Wolfowitz Watch | Bank Information Center: Monitoring the projects and policies of the World Bank, IMF and other international financial institutions


bicusa.org/wolfowitz Wolfowitz Watch Overview Background Concerns Updates Resources Contacts RSS Update \| 16 January 2008 Controversial head of the World Bank's anti-corruption unit resigns Resignation comes after internal review reveals Bank's ineffectiveness in addressing corruption in health projects in India. Read more Update \| 22 August 2007 Journalists confirm Wolfowitz censored "climate change" Journalists confirmed that former World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz, personally intervened in removing the words "climate change" from Bank progress reports, and that it may be years before the World Bank considers greenhouse gas emissions in its projects. Read more Update \| 3 July 2007 Wolfowitz joins conservative think tank The American Enterprise Institute, one of the nation's most influential and conservative think tanks, announced hiring Paul Wolfowitz as a visiting scholar yesterday. Read more Update \| 22 June 2007 Little news from World Bank Board meeting with presidential nominee Robert Zoellick Zoellick met with the 24-member Board on June 20 in a four hour, informal meeting. The discussion will continue on Monday June 25. The Board is expected to formally appoint Zoellick by the end of the month. Read more Update \| 14 June 2007 Zoellick pledges to keep Africa atop agenda Uncontested World Bank presidential nominee makes no major break from Wolfowitz's agenda during Africa tour. Read more Update \| 8 June 2007 Who's saying what about Robert Zoellick Reactions to the United States' nomination of the former US Trade Representative for the next World Bank President... Read more Update \| 7 June 2007 US candidate for World Bank President on 'goodwill tour' Robert Zoellick will travel to Africa, Europe and Latin America in an effort to "listen and learn". Read more Update \| 31 May 2007 US picks its winner for one-horse race to head World Bank; other countries must step up to the gate The White House’s announcement that it will nominate former US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick to be the next World Bank President, and the widespread assumption that the choice is a fait accompli, serve as a reminder that the lessons of the Wolfowitz scandal have yet to be learned. Read BIC's May 31 Press Release on the Zoellick nomination. Read more Update \| 30 May 2007 Bush to name Robert Zoellick World Bank head In spite of international calls for an open, merit-based process for choosing Paul Wolfowitz's successor, President Bush is expected to name Zoellick later this afternoon. His nomination must still be approved by the Bank's Board of Executive Directors. Read more Update \| 29 May 2007 US House Committee Chairmen call on Bush to seek "right mix" of skills in next World Bank President Representatives Frank, Obey, Rangel and Lantos furthermore note that the best candidate for the job need not be American. Read more Update \| 29 May 2007 Australia joins Brazil's call for merit-based World Bank presidential selection process Demands join a chorus of voices from civil society and beyond expressing concerns about the antiquated system through which the United States effectively appoints the President. Read more Update \| 29 May 2007 Updated: Who will be the next World Bank President? A final decision may be announced this week. Robert Zoellick, former US Trade Representative and Deputy Secretary of State, is rumored to be the frontrunner. Read more Update \| 18 May 2007 World Bank Staff Association concerned with terms of Wolfowitz's departure Following World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz's resignation, the Staff Association said, "we are shocked by the statement from the Board today which represents a full reversal of their own findings". The SA is asking that Wolfowitz be placed on administrative leave, an acting-President be appointed and staff are protected against any retaliation while ensuring Wolfowitz "prevented from making any decisions affecting the work of the Bank or its staff". Read more Update \| 17 May 2007 WOLFOWITZ RESIGNS PRESS RELEASE: World Bank housecleaning has only just begun. Wolfowitz's resignation is the first step to broader governance overhauls at the institution. Read more Update \| 17 May 2007 World Bank governance challenges: what must be done The Wolfowitz scandal should serve as a sobering wake-up call to the World Bank on the need for meaningful governance reforms. Its archaic 1940s convention of allowing the US to name the Bank’s leader undermines the institution’s legitimacy as well as the accountability of the Bank’s president. The Bank does not need to look very far for reform proposals - including its own 2001 proposals for an open, competitive selection process that were summarily ignored. Read more Update \| 16 May 2007 Wolfowitz lasts another day; rumors of pending resignation continue Although a