22 May 2009
A consortium of civil society representatives met to discuss access to information at the World Bank in Bangladesh on May 20th.
Article 19-Bangladesh, the Bank Information Center and VOICE, an IFI research and advocacy organization, convened a meeting of various civil society groups to solicit feedback on their collective experiences with the World Bank’s information disclosure practices in the context of World Bank country projects. About 90 civil society representatives attended the May 20th meeting in Dhaka which included political activists, representatives from a variety of NGOs, trade unions, human rights and women groups as well as journalists and communications organizations. Prominent academics and experts were in attendance, including Justice (retd) Mohammad Golam Rabbani who presided over the meeting. Proposals and concerns with regard to the information disclosure policy as well as suggestions for an improved policy will be conveyed to the World Bank.
Civil society suggestions and observations
Overall, the participants of the Bangladesh-based consultation believed that the World Bank did not provide sufficient information on the projects undertaken in the country and categorically impeded access to information at every stage, including project agreement, implementation and monitoring. The following points are highlights of civil society’s comments.
Transparency violations are a common theme for the WB Inspection Panel cases
Ahmed Swapan Mahmud, Executive Director of VOICE, cited examples of violations of the Bank’s disclosure policy from the recently published World Bank’s Inspection Panel Annual Report. Ahmed Swapan noted that alleged violation of the Bank’s disclosure policy was raised in 22 of the 52 Inspection Panel cases equating to 42 percent of all cases brought to the panel since its 1993 inception.
Weak approach paper
Saiful Haq, General Secretary of Biplobi Workers Party stated that the Bank’s approach paper (“Rethinking the World Bank’s Disclosure Policy”) was lacking in quality and the paper does not appropriately resolve the existing information block. He specifically referred to a project entitled “Flood Action Plan” in which people were unable to access project information from the Bank. He also suggested that the World Bank should disclose reasoning as to why information requests are denied.
Additionally, participants criticized the approach paper as rife with loopholes and limitations that will further block attempts to access information.
Need for greater document access, translation
Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, Executive Editor of Daily Sangbad suggested that the World Bank facilitate access to all documents so that people have the opportunity to give their opinion freely in project design and implementation. He also demanded translation of Bank documents into local languages in order to improve communities’ access to information and ensure people’s right to know.
Consultation process in need of improvement
Omar Tarek Chowdhury from the Bangladesh Nari Pragati Sangha noted that the Bank should extend the time period for collection of public opinion and it should hold in-country consultations, to be advertised in local newspapers to encourage wide participation.