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


bicusa.org/WBaccountability Accountability at the World Bank Overview Background Concerns Updates Resources Contacts RSS Update \| 25 January 2012 World Bank defends integrity of Development Policy lending, evidence lacking The outgoing World Bank Country Manager for Brazil, Mahktar Diop, challenges the conclusions of an evaluation by Bank Information Center of the $1.3 billion Sustainable Environmental Management Development Policy to promote environmental reforms in Brazil. Read more Update \| 15 December 2011 The World Bank Group and Lebanon: A country study BIC/MENA publishes a study which overviews and analyzes the World Bank Group's role in Lebanon over the past five years. Read more Update \| 28 November 2011 Letter to the IADB President Luis Alberto Moreno Read more Update \| 20 October 2011 The Sustainable Environmental Management Development Policy Loan for Brazil A new evaluation of a $1.3 billion World Bank development policy loan to promote sustainability reforms at the Brazilian National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) that questions the effectiveness of DPLs due to weaknesses in existing Bank policy guiding their design and execution. This brief calls for the reform of Bank DPL policy as an urgent part of the ongoing revision of World Bank safeguard policies to ensure consistent management of risk across all World Bank operations. Read more Update \| 19 October 2011 World Bank & Development Policy Lending in Brazil: Lessons for Revising DPL Policy A new evaluation of a $1.3 billion World Bank development policy loan to promote sustainability reforms at the Brazilian National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) that questions the effectiveness of DPLs due to weaknesses in existing Bank policy guiding their design and execution. The report calls for the reform of Bank DPL policy as an urgent part of the ongoing revision of World Bank safeguard policies to ensure consistent management of risk across all World Bank operations. Read more Update \| 5 October 2011 Reaching out: MENA civil society representatives meet with Merza Hasan, WB Executive Director Civil society representatives from Egypt, Yemen, Lebanon and Tunisia find Executive Director Merza Hasan receptive to their concerns and willing to break new ground in future engagement with civil society. Read more Update \| 6 September 2011 World Bank lending to post-revolution Tunisia This piece provides a brief update about the role of the World Bank in post-revolution Tunisia Read more Update \| 6 September 2011 World Bank Management proposes action plan in response to complaint on Lebanon water project Read more Update \| 31 August 2011 World Bank Safeguard Policy Review: Early Issues, What to Expect? It took many years to establish the World Bank's operational policies that safeguard society and the environment, and are some of the world's highest development standards. As the Bank reviews these policies, civil society is organizing efforts to present their concerns and expectations, and offer their imputs as to what the outcome of the review should be. Read more Update \| 18 July 2011 Transparency and borrowing As Egypt's revolution continues to unfold, potential loans from international financial institutions have stoked intense debates. BIC's Amy Ekdawi writes that the fate of these loans must be contingent on open engagement with Egyptian civil society, not backroom deals. Read more Update \| 7 July 2011 WB/TAP/FCPF comment on Colombia R-PP The World Bank, the Technical Advisory Panel, and the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility present their comments on the latest draft of the the Colombia R-PP. (Document links). Read more Update \| 21 June 2011 BICECA Monthly Bulletin Read more Update \| 18 May 2011 Bolivia: The World Bank and the Government recognize deficiencies in the Takana's Indigenous Plan The World Bank and the Government of Bolivia recognize the observations of the TCO Takana I on deficiencies in the Indigenous Peoples Plan of the Ixiamas - San Buenaventura Highway project and accept to start a process to improve the Indiginous Plan even after the project was approved. Read more Update \| 27 April 2011 Corruption in Egypt should disqualify World Bank from U.S. recapitalization Beatrice Edwards of Government Accountability Project argues against the U.S recapitalization of the World Bank for 2012 in light of the Bank’s involvement in projects linked to corruption allegations. Read more Update \| 7 April 2011 Economic failures, revolutions and the role of the World Bank in the MENA region The recent uprisings that have affected almost every country in the Middle East and North Africa region are indicative of deep structural issues that are facing societies in these countries. Calls for democracy, economic reforms, employment opportunities and greater accountability require us to question the development model pursued in the region by institutions like the World Bank and the underlying assumptions that may have led to the failure of this model. Read more Update \| 6 April 2011 Long-awaited disclosure on Lebanon Inspection Panel case On March 14, 2011, the World Bank disclosed two documents related to the Inspection Panel case filed by 51 residents of the Greater Beirut area against the Greater Beirut Water Supply Project (GBWSP), a water project in Lebanon that is being financed by the Bank. The GBWSP aims to provide potable water for the citizens of the Greater Beirut area and the low-income neighborhoods of Southern Beirut from the Litani and Awali rivers. Read more Update \| 4 April 2011 Governance in the Ixiamas–San Buenaventura Highway as a World Bank's Tangible ‘Additionality’ The project has a great potential to reorder and even positively or negatively change the dinamics of development and conservation in the region. Bolivia's government has decided that the PAD will not be public before it's approved. It seems that the project underestimates its indirect influence, and there are