3 December 2007
The Kyrgyz Republic Updates provide information about recent developments, decisions, and civil society activities related to activities of the International Financial Institution’s (IFIs) in Kyrgyz Republic.
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I. IFI Project Activities
WB Approves Water Management Improvement Project
On March 29, 2006 the World Bank approved the Water Management Improvement Project (WMIP). As stated on the WB website, WMIP project objectives are: 1. to improve irrigation service delivery and water management for agricultural productivity; and 2. to improve national water resource governance. Total cost of the project is $ 28.1 million of which WB is contributing $19 million to the Government of Kyrgyz Republic. The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is responsible for the implementation of the project. All available documents related to the project are available via the following link:
II. IFI Consultations and Policy UpdatesEBRD to end revision of Public Information Policy
On March 1, 2006, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development announced a review of its Public Information Policy (PIP). A draft PIP was available for public comment until April 30, 2006 (with a two week extension). The EBRD intends to finalize the PIP prior to its Annual Meetings and Business Forum of May 21 and 22. Changes in the revised PIP include: releasing Board minutes and other documents related to Board structure and salaries; disclosing draft Country Strategies for a 30 day public comment period; translating Project Summary Documents; and publishing documents of the Office of the Chief Compliance Officer (OCCO) and Evaluation Department (EvD). Civil society analyses, official correspondence with the EBRD, and other information is available from the following links:
III. Civil Society Activities
World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings Summary
This year’s World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings focused on activities related to the Fund. With the managing director's strategic review being considered by the board of governors, many probing questions about the Fund's role and continued relevance were being posed. Other topics discussed include clean energy investment framework, debt, corruption, and governance. Summary. For summaries of official WB/IMF meetings as well as civil society strategy meetings see links below:
EIR Implementation Meeting with the IFC
On April 24, 2006, during the WB and IMF Spring Meetings a group of NGO representatives from around the world met with Rashad Kaldany, Director of the IFC Oil, Gas, and Mining Department to discuss implementation of the EIR recommendations. The main agenda items were: 1) Monitoring of WBG EIR implementation, 2) EIR connections to the World Bank report “Clean Energy and Development: Towards and Investment Framework” , and 3) Governance Indicators Update. Highlights from the meeting are summarized below:
- Measuring Poverty Impacts: Kaldany stated that measuring impacts was extremely important and that he shared the same objectives as NGOs. He noted that the IFC is not yet where it should be on measuring poverty impacts, and that he would like projects to have clear poverty objectives. He used the Marlin mine in Guatemala as an example of good practice because the project sponsor is disclosing monitoring reports. Although NGOs are pushing for project-level reporting, reporting on poverty impacts will be done only in the aggregate for EIR implementation and across the IFC. Civil society also raised concerns about failures to create livelihood opportunities and negative impacts associated with involuntary resettlement; Kaldany stated that his objective was to make affected people better off than without the project (instead of simply doing no harm). He cited the Yanacocha mine in Peru as an example of success, stating that the nearby town had the highest rate of cell phone penetration in Peru.
- Clean Energy Framework: The EIR group did not have much involvement in the World Bank’s Clean Energy Framework. When asked how this new emphasis on clean energy would affect IFC financing for fossil fuels, Kaldany replied that he saw no conflict with the management’s response to the EIR, i.e., the IFC will not be phasing anything out. Although the IFC has not financed any “new” coal projects in the last decade, Kaldany said this may change in the next two or three years due to the high prices for oil and gas. The IFC will continue to say no to nuclear projects. When asked if the IFC will now be accurately accounting for carbon costs, Kaldany replied that the Clean Energy Framework simply provides more scope to do renewable energy. The IFC is looking in new directions, such as gas flaring, clean coal, and biofuels. Kaldany stated that the concept of energy transition is what is important in the clean energy framework.
- Governance Indicators: In response to a question on how the IFC’s approach on governance has been influenced by developments in Chad, Kaldany replied that he still hoped that there would be a positive outcome in Chad. He said that the IFC learned again how important the role of NGOs is to governance.
EBRD Annual Meetings and Business Forum
The 2006 EBRD Annual Meeting and Business Forum will take place in London on Sunday 21 and Monday 22 May. At the Annual Meeting, EBRD Governors representing member countries and institutions will chart the Bank’s strategic course for the coming years in the context of the five-yearly Capital Resources Review. In parallel, at the Business Forum, participants will meet to exchange their own perspectives on the future of investment in the EBRD region.
Asian Development Bank Annual Meetings
The 39th Asian Development Bank Annual Governors meetings were held in Hyderabad, India from May 3-6 2006. At the same time a parallel forum of civil society organizations, organized under the banner Peoples’ Forum against the ADB (PFAADB), held an alternative summit. Denouncing the ADB as “extremely secretive, non-transparent and unaccountable”, the PFAADB planned meetings on displacement, reclaiming democracy, power and water privatization, militarization, and the environmental, social and livelihood impacts of ADB-funded projects. For more information, press, and resources see the following link:
IV. Additional Resources
PLEASE NOTE: In addition to the above reports more information on Civil Society activities can be found in the Extractive Industry Review (EIR) Update April 2006 (also available in Russian) and on the BIC Europe and Central Asia webpage.