Environmental & Social Policies | Bank Information Center: Monitoring the projects and policies of the World Bank, IMF and other international financial institutions


bicusa.org/environment Home IssuesEnvironmental & Social Policies Environmental & Social Policies Overview Background Concerns Problem Projects Updates Resources Contacts RSS Press Release \| 9 April 2008 Kazakh environmentalists win access to emissions data at Karachaganak In a victory for environmental groups, the Kazakhstan’s Supreme Court ruled in favor of Green Salvation, a environmental group, in a precedent setting lawsuit seeking access to environmental information about atmospheric emissions at the Karachaganak Oil and Gas Condensate Field in western Kazakhstan. 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 Press Release \| 4 April 2008 ADB pulls out of controversial coal project in Bangladesh The Director of the Asian Development Bank’s Private Sector Operations Department, Robert Bestani, notified the Bank’s Board of Directors last week that it will take the Phulbari Coal Project in Bangladesh out of the Bank’s funding pipeline. Read more Update \| 3 April 2008 Vacancy: World Bank Inspection Panel Updated April 10, 2008: The World Bank's Inspection Panel is recruiting qualified applicants to fill a vacancy in its three-member team. Regional balance considerations could likely mean selection of a candidate from the South East Asia region. The closing date for applications has been extended to April 30, 2008. Read more Update \| 3 April 2008 Indigenous peoples neglected by realigned IDB As a result of the Inter-American Development Bank's (IDB) recent realignment, indigenous issues are now demoted within a Bank that touts its credentials for social inclusion. Read more Update \| 28 March 2008 Growing foreign appetite for Brazilian land As wealthy local and foreign investors purchase more and more Brazilian land, wuestions over how to contain rising land prices emerge. Read more Update \| 17 January 2008 Phulbari resistance documentary Phulbari resistance groups produce first documentary video. Read more Update \| 16 January 2008 Rebuked by internal investigation, World Bank plans to do more in DRC forest sector, but will it do better? An Inspection Panel report on the World Bank’s safeguard policy violations in its Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) forest sector operations prompts discussion on new approach and greater role for Pygmies in decision-making about the future of the world’s second-largest rainforest. Read more Update \| 16 January 2008 South Asian CSOs boycott ADB consultations Close to fifty people representing social movements in India and other parts of South Asia delivered a boycott statement to Asian Development Bank officials in New Delhi on January 16th, at the start of the Bank's consultations on its Draft Safeguard Policy Statement. The organised protest consisted of slogans and plackards, one of which read: "End to Lending." Read more Press Release \| 15 January 2008 ADB faces boycott of its "safeguards" policy consultations Civil society groups from South Asia are planning to boycott the Asian Development Bank's consultation meeting on its safeguards policy update, to be held in New Delhi, India tomorrow. The groups, from India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh state that the ADB's consultation draft, released in October 2007, greatly dilutes the Bank's earlier policies on Environment (2002), Involuntary Resettlement (1995) and Indigenous Peoples (1998), and is opposed to indigenous peoples’ rights and subverts environmental considerations. Read more Update \| 14 January 2008 NGOs call on ADB to abandon controversial coal project in Bangladesh Citing violations of five of the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) own policies, non-governmental organizations from around the world have petitioned the ADB to discontinue its pre-appraisal of the Phulbari Coal Project and remove it from the funding pipeline. Read more Update \| 14 December 2007 Reto a los préstamos para cazar el proyecto de petróleo del Perú Una delegación de alto nivel de líderes indígenas, de la sociedad civil y parlamentarios de Perú se encuentran en Washington DC para tratar de incidir frente al voto del BID sobre préstamos públicos para la planta de licuefacción de gas natural de Camisea. La delegación argumenta que al aprobar el proyecto PERU LNG, tanto el BID, como la CFI y el Banco Ex- Im estarían violando sus propias salvaguardias sociales y ambientales. Read more Update \| 13 December 2007 Loans to Hunt Oil’s Peruvian fossil fuel project challenged A high level delegation of indigenous, civil society and Parliamentarian leaders from Peru are in Washington, DC to lobby against the expected vote on public loans for the Peru LNG natural gas liquification plant. The delegation argues that by approving the project, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Ex-Im Bank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), would breach their own social and environmental safeguards. Read more Press Release \| 11 December 2007 Press Release: World Bank hands off forests Environmental groups gathered in Bali for the United Nations convention on climate change warn that the World Bank's market-oriented Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF), launched today, will have negative social and environmental impacts. Citing the Bank's poor track record in