shortcomings in planification and consultation. Read more Country Update \| 22 March 2011 Peru Read more Update \| 8 March 2011 World Bank project tied to forced evictions in Cambodia The World Bank’s Inspection Panel found that the Bank breached its operational policies by failing to properly design and supervise the Cambodia Land Management and Administration Project (LMAP), contributing to the forced eviction of some 4,250 families. Read more Press Clipping \| 22 February 2011 Colombia is the target of Brazilian companies Con 45 millones de habitantes, estabilidad economica, y oportunidades en el carbon y el petroleo, Colombia ha entrado al radar de inversionistas Brasileños. Read more Update \| 15 February 2011 Civil society to IDB: Safeguard compliance and sustainability promotion not a trade-off Civil society sent a letter to President Luis Alberto Moreno expressing their support, yet concern and strong disagreement with parts of the report’s analysis which, if misinterpreted, could negatively affect the integrity of the principles of sustainability in Bank operations. Read more Update \| 9 February 2011 PRESS RELEASE: The aid revolution begins here After two years of negotiation, Publish What You Fund celebrates the finalization of the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI), stating "When everyone can see how much aid is being spent where, and on what, governments – whether giving or receiving aid – can be held accountable by their citizens for spending it well.” Read more Update \| 4 February 2011 World Bank and DPLs: What middle income countries want As the World Bank sets out to review and update its Safeguard Policy framework over the next two years, the Operational Policy 8.60 governing the use of DPLs should be included in that review. This brief identifies five areas of DPL policy guidance that merit revision and could guide a full DPL evaluation. Read more Press Release \| 30 January 2011 Brazil Green Lights Amazon Dam Disregarding Environmental Laws and Local Opposition Just a month after World Bank $500 million DPL payment to Brazil, followed by $614 million BNDES bridge loan to Belo Monte builders, New Dilma Government approves fast-track forest clearance and commencement of controversial Belo Monte construction site. Read more Press Clipping \| 30 January 2011 DAR questions constitutionality of Peru emergency investment decrees It seems that the Government has forgotten its commitment to the environment when in January of 2011, it enacted the Emergency Decree No. 001-2011 to eliminate environmental impact certificates to approve 33 projects for investment. Read more Update \| 25 January 2011 CSOs question World Bank disbursement of $500mm on environmental development policy loan to Brazil Transparency and accountability gaps are highlighted in World Bank Board Query to Latin American Vice President, Pamela Cox. Read more Update \| 25 January 2011 World Bank hosts its first dialogue on the MENA CSP program in Cairo On January 20, 2011, the World Bank hosted a dialogue on the Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Program in the Middle East and North Africa in Cairo, Egypt in order to discuss the overall CSP program and any key concerns that stakeholders might have. Read more Update \| 25 January 2011 CSOs question World Bank disbursement of the DPL SEM I to Brasil and the mega risks of Belo Monte Civil Society Organizations question the World Bank disbursement of the DPL SEM I to Brasil without clear evidence regarding the implementation of BNDES Safeguards and Social and Environmental policy in emblematic cases Read more Update \| 18 January 2011 BIC holds workshop in Sana'a on CSO engagement with the World Bank Read more Update \| 21 December 2010 CSOs call for World Bank to delay $500 million fransfer to BNDES Read more Update \| 17 December 2010 BIC publishes Executive Director advocacy toolkit BIC is happy to announce the publication of our new Executive Director advocacy toolkit. Built around our ED advocacy workshop held during the 2010 Annual Meetings, this guide provides strategies for civil society actors to engage and build relationships with the World Bank's Executive Directors. Read more Update \| 15 December 2010 NGOs want reforms tied to new World Bank funding As the World Bank is expected to announce a new funding package for the world's poorest countries, Matthew Berger of IPS examines NGOs' last-minute appeals to donor countries to use their leverage to compel reforms at the institution. Read more Press Clipping \| 14 November 2010 Brazil's Electrobras learns Spanish The energy giant plans a global expansion in 2011 that by 2020 will generate 10% of total revenues from outside the region and allow Brazil to import energy for increasing demand. Read more Update \| 9 November 2010 The World Bank Working Group in Lebanon comments on the Country Partnership Strategy FY 2011-2014 On the heels of the Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) approval by the World Bank’s Board of Directors, the World Bank Working Group (WBWG) in Lebanon, a CSO coalition, pushes for increased transparency and broader representation of affected stakeholders in the design and implementation of Bank strategies, programs, and projects in the country. Read more Press Clipping \| 30 October 2010 Brazil's national development bank found guilty of driving Amazon deforestation BNDES, Brazil's national development bank, contributed to Amazon deforestation by lending billions of dollars to commercial meatpackers, driving expansion of cattle ranching across the world's largest rainforest, ruled an audit by the Federal Audit Court. Read more Update \| 19 October 2010 Guyana: Amaila Falls Hydro: Social and Environmental Aspects The Government of Guyana is planning to build a 140 MW hydroelectric dam on the Potaro River with funding from China and Norway and technical support from the IDB and WB. The first dam is part of a 1060 MW complex that will have signficant social and environmental impacts in the western Amazon region of the country. Read more Update \| 19 October 2010 World Bank releases few summaries of meetings Under the World Bank's new Access to Information Policy, summaries of meetings of the Board of Directors are regularly released. A new FreedomInfo.org study, however, finds many summaries missing, and the ones that are released significantly shorter than summaries from before the new policy was passed. Read more Update \| 18 October 2010 Access to information at the World Bank: The first 99 days The Huffington Post publishes a BIC article examining civil society and World Bank perspectives of the first 99 days of the implementation of the institution's Policy on Access to Information. Read more Update \| 28 September 2010 Activist Q&A: Meet Ahmed Swapan Mahmud BIC highlights the work of Ahmed Swapan Mahmud, Executive Director of VOICE, a rights-based activist organization in Bangladesh. Read more Update \| 27 September 2010 World Bank more than doubled its investment in Egypt in 2010 Relationship between Egypt and the World Bank is gaining momentum with the Bank's hire of a new Egyptian Managing Director Read more Update \| 8 September 2010 Zambia to represent Africa on World Bank Board Pending Board approval, Zambia will represent a number of Anglophone African countries on the World Bank's Board of Directors, effective October 21, 2010. Meanwhile, discussions are underway to identify which countries will comprise the newly-formed third African seat on the Board. Read more Update \| 5 August 2010 Transparency in the World Bank: A question of rights or discourse? It is one thing for the World Bank to promote a discourse of transparency and information disclosure and quite another to commit to being a public finance institution that respects all of the rights of people affected by the projects which they finance. Unfortunately, the Bank has not been willing to make this commitment. Read more Update \| 29 July 2010 Inspection Panel to investigate the Bank's controversial Eskom coal loan The Panel was given the green light today to conduct a full investigation into alleged policy violations in the World Bank's loan to South African power utility Eskom based on a complaint from local communities, who allege that the project will result in significant harms to their health, environment and livelihoods. Read more Update \| 27 July 2010 Civil Society Organizations submit a letter to President Moreno after his re-election Civil Society Organizations sent a letter to President Moreno to remind him that the mandate of his next Presidential term at the Bank will rest on three fundamental challenges: an Evidence-based Results Management, Institutional Governance, and a Social and Environmental Sustainability vision for the region. This in despite of controversial management style and consequent Bank performance over the last five years under his Presidency. Read more Update \| 9 July 2010 Warning signs for the future of the Peruvian Amazon This month's edition of the BICECA Monthly Bulletin features a summary of the event entitled "Oil and Mining Booms and Sustainable Development: Lessons from Peru for Development Planning & Revenue Management at the National and subnational level" (Washington, DC, June 16, 2010). Read more Update \| 1 July 2010 PRESS RELEASE: Revised World Bank access to information policy goes live BIC and partners convene at the World Bank to celebrate the implementation of the Bank's revised access to information policy. Read more Update \| 28 June 2010 The Washington Post: Medicine fit for the World Bank? The Washington Post published a BIC Letter to the Editor arguing that significant reform must accompany the World Bank's request for an $86.2 billion general capital increase. Read more Update \| 3 June 2010 World Bank investigates Cambodian land titling project The World Bank Inspection Panel began its investigation into the Bank-funded Land Management and Administration Project (LMAP) in Cambodia last week, following a complaint that World Bank safeguard policies were disregarded during the $28.8 million project, leading to more than 20,000 forced displacements. Read more Update \| 31 March 2010 PRESS RELEASE: The Bank's conceptual leap with limits BIC consultant, Bruce Jenkins publishes report examining gaps and gains in the World Bank's revised information disclosure policy. Read more Update \| 30 March 2010 World Bank recapitalization update - “New world – same World Bank” The proposed capital increases for the World Bank and IFC would expand their size without expanding the scope of their reform. Read more Press Clipping \| 17 March 2010 Lobbying intensifies on World Bank's proposed South African power plant loan South African activists Caroline Ntaopane and Makoma Lekalakala take on the World Bank's proposed loan to Eskom. Read more Update \| 4 March 2010 New CAP paper on the MDBs and climate change A new report from the Center for American Progress looks into the World Bank's ability to exacerbate or alleviate climate change through its project funding and its ability to set standards for other institutions. BIC's analysis of the Bank's energy lending is cited Read more Press Clipping \| 1 March 2010 CSOs help train Bank staff on engaging civil society Amy Ekdawi and Nadia Daar of BIC's Middle East and North Africa Program participate in four training sessions for the World Bank's MENA staff on engaging civil society in the region. This training is part of the Bank's Enhanced Action Plan for the MENA region which includes improved consultations, increased translation, and more engagement with civil society. Read more Update \| 14 January 2010 Inspection Panel case plants seeds of cultural change at World Bank What was at first a seemingly simple and non-provocative Inspection Panel case, has now led the Bank to re-evaluate its relationship with civil society across the MENA region and develop an action plan for engagement. Nadia Daar of BIC's MENA program examines the importance of this development. Read more Press Release \| 12 January 2010 More involvement of stakeholders in Bank operations in Yemen In