Indigenous Peoples and the World Bank

The World Bank (WB) was the first International Financial Institution to develop internal guidelines on respecting some of the rights of indigenous peoples. The Bank's 1982 guidelines on "Tribal Peoples in Bank Financed Projects" (OMS 2.34) were developed in response to severe criticisms of the Bank for adverse impacts on indigenous communities throughout the world. In 1991 the WB adopted its current Indigenous Peoples Operational Directive OD 4.20. In addition to this safeguard policy, the World Bank counts a number of social scientists on staff that are responsible for monitoring implementation of OD 4.20, especially the Indigenous Peoples Development Plan (IPDP) that is required if indigenous peoples are affected by a Bank-financed project. The Bank is engaged in other initiatives on indigenous peoples including a recently launched "Global Indigenous Fund" (see section below).

• World Bank Indigenous Peoples Operational Directive OD 4.20 (WB website)