the forest sector and ongoing support for fossil fuels, the groups are demanding that forests be kept out of the carbon market and that governments increase their funding for other approaches to forest protection and climate change mitigation. Read more Update \| 10 December 2007 The World Bank's Country Systems Approach Update Read more Update \| 4 December 2007 Seeing the forest for the carbon? As the World Bank prepares to launch the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) -- its flagship initiative to address deforestation-related greenhouse gas emissions -- at the United Nations climate change conference in Bali, Indonesia, we offer some background on the FCPC and outline the concerns surrounding this controversial new mechanism. Read more Update \| 30 November 2007 Second Latin American Congress of National Parks and Protected Areas The Second Latin American Congress of National Parks and Protected Areas held in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina was the largest gathering of environmental organizations working in Latin America since the last Congress in 1997, held in Santa Marta. Read Vince McElhinny's recap of the events of the Congress. Read more Update \| 30 November 2007 Segundo Congreso Latinoamericano de Parques Nacionales y Áreas Protegidas El Segundo Congreso Latinoamericano de Parques Nacionales y Áreas Protegidas celebrado en San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina fue el mayor encuentro de organizaciones medioambientales trabajando en Latinoamérica desde el ultimo Congreso en 1997 celebrado en Santa Marta. Lea la recapitulación de Vince McElhinny sobre los eventos del Congreso. Read more Update \| 29 November 2007 European Parliament passes resolution to end taxpayer support for fossil fuel projects Resolution is welcomed by NGOs campaigning to have export credit agencies and public investment banks be held accountable for their actions. Read more Update \| 27 November 2007 Comment: Try as it might, the World Bank cannot hide its failings The World Bank touted it's meeting with a delegation of Pygmies from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) during the Bank's Annual Meetings in October. But as Simon Counsell of Rainforest Foundation UK points out, the Bank has consistently ignored the findings of the quasi-independent Inspecition Panel and violated its own "safeguard policies." Read more Press Release \| 12 November 2007 Press release: Taman tries the taste of oil Guilt for the environmental catastrophe in the Strait of Kerch lies with the authorities in Russia and Ukraine, as well as with the companies transporting dangerous cargo Read more Update \| 6 November 2007 ADB responds to NGO Forum on demands around safeguards review The NGO Forum on ADB, on October 24 and 25, raised several issues with the ADB around the review of its Safeguard Policies. The ADB responded by agreeing to change dates of two regional consultations and to provide Vietnamese and Bahasa translations of the Consultation Draft. Read more Update \| 19 October 2007 Internal watchdog slams World Bank agriculture programs in Africa since 1991 As the World Bank launches its latest flagship World Development Report, this year on "Agriculture for Development," the Independent Evaluation Group's report clearly acknowledges that the Bank's engagement with the most important sector in its highest-priority region has largely been a failure. 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 \| 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 Update \| 20 September 2007 Civil society compares ADB safeguard policies with peer institutions Civil society groups monitoring the Asian Development Bank's "safeguard" policies find that the ADB needs to make substantial improvements to catch up with international standards and peer institutions. Read more Update \| 13 September 2007 ADB "safeguards" review sparks resignations Four members of the team tasked with revising the ADB project "safeguards" have resigned in protest against management's efforts to dilute the bank's policies on environment, resettlement and indigenous people. Read more Update \| 17 August 2007 ADB's Energy Strategy must adhere to international standards The Asian Development Bank has completed the consultation process on its draft Energy Strategy. Civil society organizations from throughout the region have called on the ADB to incorporate current international best practices in sector, and at minimum to adopt the principles of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. Read more Update \| 11 July 2007 "Another world is possible; Another U.S. is necessary" forum proclaims The first U.S. Social Forum concluded July 1, having drawn over 10,000 activists to Atlanta, Georgia, for five days of talks on social, economic and political issues. Read more Update \| 14 June 2007 Bank to pilot carbon fund for avoided deforestation The World Bank is preparing to announce a new $250 million fund aimed at using carbon finance to reduce emissions from deforestation. According to recent news reports, world leaders have encouraged the Bank to move forward with plans to create a Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF), which would leverage private investor money and donor contributions to help countries develop strategies for avoiding forest degradation and secure payment for forest-related emissions reduction, through the creation of tradable carbon credits. Read