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.
Trade
Finance
Commentary
Financial liberalisation, capital controls and development in Africa: The case of Uganda
Trade
Analysis
This briefing finds significant bias in favour of corporations and commercial interests in the main venue for settlement of legal cases brought by corporations against governments: the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).
Trade
Analysis
Corporate bias at the World Bank Group
IFI governance
News
The 2013 spring meetings of the World Bank and IMF will take place from 18 to 20 April in Washington, DC. You will be able find links below to analysis of the communiqu
IFI governance
News
All you need to know: World Bank-IMF spring meetings 2013
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Other news
Trade
News
Ecuador ratifies 2008 ban on investor-state dispute settlement mechanism
Ecuador referendum reinforces the country’s decision against a mechanism criticised for being asymmetric, unjust and detrimental to citizens’ rights.
Land
News
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
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
The future of Doing Business
Rights
Background
Smart assessment: Capturing and managing human rights risks
Finance
News
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
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
Colombia case study: results measurement and poverty eradication
This session examined Colombia's private sector partnerships and poverty eradication programme.