24 November 2003
I. Access to Information: A Citizen's Right
The establishment of the World Bank's Information Policy was in large part a response to broad international pressure from NGOs, legislators and member governments during the late 1980s and early 1990s who demanded greater transparency and public accountability at the World Bank. Citizens affected by Bank projects often are the last to know about them and thus frequently become a victim of, rather than a participant in and beneficiary of development. The policy was a significant step forward in prying open the Bank and its development processes to civil society around the world.
The World Bank Policy on the Disclosure of Information, approved in 1993, is the framework that defines which information produced by the Bank is to be made available to the public. These include a number of Bank project and sector investment documents, environmental and social information, and documents that contain information on economic and country sector work. The policy also articulates a broad principal for public disclosure, notably that there is "a presumption in favor of disclosure of information in the absence of a compelling reason not to disclose."
The Policy also acknowledges that dissemination of its project and policy information "is essential for the effective implementation and sustainability of the projects" that the Bank finances. Other Bank policies and guidelines underscore the need for information disclosure as a key component to effective citizen participation. The Bank's Environmental Assessment Policy, OD 4.01, requires that "the borrower provide relevant information prior to consultations with affected people and NGOs. The information should be provided in a timely manner, for example before public meetings and consultations, and in a form and language that are understandable and accessible to the people who are to be consulted."
Tips on Requesting Information from the World Bank
Get a copy of the policy at www.worldbank.org
Know what you are asking for and be specific. When possible, give the project name, date, and relevant country of all documents you are requesting. The Infoshop does not take generic requests for information, only for specific documents. For more information on types of documents and when they are available, see Section II below.
Start local. Contact your resident Bank office's public information center or NGO liaison if there is one in your country. Visit the Bank field office in your country and become acquainted with the staff person in charge of information. Bring a copy of the information policy with you in case they are unfamiliar with the policy and of their responsibility to implement it.
Put your request for information in writing. Even if you are visiting the Washington, D.C. Infoshop, a branch office or a World Bank field office in your country, it is to your advantage to make your requests in writing. This helps to create a paper trail that you can use if your requests are unanswered or denied.
You may also send your request to BIC so that we can follow up if you have trouble getting documents. We are monitoring the implementation of the policy and it helps us to know whether the Infoshop or the field offices are responding to NGO requests for information.
If your request is denied, ask for a written explanation. Remember that the Bank's policy states there is a presumption in favor of disclosure in the absence of a compelling reason not to disclose. If your information request is denied, ask for a written explanation of why the request was denied, including the compelling reason used to justify the rejection.
Be persistent. When requesting information, especially if what you are asking for is not commonly publicly available, you must be persistent. If you don't receive a response to an information request, send a follow up letter, citing or copying your initial request. You may want to copy your second request to the Country Director or Regional Vice-president.
Monitor the Bank's Website: Even with an information disclosure policy, you may not know that a project is in the Bank's pipeline. Therefore, monitor the Bank's website, its Monthly Operational Summary, and its monthly list of available documents to ensure that you are up to date on what is being planned. The Bank's website is www.worldbank.org
Remember that the policy is not retroactive. This means it does not apply to projects that were negotiated or approved before the new policy came into effect. Check the date the project was approved. If the date was before October 1, 1993, the documents will not be in the Infoshop. However, don't be discouraged from requesting documents on older, ongoing projects. You may still be able to get them through the country office.