more Update \| 5 June 2007 2007 Annual Meetings of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) held its Annual Governors Meeting in Kazan, Russia May 20-21, 2007. The NGO Programme organized by the Bank attracted a large array of civil society organizations from Russia and abroad. While many questions were left unanswered by the Bank, NGOs succeeded in raising issues of critical importance to civil society in Russia and elsewhere. Read more Update \| 17 May 2007 Asian Development Bank will not weaken or dilute existing social and environmental policies, panel told Project affected people and civil society organizations highlight problems with current ADB policies aiming to protect the environment and human rights at a BIC and Oxfam Australia-hosted panel. Read more Update \| 17 May 2007 NGOs organize panel discussion on ADB safeguards At the 40th Annual Asian Development Bank (ADB) AGMs, CSOs outlined major gaps in existing ADB standards and discussed what the ADB should do to meet and surpass the highest international standards as ADB gears up to revamp its Safeguard Policies. Read more Update \| 26 April 2007 World Bank deputy attempted to omit references to climate change World Bank Managing Director, Juan Jose Daboub, apparently tried to delete the words "climate change" from the institution's main environmental strategy paper, reports the Financial Times. Read more Update \| 18 April 2007 World Bank has split personality on global warming The World Bank Group's pledge to reduce greenhouse gases rings hollow as the organization increases assistance for the development of fossil fuels. 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 \| 14 February 2007 Asian Development Bank Postpones Safeguard Policy Update Consultations The consultations were originally scheduled for March 2007. New consultations are tentatively scheduled for the late second quarter of 2007. Read more Update \| 8 February 2007 Asian Development Bank Postpones Safeguards Policy Consultation in Hanoi An ADB Safeguard Policy Consultation was scheduled to take place on March 8, 2007, in Hanoi, Vietnam. This has now been postponed and a new date has not been announced. Read more Update \| 31 January 2007 ADB Postpones South Asia Regional Consultation on its Safeguard Policies The consultation, whose date is yet to be determined, will collect the opinions of stakeholders from eight countries. Read more Update \| 31 January 2007 ADB Prepares for South Asia Regional Consultation on its Safeguard Policies The upcoming consultation aims to collect the opinions of stakeholders in eight countries. Read more Update \| 16 January 2007 EBRD decides against involvement in controversial Sakhalin II project The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has decided not to fund the largest oil and gas project in the world, Sakhalin II, on Russia’s Far Eastern island after several years of consultations. Read more Update \| 6 December 2006 Urgent concerns about Uganda dam go unanswered by World Bank An NGO letter to the World Bank details urgent concerns regarding the Bujagali hydropower project in Uganda, which is being fast-tracked for development early next year. Read more Update \| 21 November 2006 World Bank approves funding for controversial Uruguay pulp mill The World Bank approved $170 million in International Finance Corporation (IFC) financing and $200 million in Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) support for the controversial Botnia pulp mill in Uruguay on Tuesday. 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 \| 8 November 2006 World Bank's new Sustainable Development Network hosts SDN Week 2006 Seminars and training sessions will center on the theme of "Better Governance and Improved Institutions". Some of the events open to participants this week and next include panels and workshops on clean energy, climate change, the IFC performance standards and disclosure policy, and on country systems. Read more Update \| 27 October 2006 World Bank announces appointment of new Director in the Sustainable Development Network Kristalina Georgieva has been selected by the World Bank as the new Director for Strategy and Operations in the Sustainable Development Vice-Presidency. This position was established in June by World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz following the merger of the Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development Network and the Infrastructure Network. Read more Update \| 6 October 2006 Sustaining the Environment at the World Bank In a recent publication, author Frances Seymour of World Resources Institute contends that the evidence has never been stronger that protecting the environment is not only compatible with the World Bank's development objectives, but that it is in fact essential to achieving them. Read more Update \| 18 September 2006 International People's Forum celebrates success; charts way forward In a statement released on the last day of the IPF, the organizers celebrate the success of the event and renew demands for multilateral debt cancellation, transparency and participatory audits of IFI lending and policies, and an end to IFI involvement in privatization of public services and environmentally destructive projects. Read more Update \| 18 September 2006 World Bank Energy Framework Sells Climate and Poor People Short A new NGO report finds that the World Bank's promise to seriously support alternative enery remains