December 2009, the World Bank held two consultative meetings on the Social Welfare Fund Institutional Support Project with Yemeni civil society. These meetings come in the context of the Bank's MENA Management's Enhanced Action Plan. Read more Update \| 4 January 2010 World Bank reviews civil society engagement from 2007 to 2009 In December, the Bank's civil society team released "World Bank – Civil Society Engagement: Review of Fiscal Years 2007 – 2009", and hosted a discussion of the publication in Washington, DC. BIC founder and Executive Director Chad Dobson participated as commenter, noting both the Bank's improvements and continuing obstacles to civil society engagement. Read more Press Release \| 23 December 2009 PRESS RELEASE: World Bank approves revised Policy on Disclosure of Information The World Bank released the final adopted version of "Toward Greater Transparency Through Access to Information: The World Bank’s Disclosure Policy," effective date 1 July 2010. The Global Transparency Initiative (GTI) congratulates the World Bank for the significant improvements of the new policy over its predecessor and looks forward to policy implementation. Read more Update \| 8 December 2009 BIC cosigns letter to the World Bank about Land Management and Administration Project in Cambodia BIC and several key partners sent the letter to encourage the Board of Directors to approve a full investigation of a how communities have been affected by the project. Though the Cambodian government ended the agreement after seven years, the forced displacement suffered over that time is still weighing heavily on the Cambodian people. Read more Press Clipping \| 27 November 2009 The Evaluation of Health Impacts of the Madeira Hydrolectric Dams Read more Update \| 24 November 2009 Faulty systems at the Bank's Forest Carbon Partnership Facility As the Bank seeks to position itself as the vehicle of choice for future climate finance, the experience of the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) calls its competence into question. Read more Press Release \| 10 November 2009 OAS CIDH Tracks Impacts of Megadams in Latin America AIDA, International Rivers, and IMDEC present evidence of human rights violations from dams. Read more Press Clipping \| 10 November 2009 Madeira Rivers Dams Denounced OAS CIDH Read more Update \| 10 November 2009 $100 Billion Recapitalization of BNDES makes it the largest development bank in Latin America Read more Update \| 6 November 2009 Climate financing and the World Bank – The IMF and the World Bank to the rescue? The World Bank is moving to become one of the major institutions taking on climate change through its Climate Investment Funds, among other policies. However, Heinrich Boell Foundation president Barbara Unmuessig believes that without reforms, the Bank will not be able to effectively or fairly alter the course on global warming. Read more Update \| 5 November 2009 DPLs now over half of World Bank lending: Gaping hole in transparency and accountability In 2009, Development Policy Operations increased dramatically as a percentage of overall World Bank lending, from an average of about 33% to over 50%. Dogged by concerns that stem from a lack of a strong set of safeguard policies or clear results, this shift to greater dependence on DPLs/DPOs raises concerns about arbitrage by Bank clients to soften or avoid transparency and accountability commitments. Read more Update \| 5 November 2009 World Bank recapitalization conditioned on reforms The World Bank is quietly preparing the first capital increase in nearly 20 years to replenish the coffers after unprecedented lending in 2008 and the coming two years. Read more Update \| 30 October 2009 Over-priced Bujagali Dam to raise power costs With a price tag of $860 million and climbing, Bujagali is now amongst the most expensive hydropower plants in the world. Read more Press Clipping \| 25 October 2009 Jirau dam problems related to relocation After work was halted for 45 days, the licensee Sustainable Energy of Brazil, in charge of building the Jirau hydroelectric project on the Madeira River, is cautious about formalizing a request for an advance schedule for the entry into operation of the plant. The president of the company, Victor Paranhos, says it is entirely possible to begin generation of the first megawatts, but fears that new strikes could delay the work further. Read more Update \| 24 October 2009 World Bank Brazil Project Seeks to Automate & Integrate Environmental Licensing With funding from the World Bank, the Brazilian Ministry of Environment is planning to expedite and integrate the environmental licensing processes now divided between Federal, State and Local authoriteis. In an effort to speed up large infrastructure with the Growth Acceleration Program (PAC), the move could lead to licensing regional of river basins. Read more Update \| 24 October 2009 Brazil Environment Ministers Wants to Facilitate Regional Licensing of Dams According to the executive secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Isabella Teixeira, the Brazilian Institute of Environment (IBAMA) is studying a way to streamline licensing by issuing regional licenses to address the country's increasing energy demands. Read more Update \| 8 October 2009 IFC Board Approves Gas Investment to Support Economic Growth in Peru Read more Update \| 5 October 2009 BIC report: World Bank needs to translate independent evaluations into practical reforms The report, entitled "The Potential of Evaluation: Creating Political Space for Dialogue and Action," examines the impact of the World Bank's Independent Evaluation Group's (IEG) findings through the last decade. It finds that Bank management rarely adopts the recommendations of the IEG. Read more Update \| 1 October 2009 2009 World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings Get the latest information on World Bank and civil society events organized around the upcoming World Bank/International Monetary Fund (IMF) Annual Meetings in Istanbul, Turkey and how to get involved. Read