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bicusa.org/WBtransparency Home Issues TransparencyTransparency at the World Bank Transparency at the World Bank Overview Background Concerns Updates Resources Contacts RSS 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 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 \| 19 June 2008 World Bank and ADB cautioned against increasing engagement with Burma's military regime In a Statement issued June 17, the Ethnic Community Development Forum (ECDF) of Burma cautioned the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) against any engagement with Burma's military rulers in the post-Cyclone Nargis scenario given the human rights situation in the country. Read more Country Update \| 4 June 2008 Azerbaijan Country Update #14 Recent developments, decisions, and civil society activities related to activities of the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) in Azerbaijan. Read more Country Update \| 4 June 2008 Kazakhstan Country Update #16 Recent developments, decisions, and civil society activities related to activities of the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) in Kazakhstan. Read more Country Update \| 4 June 2008 Kyrgyz Republic Country Update #5 Recent developments, decisions, and civil society activities related to activities of the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) in the Kyrgyz Republic. Read more Country Update \| 4 June 2008 Mongolia Country Update #2 Recent developments, decisions, and civil society activities related to activities of the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) in Mongolia. Read more Country Update \| 4 June 2008 Georgia Country Update #1 Recent developments, decisions, and civil society activities related to activities of the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) in Georgia. Read more Country Update \| 4 June 2008 Russia Country Update #1 Recent developments, decisions, and civil society activities related to activities of the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) in Russia. 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 \| 7 April 2008 Joint Bretton Woods Project Update # 60 Read the special Spring Meetings edition of the Bretton Woods Update, co-produced with Afrodad, Bank Information Center, Choike, and Eurodad. The issue is also available in Spanish. Read more Update \| 6 March 2008 President of Chad nullifies World Bank agreement to grab oil money and crack down on opponents As a significant rebel threat to his government appears to recede, Chadian President Idriss Deby has clamped down on political opponents and bypassed controls established by an agreement with the World Bank to redirect oil revenues for military use. Read more Update \| 4 February 2008 Zoellick commits to expanding Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative Addressing the African Union Summit on Thursday, January 31, 2008, World Bank President Zoellick committed to expanding the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). 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 \| 2 January 2008 World Bank pressed to disclose documents on controversial Yemen reform program Policy conditions attached to the $50 million grant include a reduction of the civil service, land reform, and lower corporate taxes. 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 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 \| 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 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 \| 17 August 2007 World Bank Group fails to ensure revenue transparency BIC's new assessment reviews EI operations in more than 40 countries for the lending period of July 2005 to December 2006. 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 \| 5 July 2007 World Bank removes pollution death toll from report at urging of Chinese government The World Bank allegedly removed inflammatory findings on pollution-related deaths from a report under pressure from the Chinese government. 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 \| 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 \| 23 February 2007 MIGA reviewing Social, Environmental and Disclosure Policies The World Bank's Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) has posted draft policies for public comment until April 27, 2007. 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 \| 9 January 2007 BIC Publication: EIR Implementation Status Report In July 2001, the World Bank Group (WBG) commissioned the Extractive Industry Review (EIR), a process led by an independent secretariat established to analyze whether extractive industries projects could be compatible with the WBG’s goals of sustainable development and poverty reduction. 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 \| 16 November 2006 World Bank anti-corruption strategy now open for public comment Comments on the controversial strategy will be accepted for an unspecified amount of time. Read more Update \| 13 November 2006 Where Oil flows...Debt grows BIC and partners challenge World Bank and US Government controversial support of Big Oil in November 14 Financial Times advertisement. 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 \| 21 August 2006 World Bank releases newest draft of governance and anticorruption framework Read more Update \| 13 July 2006 Senators want to see progress on whistleblower protection at the World Bank Highlighting the steps taken by the United Nations, Senator Chuck Grassley from Iowa (Republican) and Norm Coleman from Minnesota (Republican) sent a letter to President Paul Wolfowitz seeking a status report on whistleblower protection at the World Bank. Read more Update \| 14 June 2005 Civil Society Guide to IFI Policy Reviews The IFI Policy Review Web page is a recent addition to the BIC website! This page is updated regularly to allow you to keep track of consultation documents, important dates, civil society analyses and more. Read more Update \| 6 April 2005 BIC recommends stronger transparency standards for IFC BIC submits comments on the IFC's Disclosure Policy Framework calling for strengthened disclosure principles, procedures and constraints; increased institutional transparency; and increased investment-specific transparency. Read more Update \| 24 March 2005 World Bank Board of Directors approves revisions to disclosure policy Following an almost two-year, secretive review process, the World Bank’s Board approves several new disclosure requirements to be effective as of April 1, 2005. Read more Update \| 3 February 2005 Top Bank official calls for transparent process to select new WB president According to FT article, IFC head Peter Woicke claims a secretive deal between the US and Europe to replace James Wolfensohn would damage the credibility of his successor. Read more Update \| 10 June 2004 IFC responds to NGO concerns about disclosure policy review process A letter from the IFC notes that the IFC may move away from a “document-driven” policy to one that is based on transparency “principles” Read more Update \| 24 May 2004 World Bank to consider significant improvements in disclosure policy Read more Update \| 2 February 2004 IFC announces Information Disclosure and Safeguard Policy reviews Read more Update \| 6 January 2004 BIC releases new Transparency Briefing: What You Should Know about the World Bank’s Translation Framework Provides an overview of the World Bank’s new Translation Framework and information on how it can be used Read more Update \| 13 September 2003 World Bank responds to call for Comprehensive Translation Strategy Read more Print this page Email this page		Search Key Issues Accountability Debt Energy & Extractive Industries Environmental & Social Policies IFI Governance Infrastructure Trade Transparency U.S. Government Oversight See Also Transparency World Bank (IBRD & IDA) Stay Informed! 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