unfullfilled. Released in Singapore during the Bank's annual meeting, the report--How the World Bank's Energy Framework Sells the Climate and Poor People Short--calls on the Bank to step up efforts to meet basic energy needs of the poor, to stop subsidizing northern oil companies, and to redirect existing dirty energy financing to renewable technologies and energy efficiency projects. Read more Update \| 31 July 2006 Mainstreaming or undermining sustainability? Read more Update \| 10 July 2006 Private financial sector watchdog comments on new version of the Equator Principles Read more Update \| 7 July 2006 Forty-one private banks revise social and environmental standards The banks known as the Equator Principles Financial Institutions revised standards intended to ensure that projects financed by the institutions are socially and environmentally responsible. The standards are based on the International Finance Corporation's safeguard policies. Read more Update \| 28 June 2006 World Bank environmental department absorbed into larger network Rumors of the pending reorganization have circulated for months, fueling doubts about the Bank's commitment to sustainable development. Read more Update \| 16 June 2006 World Bank Inspection Panel report slams World Bank forestry project in Cambodia Read more Update \| 9 June 2006 World Bank Forest Policy undergoes belated mid-term review The World Bank has initiated its review of the 2002 Forest Policy and Strategy and a draft report will be open for public comments in August. Read more Update \| 18 May 2006 BIC releases Extractive Industries Review Update #7, May 2006 Read more Update \| 4 May 2006 Official Statements made by Development Committee members at the 2006 World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings The Development Committee met during last month's IMF/World Bank 2006 Spring Meetings. Agenda included discussion of clean energy and development, and the Global Monitoring Report 2006: Strengthening Mutual Accountability - Aid, Trade and Governance. Read more Update \| 31 March 2006 CAO Finds Lack of Compliance by IFC in Uruguayan Paper Mills In its recently posted audit, the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) found several compliance issues regarding the International Financial Corporation's environmental and social due diligence in considering the Orion-Celulosas de M'Bopicua (CMB) paper mill projects in Uruguay. Read more Update \| 27 March 2006 Fourth World Water Forum ends amidst debate over privatization From March 16-22 in Mexico City the World Water Forum brought together representatives from 148 countries, civil society organizations and private sector actors where debate was largely guided by strong opposition to the privatization of water. Read more Update \| 20 March 2006 Civil Society Says “No to Weakened Standards, Yes to Accountability” during the ADB Safeguards Review In an open letter to Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Kuroda and the Board of Directors, over forty civil society organizations warned against the approach outlined by the ADB in the review of its Environment, Indigenous Peoples, and Involuntary Resettlement Policies, highlighting the potential for drastically weakened standards of social and environmental protections. Read more Update \| 15 March 2006 CAO Posts Comments on IFC Safeguards; Private Sector Review of Equator Principles Begins The Compliance-Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) released last week its comments on the January 25th drafts of the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) Safeguards policies, which the IFC approved February 21, 2006. Following the IFC’s lead, a collection of private sector financial institutions intends to complete a review of their guiding policies on social and environmental issues, the Equator Principles. Read more Update \| 13 March 2006 Civil society calls on IFC to address outstanding social and environmental issues Following the approval of IFC financing for Newmont's Ahafo mine in Ghana, the Bank Information Center, Oxfam-America, FoodFirst Information Action Network, Earthworks, WACAM, and ABRANDH sent a letter to IFC repeating the call for urgent action to be taken on unresolved problems related to the social and environmental impacts of the mine. Read more Press Release \| 21 February 2006 Press Release: IFC's New Standards - A Risky Step for People and Planet Warning that the International Finance Corporation’s overhaul of its social and environmental standards relies too heavily on promises of good intentions, international civil society organizations have called the IFC’s new approach a risky experiment that could leave the people and environments affected by its projects more vulnerable than they were before. Also available in Spanish Read more Update \| 15 December 2005 Wolfowitz meets with Guatemalan Civil Society Representatives to Discuss Controversial Marlin Mine The World Bank President met with Mario Tema and Magali Rey Rosa on December 9 Read more Update \| 2 December 2005 BIC Submits Comments on International Finance Corporation Draft Policies These comments address transparency and consultation concerns with the draft IFC Disclosure Policy, Social and Environmental Sustainability Policy and Performance Standards. Read more Update \| 11 November 2005 ADB Posts Discussion Note on Safeguard Policy “Update;” Fails to issue notification or alert; date of posting not known