more Update \| 30 September 2009 Info Brief: World Bank Environmental Policy Loan to BNDES In November of 2008, the WB announced a US$ 1.3 billion development policy loan to the Brazilian National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES). The DPL is the first operation in a series of two loans which span the period 2008-2010. In this article, we review the background and concerns associated with development policy lending since 2004, specifically the lack of transparency, accountability, and a clear public consultation plan. We then offer a detailed analysis of the Brazilian Sustainable Environmental Management (SEM) DPL. Civil society firmly believes that until practices of transparency and dialogue between the World Bank, the Brazilian government and civil society organizations are truly adopted, the laudable goals of the SEM DPL will not be achieved. Read more Press Release \| 29 September 2009 PRESS RELEASE: Civil society to address World Bank at Annual Meetings in Istanbul The World Bank/IMF Annual General Meetings in Istanbul October 2-7th provide a window of opportunity for civil society to impact ongoing policy reviews. Read more Update \| 23 September 2009 WB commits to enhanced action plan in MENA region: more translation and better consultations The Inspection Panel is to defer its recommendation to investigate into case of the World Bank's "Institutional Reform Development Policy Grant" to Yemen, until after the implementation of Bank Management's enhanced action plan, which seeks to address concerns raised by the Yemen Observatory for Human Rights in their Request to the Inspection Panel in April 2009. Read more Update \| 22 September 2009 New member appointed to World Bank Inspection Panel Ms. Eimi Watanabe, a Japanese national, will replace Mr. Werner Kiene, whose term will expire on October 31, 2009. Read more Press Clipping \| 18 September 2009 Lula to ask for reform of the UN, IMF and World Bank at General Assembly President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, at the General Assembly of the United Nations, will ask for reform of the UN itself, as well as of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, a government spokesperson said. Read more Update \| 17 September 2009 House Committee on Financial Services examines transparency at the World Bank The full committee hearing addressed the 2009 World Bank Disclosure Policy Review and the role of civil society participation in achieving successful development outcomes. BIC board member, Richard Bissell testified. Read more Update \| 15 September 2009 Development banks to hopefully be held accountable in North Africa – Morocco workshop a great succes A workshop co-organized by the Bank Information Center (BIC), the World Bank’s Inspection Panel, and the IFC and MIGA’s Office of the Compliance/Ombudsman (CAO) was held in Marrakech, Morocco in late July 2009, and lasted three fruitful days. Read more Press Clipping \| 11 September 2009 US Rep Frank threatens to withhold money from World Bank BIC Board Director Richard Bissell testified alongside other IFI experts about access to information at the World Bank during a hearing of the House Financial Services Committee. Chairman Barney Frank stated his intention to withhold any further money for the Bank until the suggestions of the panel were incorporated into policy Read more Update \| 9 September 2009 World Bank DPL to Brazil: Moving Money or Mainstreaming Environmental Sustainability? This article discusses the changing relationship between the Bank and Brazil within the context of a new $1.3 billion Development Policy Loan. It includes a review of the background and concerns associated with development policy lending since 2004, and then offers a detailed analysis of the Brazilian Sustainable Environmental Management (SEM) DPL. Read more Update \| 8 September 2009 Press kit: House Committee on Financial Services hearing on access to information at the World Bank The full committee hearing addressed the 2009 World Bank Disclosure Policy Review and the role of civil society participation in achieving successful development outcomes. Read more Update \| 27 August 2009 Where is the Inspection Panel's Eligibility Report for the Yemen case? For the first time in Inspection Panel history, an Eligibility Report is being held for board discussion. With little information, we are left wondering what is happening with the investigation into the Yemeni DPL case. Read more Press Clipping \| 23 August 2009 Urban renewal mission plagued by delays, cost overruns: study This is one of several articles spotlighting the findings of a BIC commissioned study by Lalitha Kamath and Vinay Baindur. Findings reveal how India's urban poor are meted out injustice as local needs are left unaddressed. Read more Press Release \| 21 August 2009 Report seeks greater accountability in urban infrastructure projects Money for urban infrastructure in India is being spent on megaprojects that benefit only a tiny, wealthy minority of the population, while access to basic services like clean water and health facilities remains rare. A new report by Vinay Baindur and Lalitha Kamath shows how governance of the World Bank and Asian Development Bank allows privileged access to money for some while the poorest are left in the dust. Read more Update \| 30 July 2009 Put the Brakes on the Bank: Carbon Finance in Indonesia Read a BIC op-ed in The Huffington Post about Indonesia's problematic Readiness Preparation Proposal to the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility. Read more Update \| 2 July 2009 We want your feedback, as long as you speak English William Easterly, NYU Professor of Economics and independent voice in international development brings attention to the World Bank's problematic policies on translation. Read more Update \| 16 June 2009 IFC withdraws loan from Brazilian cattle corporation, Bertin Just two weeks after the publication of Greenpeace's report "Slaughtering the Amazon" the IFC halts a $30 million payment to the Bertin corporation