23 February 2007
In this issue: UK launch of transparency charter for IFI's, EBRD approves new disclosure procedures, NGO disputes ADB on disclosure of Phulbai coal mine project documents; reports, articles, and more
The Global Transparency Initiative (GTI) is an informal network of civil society organizations that are working together to overcome the secrecy surrounding the operations of the International Financial Institutions (IFIs). What follows is an update on the network's activities including recent reports and articles providing varied perspectives on IFI transparency and related issues, and a calendar of upcoming events. Please circulate to interested colleagues. If you would like make an announcement in this update, please contact .
GTI Activities and Annoucements
UK LAUNCH OF TRANSPARENCY CHARTER FOR IFIs
On 2 November 2006, the Global Transparency Initiative (GTI) announced the Transparency Charter for International Financial Institutions at the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, London. A panel which was made up of representatives from six organizations working on transparency in international financial institutions provided: the global context for the initiative; the key activities to date; explanation of the principles underlying the charter; specific examples of when freedom of information training has empowered communities; and examples of the lack of transparency of IFIs. The meeting was well attended with questions from the representatives of the Department for International Development and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
IFI Transparency Debates
EBRD APPROVES NEW DISCLOSURE PROCEDURES
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has issued a new “guide to information requests.” The guide includes timelines for request processing and how to appeal a denial of information. GTI provided comments to the draft procedures on 6 December 2006.
- To see the EBRD’s new disclosure procedures, go to the EBRD website
- More information, including the GTI comments to the EBRD on these procedures are available on the IFI transparency website
NGO DISPUTES ADB ON DISCLOSURE OF PHULBAI COAL MINE PROJECT DOCUMENTS
BanglaPraxis, a NGO based in Dhaka, summons the ADB to deliver on its promise to disclose important Phulbai coal mine project documents. Following an initial appeal for information by civil society groups on January 19, 2007, the ADB has delayed disclosing these documents for over a month. The Phulbai coal mine project is widely controversial and has met significant opposition by the people of Phulbai, NGO’s such as BanglaPraxis, and various experts, including the Energy and Mineral Resources Committee, led by Professor M Nurul Islam of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology.
Recent Reports and Articles
NEW ARTICLES from Freedominfo.org
“Wolfowitz Launches Probe Into Leak of Board Meeting Minutes” 9 February 2007
“New UN Secretary-General Discloses Personal Finances” 2 February 2007
“World Bank Anticorruption Strategy May Spark Changes in Disclosure Policy” 13 November 2006
“UNDP Panel Makes First Decision, And Guts Disclosure Policy” 25 October 2006
NEW TI WEBSITE TO MONITOR PROGRESS OF CENTRAL AMERICAN LEADERS ON ANTI-CORRUPTION PROMISES
On February 6, 2007 Transparency International (TI) launched a website that will help to monitor anti-corruption initiatives in Central America and serve as a virtual home for anti-corruption knowledge on the region The launch follows the signing of the Guatemala Declaration, which commits the leaders of Central America and the Dominican Republic to reach concrete outcomes in the fight against corruption by 2010 – and which is one of the primary target of the website’s monitoring activities.
PUBLISH WHAT YOU PAY: EYE ON EITI: CIVIL SOCIETY PERSPECTIVES AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES TRANSPARENCY INITIATIVE
This report, led by Publish What You Pay, a coalition of 300 member organizations from 30 countries working to promote transparent and accountable management of natural resource revenues, presents insights into the realities of EITI implementation in specific countries and presents recommendations on what is needed to ensure success.
The report can be downloaded at CHRI website:
Calendar of Upcoming Events
March
9-11: NGO Forum on ADB Annual Meeting, Manila, Philippines. For more information about the details of the meeting, check the NGO Forum on ADB website
16-20: Annual meeting of the Inter-American Development Bank in Guatemala City, Guatemala
April
14-15: Spring meetings of the World Bank and IMF, Washington, DC
May
4-7: Annual meetings of the Asian Development Bank at the Kyoto International Conference Center in Kyoto, Japan
16-17: Annual meetings of the African Development Bank in Shanghai, China
19-21: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Annual Meeting and Business Forum in Kazan, Russian Federation (Comprehensive series of meetings with non-governmental organizations to discuss the general policies of the Bank and its major investment projects)
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For more information on the Global Transparency Initiative and to see past updates, go to www.ifitransparency.org. To be added to or removed from the recipient list, please send an email with your name, organization/affiliation, and country to Jennifer Kalafut () at Bank Information Center.