The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has issued its much delayed Discussion Note for the Safeguard Policy “Update” it publicly initiated in July 2005. Read more Update \| 13 October 2005 Affected communities of ADB Sri Lanka highway project: “We are being denied proper compensation” ADB requested to move quickly on establishing an independent resettlement monitoring panel. Read more Update \| 30 September 2005 ADB Responds to Civil Society Letter Regarding Safeguard Policies Update The Asian Development Bank acknowledged civil society recommendations for its Safeguard Policies update process and highlighted some important issues for the review. Read more Update \| 29 September 2005 IFC Releases New Drafts of Environmental, Social and Disclosure Policies for Public Comment The release begins a 60-day period in which civil society may make comments before the policies receive final revisions and are sent to the Board for approval in late January. Read more Update \| 28 September 2005 World Bank begins clean energy investment framework discussions In response to recommendations arising from last July's G8 summit at Gleneagles, the World Bank and the G8 Presidency began work on an investment framework and implementation strategy for clean energy and sustainable development during the 2005 IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings. Read more Update \| 1 August 2005 ADB Safeguards Policy Review: NGOs recommend thorough and participatory process Independent assessment of Safeguard Policies implementation also recommended. Read more Update \| 1 August 2005 ADB launches Safeguard Policies “Update” Asian Development Bank announces plans to review policies on Involuntary Resettlement, Indigenous Peoples, and Environment. Read more Update \| 19 July 2005 Indonesia Constitutional Court upholds legality of Water Resources Law Water Law will decentralize control of country’s water resources and allow private sector involvement. Read more Update \| 1 July 2005 Guatemala: Sipacapa community says No to Mining! Read about the popular referendum on mining held in the town of Sipacapa, San Marcos, where ore from the Marlin Mine will be cyanide processed. Read more Update \| 14 June 2005 Civil Society Guide to IFI Policy Reviews now available Read more Update \| 6 June 2005 World Bank evaluation criticizes IFC oversight of soy project in Brazil A new Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) audit calls for environmental reclassification and better oversight of the International Finance Corporation's (IFC) project. Read more Update \| 18 May 2005 World Bank approves new Indigenous Peoples policy The World Bank Board of Directors voted to approve the Revised Draft Operational Policy on Indigenous Peoples (OP 4.10) Read more Update \| 26 April 2005 Civil Society Groups Release Scathing Report on World Bank Forest Policy In 2002 the World Bank adopted a new policy on forests, over objections from civil society and indigenous peoples’ groups. Three years later, as the Bank policy comes up for review, a broad coalition of environmental and indigenous groups have published Broken Promises, an extensive report on the forest policy’s effects on the environment and communities. Read more Update \| 22 April 2005 Friends of the Earth International Presents the IFC with “Most Flawed Consultation Award” The International Finance Corporation (IFC) Safeguard Policy Review is the winner of the 2004 'Award for the Most Flawed Consultation Process' within the World Bank Group, civil society organizations announced. 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 \| 11 March 2005 Blue Ribbon Panel presents recommendations on IDB Environmental Policy to President Iglesias On March 10, 2005, the Blue Ribbon Panel, a group of international environmental experts convened to review the IDB's environmental policy and make recommendations for sustainability and environmentally conscious development. Read more Update \| 25 February 2005 ADB approves proposed revision on its Water Policy The revision only allows stakeholders the “opportunity” to comment on large water projects, while the original policy required that all stakeholders agree on the project's justification. Read more Update \| 18 February 2005 IDB concludes Brussels, Belgium, consultation on Environmental Policy Read more Update \| 11 February 2005 IDB concludes Washington, DC consultation on Environmental Policy Read more Update \| 4 February 2005 EBRD extends public comment period on new Energy Policy until 30 March 2005 Several NGOs are demanding changes to the new policy, hoping to set the EBRD on a more sustainable and equitable energy development path. Read more Update \| 27 January 2005 BIC cautions WB against backtracking on policies in "Country Systems" approach Read more Update \| 24 January 2005 IFC revises timeline for public consultation of Social and Environmental Performance Standards and of the Disclosure Policy Read more Update \| 3 January 2005 World Bank releases revised draft Indigenous Peoples Policy December '04. Public comments accepted until February 28, 2005. Read more Update \| 17 December 2004 ADB responds to NGO query on status of Forest Policy Review Assures CSOs the opportunity to comment, but did not provide any timeline. Read more Update \| 14 December 2004 Indian NGOs reject World Bank’s use of Country Systems at Delhi “consultation.” Walk-out staged Twelve Indian organizations reject the World