which was using the IFC loan to expand further into the Amazon. Read more Press Clipping \| 25 May 2009 Peru seeks US$300mn World Bank loan for transport sector The loan would support an overall US$1.08bn transport infrastructure development program, of which another US$630mn is to be covered by the state and US$150mn by IDB. Read more Update \| 22 May 2009 Bangladeshi NGOs respond to the World Bank's disclosure policy review A consortium of civil society representatives met to discuss access to information at the World Bank in Bangladesh on May 20th. Read more Press Clipping \| 14 May 2009 Bolivia: To combat the crisis, the World Bank propsoses investing in infrastructure Experts at the World Bank see an opportunity in the face of crisis to invest in infrastructure projects in Latin America. According to the Bank, the deficit in infrastructure is quite noticeable in Bolivia, even below the average for the Latin America region. Read more Press Clipping \| 18 April 2009 World Bank fails to combat fraud The World Bank's procedures for detecting fraud in its main program of assistance to poor countries were classified as a "structural weakness" in an internal report, increasing the bank's problems in dealing with issues of corruption. Read more Update \| 16 April 2009 World Bank to lend US$14bn to Latin America in FY09 The World Bank plans to increase lending to Latin America to suplement decreasing levels of foreign direct investment in the region. Read more Update \| 20 March 2009 Accountability and Participation at the World Bank & IDB New study by BIC shows that IFIs have fallen far short of matching project design with discourse when it comes to promoting a culture of accountability through their own project loans. Read more Update \| 5 March 2009 Brazilian NGOs urge World Bank not to approve $1.3 billion loan for environment Several organizations and social networks have asked the World Bank to postpone a decision on a $1.3 billion project in Brazil. The groups argue that prior loans have not adequately addressed environmental concerns and that the pending project-loan has the potential to continue this trend. Moreover, the groups see attractive alternatives. Read more Update \| 24 February 2009 Albania criticizes Inspection Panel report The Government of Albania has requested a revision or retraction of an Inspection Panel Report implicating the country's government in corruption. Read more Update \| 18 February 2009 World Bank violated policies and misinformed Board in Albania project Panel finds policy violations, provision of false information, and direct support for controversial demolition of homes in an Albanian village Read more Update \| 18 February 2009 World Bank Board acts on Inspection Panel Albania report Zoellick: "Bank's record with this project is appalling." Executive Directors acknowledge mistakes in Jale home demolitions and approve action plan. Read more Press Clipping \| 12 February 2009 AFP: Philippines summons World Bank official The World Bank Country Director for the Philippines has been ordered to appear before a Philippine Senate inquiry into a corruption scandal involving a multi-million dollar road project. Read more Press Clipping \| 29 December 2008 World Bank to train Brazilian state governments to capture FDI A new agreement between Brazil, the World Bank and the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies is intended to train Brazilian state governments on reforms to local regulatory and licensing frameworks to facilitate great foreign direct investment in infrastructure projects. Read more Update \| 18 December 2008 West African Gas Pipeline comes online at last Meanwhile, people displaced by the project finally receive monetary compensation, nearly four years after being impoverished through a resettlement process that denied them the option of the land compensation they were entitled to. Read more Update \| 30 October 2008 Corruption and lack of transparency in Tajik extractives industry Talco, a major aluminum mining company controlled by Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon, is being investigated by the IMF to address issues of extreme mismanagement of funds and lack of openness. Read more Update \| 2 October 2008 BIC's popular Tools for Activists now available in Chinese To broaden its use among civil society organizations in China, the Bank Information Center’s World Bank Toolkits for Activists is now available in Chinese. Read more Update \| 24 September 2008 Dramatic increase in World Bank loans to Europe and Central Asia The World Bank Group (WBG) loans to countries in Europe and Central Asia (ECA) increased by 30% between FY07 and FY08. Read more Update \| 24 September 2008 Independent People's Tribunal report charges World Bank Report by 2007 panel accuses the World Bank of causing "grievous and irreversible damage to those they intend to serve" in India. Read more Update \| 14 August 2008 Possible World Bank role in Azerbaijan’s privatization corruption James Wolfensohn, a former World Bank president, may have assisted a corrupt businessman seeking control of Azerbaijan’s state oil company. Read more Press Release \| 5 August 2008 World Bank acknowledges serious flaws in West African Gas Pipeline But questions on compensation for displaced, “upstream” impacts, and gas flaring remain unanswered. Read more Update \| 17 July 2008 U.S. Congress launches World Bank Caucus The World Bank Caucus aims to foster dialogue between the World Bank and members of the U.S. Congress on development, poverty and trade issues. Read more Update \| 20 June 2008 BIC's MENA program organizes third workshop in Egypt The workshop introduced BIC's work to Egyptian media and civil society organizations, and focused on the activities of the international financial institutions in the country. Read more Update \| 6 May 2008 World Bank appoints new anti-corruption head Three and a half months after the resignation of Suzanne Rich-Folsom, the controversial head of the World Bank's Department of Institutional Integrity (INT), the Bank has