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Trade

Trade

Background

What is the World Bank’s International Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)?

New Inside the Institutions looks at the World Bank’s International Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), the main forum for Investor-to-State Dispute Settlements.

18 July 2022 | Inside the institutions

Rights

Analysis

Fears of lawsuits at World Bank’s tribunal constrain efforts to fight pandemic

Covid-19 pandemic highlights the urgent need for ICSID and wider ISDS reforms as cases threaten to undermine state efforts to protect public health.

16 July 2020

Private Sector

News

A bad business: Bank divisions on Doing Business revealed

Newly emerged internal documents from the World Banks’ own legal unit reveal strong criticism of the controversial Doing Business rankings following the independent review panel’s critical final report in June.

2 October 2013 | Update

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.

8 April 2013

Trade

News

World Bank on jobs: "a race to the bottom"?

Two October World Bank reports reveal a contradictory message for developing countries' labour markets.

6 December 2012

Knowledge

News

Little currency for global money?

While the G20 postponed decisions on issuing new special drawing rights (SDRs), the IMF-managed international reserve asset, the IMF completed its surveillance review and a new Fund report tackled the thorny issue of global imbalances.

18 November 2011

IFI governance

News

Big infrastructure, small participation

The World Bank, in conjunction with the G20, is prioritising massive, cross-border infrastructure with private sector involvement, but has failed to involve any local communities.

13 September 2011

Finance

Background

The IFC's approach to international trade finance

Trade finance refers to financing arrangements that support international trade transactions. It is one of the central parts of a new ten-year strategy paper on international trade currently being developed by the World Bank for the period between 2011 and 2021.

13 June 2011 | Inside the institutions

Other news

Land

News

20 June 2014

CAO investigation: IFC-linked rubber firm project paused

An IFC-linked Vietnamese rubber plantation company agreed to temporarily suspend activities in three Cambodian plantations, but activists urged the company to cease its activities in all communities.

Trade

News

20 June 2014

ICSID problems in the spotlight

Civil society challenges ICSID role in El Salvador mining dispute as international lawyer accuses the arbitration forum of being “seriously flawed”

Trade

Background

11 April 2014 | Minutes

The future of Doing Business

Rights

Background

10 April 2014 | Minutes

Smart assessment: Capturing and managing human rights risks

Finance

News

5 November 2013

Iran moves to normalise relations with World Bank

Despite initiating World Bank loan repayments , and having its status upgraded by the Bank, Iran's politicians continue to reinforce the harmful impact of sanctions on the country's economy.

Trade

News

26 June 2013

World Bank to publish procurement contracts

The World Bank has revealed the detail of its 2012 promise to publish contracts online, following on from its procurement review.

Infrastructure

Background

23 April 2013 | Minutes

Colombia case study: results measurement and poverty eradication

This session examined Colombia's private sector partnerships and poverty eradication programme.

IFI governance

Background

22 April 2013 | Minutes

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.