Bank's proposal to use less rigorous national laws and policies to govern its projects. Read more Update \| 6 December 2004 Revised draft World Bank Indigenous Peoples Policy released for comment through February 28, 2005 Once approved by the Board, Operational Policy 4.10 will replace the existing Operational Directive 4.20 on Indigenous Peoples. Read more Update \| 2 December 2004 New briefing presents concerns about WB proposal to rely on borrowing governments' environmental and social laws Read more Update \| 12 October 2004 Indigenous organizations of Colombia reject IDB consultation process Indigenous people present a declaration (in Spanish) to the IDB regarding the formulation of its indigenous peoples policy and strategic framework. Read more Update \| 6 October 2004 26 NGOs decide not to participate in IFC’s Washington DC consultation In response to a rapid and substandard policy consultation process, 26 NGOs declined to participate in the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) civil society meeting in Washington DC. Read more Update \| 16 September 2004 76 NGOs demand right to know about pollutants released from IFC projects A September 9 letter signed by 76 civil society and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) urges the IFC to protect communities that may be exposed to pollutants due to IFC-financed projects. Read more Update \| 7 September 2004 BIC Policy Update: Review of IFC social, environmental and disclosure policies This policy update introduces the ongoing policy reviews at the IFC, outlines the review process, and provides useful links to background documents. Read more Update \| 18 August 2004 ILRC comments on IDB Indigenous Peoples Policy Profile Indian Law Resource Center submits "Ten Critical Points" on the IDB Policy Profile. Calls for fairness in consultations. Read more Update \| 9 August 2004 IFC responds to NGO sign-on letter On July 6, 140 NGOs endorsed a letter to the IFC regarding the reviews of its environmental and social policies and standards. The IFC responds ... Read more Correspondence \| 22 July 2004 Indigenous letter to WB Board in regard to Management response to EIR demands respect of indigenous rights Read more Update \| 15 July 2004 140 NGOs call on IFC for clear rights, rules and responsibilities in policy reviews In a letter sent to the IFC, civil society groups are calling for a greater focus on human rights and transparency as the IFC begins to draft its safeguard and disclosure policy approach papers this month. Read more Update \| 28 June 2004 Indigenous peoples issue declaration at International Conference for Renewable Energies, Bonn Read more Update \| 22 June 2004 World Bank faces scrutiny of indigenous leaders as final draft policy is released Update includes final draft Indigenous Peoples Policy, indigenous concerns about a hastily planned WB legal roundtable, and information about a planned briefing for the Board on Free Prior and Informed Consent Read more Update \| 10 June 2004 World Bank makes a landmark decision to weaken environmental standards New developments in the World Bank’s safeguard policies review indicates more reliance on country systems rather than Bank policy. This represents a profound shift in the development assistance framework. Read more Update \| 3 May 2004 BIC Update on the IDB Indigenous Peoples Policy, May 3, 2004 Indigenous representatives from the Americas met with President Iglesias on April 27 to discuss proposed consultations on an Indigenous Peoples Policy and Framework. Read more Update \| 13 April 2004 IFC spearheading overhaul of Pollution Prevention and Abatement Handbook The IFC has released the Terms of Reference for the PPAH review, laying out a rough timeline for the two-year project and identifying key areas that need to be addressed. Read more Update \| 13 April 2004 IDB and civil society groups discuss Indigenous Peoples Policy at March 2004 Annual Meetings in Lima Representatives from Amazon Alliance and other indigenous organizations presented a letter to IDB management proposing specific minimum steps necessary for a successful policy consultation. Read more Update \| 8 March 2004 Update on IDB indigenous peoples policy Indigenous Peoples Policy Profile mentions many of the key points indigenous peoples have been asking for. Read more Update \| 4 February 2004 This Web page is currently under construction Read more Update \| 2 February 2004 IFC announces Information Disclosure and Safeguard Policy reviews Read more Update \| 29 January 2004 World Bank Agrees to Indigenous Legal Roundtable Read more Update \| 23 January 2004 Inter-American Development Bank accepts demand for Indigenous Peoples Policy In February 2004 the IDB is set to begin consultations of a draft indigenous policy together with an indigenous peoples framework. This is the direct result of pressure from indigenous communities who insist on a strong instrument to protect their rights in the face of an increase in the infrastructure portfolio at the IDB. 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 ADB Safeguards Policy Update Environmental & Social Policies at the ADB Environmental & Social Policies at the AfDB Environmental & Social Policies at the EBRD Environmental & Social Policies at the IDB Environmental & Social Policies at the IFC Environmental & Social Policies at the MIGA Environmental & Social Policies at the World Bank Stay Informed! Sign up for our e-newsletters. Sign up