appointed Leonard McCarthy as the new head of its internal anti-corruption unit. Read more Update \| 22 February 2008 BIC teams with local partners to train civil society in Indonesia Trainings aim to inform Indonesian civil society about the basics of the multilateral development banks and hold the institutions accountable. Read more Update \| 25 January 2008 World Bank to implement Volcker panel recommendations Following the resignation of Suzanne Rich-Folsom, the previous head of the World Bank's anti-corruption unit and the embarrassing revelations of extensive fraud in several of its health projects in India, the World Bank announced on January 23, 2008 that it would implement all the recommendations of the Volcker Panel Review. Read more Update \| 17 January 2008 World Bank, EIB to release funds for Bujagali Dam as investigations into safeguard violations continue Construction of the dam proceeds despite an ongoing investigation into claims presented by civil society groups that the project violates environmental and social standards of both the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB). Read more 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 \| 18 December 2007 West Africa Gas Pipeline to start operations by year’s end World Bank's Inspection Panel expected to submit findings of its investigation into claims made by local communities that the project violated the Bank's environmental and social policies. Read more Update \| 17 December 2007 Ecuador rejects ICSID arbitration over extractive industry disputes Ecuador's actions are part of a wider dissatisfaction among some Central and South American countries with international investment law and particularly its dispute settlement regime. Read more Update \| 4 December 2007 BIC hosts working session on international financial institutions in Indonesia Working session aims to update the Indonesian civil society organizations and movements on the old and new trends in the governance and operations of the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as they relate to Indonesia. Read more Update \| 21 November 2007 World Bank asked to implement NDP Action Plan In 2006, the World Bank’s Inspection Panel (IP) issued its investigation report for the Bank-funded Pakistan National Drainage Program (NDP). The inspection requesters strongly feel the World Bank Board should ask the Inspection Panel to monitor progress of Management's Action Plan so as to provide the Board with an independent assessment of progress or lack thereof. Read more Update \| 5 November 2007 People's tribunal in Bangladesh announced A people's tribunal against the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and the Asian Development Bank was announced in Dhaka, Bangladesh yesterday, hours before World Bank President, Robert Zoellick's arrival in the country. Read more Update \| 1 November 2007 NGOs urge World Bank to stop funding mega-projects in Pakistan As the World Bank President, Robert Zoellick, embarks on his first official visit to South Asia, non-governmental organizations in Pakistan urge the Bank to cease funding for large infrastructure projects. Read more Country Update \| 1 November 2007 Mongolia Country Update #1 Recent developments, decisions, and civil society activities related to activities of the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) in Mongolia. Read more Update \| 29 October 2007 U.S. Senator urges Zoellick to reform the World Bank As World Bank President Robert Zoellick works to secure IDA funds, an influential U.S. Democratic senator calls for changes at the institution. Read more Update \| 9 October 2007 World Bank tribunal in The Hague On October 15th, a public hearing on the World Bank will take place in The Hague. The hearing aims to raise the debate on the legitimacy of the World Bank and influence the aid distribution process. Read more Update \| 1 October 2007 World Bank muddled in corruption once more Whistleblowers have found evidence of large scale fraud in Armenia, but the World Bank's Institutional Integrity Department (INT) has deemed the case to be of only "medium priority," and is holding off inquiries into the allegations. Read more Update \| 26 September 2007 Independent People’s Tribunal charges World Bank with serious violations of democracy, human rights and sovereignty In its preliminary findings, the first ever Independent People’s Tribunal on the World Bank in India found that the Bank had an undue and disturbingly negative influence in shaping India’s national policies disproportionate to its contribution, financial or otherwise. Read more Country Update \| 24 September 2007 Kazakhstan Country Update #15 Recent developments, decisions, and civil society activities related to activities of the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) in Kazakhstan. Read more Country Update \| 24 September 2007 Azerbaijan Country Update #13 Recent developments, decisions, and civil society activities related to activities of the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) in Azerbaijan. Read more Update \| 21 September 2007 Independent People's Tribunal on World Bank gets underway in Delhi The four-day Independent People's Tribunal on the World Bank, the first of its kind in India, begins today. The Tribunal is an opportunity for impacted commununities and concerned groups to discuss how the World Bank has influenced their lives. Read more Update \| 14 September 2007 Volcker report finds Bank ineffective in addressing corruption A review of the World Bank's Department of Institutional Integrity and its Governance and Anti-corruption strategy finds that weak management, employee resistance and internal distrust is contributing to the Bank's ineffectiveness in combating corruption in its operations. Read more Update \| 6 September 2007 GAP details serious issues with World Bank's anti-corruption unit In a report released today, the Government Accountabilty Project finds that the World Bank's Department of Institutional Integrity is undermined by a conflict of interest at