decision on the fate of Paul Wolfowitz was expected this afternoon, the Board of Directors has adjourned discussions until Thursday. Read more Update \| 16 May 2007 Wolfowitz submits statement to Executive Directors World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz responded to the Board of Directors' Ad Hoc Committee's recent report on the President's alleged improprieties. At a Board meeting on Monday evening, Wolfowitz stated: "It is quite apparent that this matter has ceased to have much to do with the case itself--and everything to do with issues about my management style and my policy choices." Read more Update \| 15 May 2007 Bush administration officials change tune on Wolfowitz Although Bush administration officials came to the President's defense in recent days, the White House has recently stated that "all options are on the table" Read more Update \| 15 May 2007 Urgent recommendations on leadership selection reforms at the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund Read the letter to World Bank and IMF executive directors, signed by over 165 individuals Read more Update \| 14 May 2007 Updated: World Bank Board committee releases findings on Wolfowitz affair The committee has been investigating whether World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz inappropriately arranged for salary raises and promotions for his former girlfriend, Shaha Ali Riza. Also: links to a new letter from 37 World Bank Country Directors calling for quick resolution of the crisis. Read more Update \| 14 May 2007 While African governments continue to support Wolfowitz, NGOs demand his resignation African civil society rejects the idea of Wolfowitz as Africa's friend, arguing that the Bank continues to undermine development on the continent. Read more Update \| 10 May 2007 Wolfowitz granted more time to respond to committee findings The President will have until Friday May 11 to comment. The Board of Executive Directors will meet with Wolfowitz on Tuesday May 15, after which they will reach a decision. Read more Update \| 8 May 2007 Who Rules the World Bank? Opaque, unilateral control over leadership selection highlights major flaws in the governance of the institution. Read more Update \| 8 May 2007 Updated: Wolfowitz exit deal may be in the works The New York Times reports that European governments may allow the US to continue to choose the leader of the institution in exchange for Wolfowitz's resignation. Read more Update \| 7 May 2007 Wolfowitz Senior Advisor Kevin Kellems resigns Kellems was a key member of Wolfowitz's close cadre of advisors, and thus one of the sources of tensions with World Bank staff. He also served as Director of Strategy in External Affairs. Read more Update \| 2 May 2007 Update: Point, counterpoint, counterpoint... An overview of the back and forth between Paul Wolfowitz, Former World Bank Managing Director Shengman Zhang, Former World Bank General Counsel Roberto Dañino, Former World Bank Ethics Committee Head Ad Melkert, and some civil society critics. The Rashomonian drama continues... Read more Update \| 2 May 2007 The lighter side of corruption While Paul Wolfowitz digs in his heels and continues to drag out the fight to save his job as President of the World Bank, some critics are taking a more humorous look at the situation. Read more Update \| 1 May 2007 Update: Wolfowitz plays defense, denounces "smear campaign" Embattled World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz defended himself against allegations that he secured an improper salary raise for his girlfriend at a meeting with the Board committee investigating the situation on Monday morning. Read more Update \| 29 April 2007 Who's saying what Quotes from World Bank's shareholding country representatives, US Government, and civil society on the Wolfowitz affair. Read more Update \| 27 April 2007 BIC statement on the Wolfowitz scandal and the need for deeper governance reforms With all eyes on Wolfowitz, few are looking deeper at the true scandal about the World Bank – that the governance of the world’s leading development agency is shrouded in secrecy and fundamentally undemocratic. Read more Update \| 27 April 2007 World Bank's governance team calls on Board to uphold "highest standards of integrity in leadership and accountability" The team that oversees the World Bank's recently-approved Governance and Anticorruption Strategy sent a letter on Thursday expressing concern about the current Bank leadership. "We call upon the Board of Executive Directors and the President to take clear and decisive actions to resolve this crisis quickly." they wrote. Read more Update \| 27 April 2007 Update: NGOs worldwide demand World Bank overhaul Global sign-on letter regarding the current scandal at the Bank demands not only Wolfowitz’s resignation but fundamental reforms in the governance of the institution itself. Please provide an organizational sign-on if you agree with the demands and pass on to others who may also be interested. Read more