
Land
News
India complains Doing Business "not robust"
As an independent panel begun its review of the World Bank’s controversial Doing Business rankings, India’s public criticism of the rankings added weight to global governmental and civil society opposition.
Infrastructure
News
Indian NGO faults IFC energy project
A November field study by Indian NGO the Research Collective has found that an International Finance Corporation (IFC, the Bank's private sector arm) supported coal-power plant run by GMR Kamalanga Energy Limited (GKEL), financed through a financial intermediary, has caused water pollution in the Odisha region.
Finance
News
Tanzania water project "complete failure"
A Tanzanian water and sanitation project, in which the Bank invested $164 million from 2003 to 2010, has been "a complete failure" according to NGO Civil and Political Rights Watch (CPRW).