its top ranks and serious, long-term problems. Read more Update \| 6 September 2007 World Bank tries to hide scathing corruption report The Wall Street Journal has leaked a 2005 report by the World Bank's Department of Institutional Integrity (INT) that documents consistent fraud and corruption under Bank-financed health care projects in India. Read more Update \| 5 September 2007 Inspection Panel appoints new member The World Bank's Inspection Panel has named Roberto Lenton as its newest member. Read more Update \| 23 August 2007 Communities in Ghana appeal to Inspection Panel about Bank landfill project The Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE) filed a request for inspection of the World Bank's Kwabenya landfill project in Accra, the capital of Ghana. They argued that the project would displace a significant portion of the Agyemankata community and cause health problems for residents, who were not adequately consulted. Read more Update \| 20 July 2007 Where will Zoellick steer the World Bank? The new World Bank President spoke of middle income countries, good governance and the need to diversify services at a town hall meeting earlier this month. Read more Update \| 3 July 2007 Update: Inspection Panel vacancy at World Bank Civil society groups are calling for candidates with clear commitments to accountability and deep understanding of civil society and grassroots impacts of World Bank investments. 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 \| 18 June 2007 Deadline for nominating candidates for World Bank presidency passes Despite all the public outcry about the flaws in the World Bank's governance and the need for an open, democratic, and merit-based process for the selection of the next World Bank President, NOT A SINGLE COUNTRY proposed an alternate candidate to the US's pick for the job, allowing the US to continue its grip on the leadership of the institution. The Board is expected to confirm the Bush administration's choice for the job - Robert Zoellick - by the end of June... 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 \| 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 \| 17 April 2007 Inspection Panel vacancy at World Bank Applications are being accepted for the next member of the Inspection Panel. Candidates should have a clear commitment to accountability and a deep understanding of civil society and grassroots impacts of World Bank investments. Read more Update \| 12 April 2007 CSOs register complaint with World Bank Inspection Panel over proposed Bujagali hydroelectric project Ugandan groups highlight risks of project to hydrology of Lake Victoria, sustainability of the energy production, lack of comprehensive needs and options assessment, anticipated impacts on local communities Read more Update \| 20 February 2007 Paul Volcker to lead independent investigation of World Bank's integrity unit The Department plays a critical role in rooting out fraud and corruption within the World Bank - a focus many claim is underplayed in the institution's development of its Governance and Anti-Corruption Strategy. Read more Update \| 13 February 2007 Film puts World Bank and IMF on trial A new film by independent Malian director demands accountability from the IFIs for their impacts in Africa. Staged in a typical family courtyard in Mali, "Bamako" beautifully documents a people's trial of the World Bank and IMF. Read more Update \| 12 February 2007 BIC Comments on IFC's Compliance Advisor Ombudsman's Revised Draft Operational Guidelines The Compliance Advisor Ombudsman(CAO), the independent recourse mechanism in charge of enhancing the development impact and sustainability of the IFC and MIGA, opened the floor for comments on the its Revised Draft Operational Guidelines at the end of 2006. Read more Update \| 30 January 2007 World Bank anti-corruption strategy needs improvement Concerns include the draft's failure to adequately address the Bank's internal governance and the role of the private sector. Read more Update \| 24 January 2007 Gordon Brown urges reform of UN, World Bank and IMF The Chancellor of the Exchequer of the United Kingdom, Gordon Brown, called for "modernization and reform" of the United Nations, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund, at a keynote speech in India on January 17, 2007. Read more Update \| 18 November 2006 World Bank anti-corruption strategy: Work Plan and consultation process begin Work begins, in spite of lingering tensions Read more Update \| 21 October 2006 Wolfowitz's anti-corruption plan receives lukewarm reception at Annual Meetings The World Bank's controversial Governance and Anti-Corruption Framework was the subject of intense debate prior to the Annual Meetings, raising important questions about the appropriate role for the Bank in fighting corruption, and the need for the institution to clean up its own act before dictating strategies to others. Read more Update \| 17 May 2005 Pakistan drainage project: People’s assembly demands justice from World Bank Communities vow to take own measures if demands are not met. Read more Update \| 15 March 2005 Inspection Panel postpones investigation mission on National Drainage Project complaint Panel heeded Government’s recommendation that “recent torrential rains” and upcoming local elections will hamper investigation. Villagers say Panel was misinformed. Read more Correspondence \| 8 June 2004 BIC letter to World Bank Board outlines concern that first safeguard pilot project will weaken role of Inspection Panel A proposed project in Mexico will be the first to test the World Bank’s new approach to social and environmental safeguards. BIC sends a letter outlining serious concerns. Read more Update \| 7 June 2004 World Bank’s proposed middle income country strategy threatens to weaken social and environmental standards. 186 organizations sign letter in protest. Letter also requests that the strategy's Mexican pilot project not be approved while there is no agreement about the overall strategy. 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