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    <title>BIC Updates: Environmental &amp; Social Policies at the IFC</title>
    <link>http://www.bicusa.org/en/Issue.38.aspx</link>
    <description>The latest news on Environmental &amp; Social Policies at the IFC from the Bank Information Center</description>
    <ttl>10</ttl>
    <image>
      <url>http://www.infodev.org/images/infodev.gif</url>
      <title>infoDev</title>
      <link>http://www.bicusa.org/en/Issue.38.aspx</link>
    </image>
    <item>
      <title>Dramatic increase in World Bank loans to Europe and Central Asia</title>
      <description>The World Bank Group (WBG) loans to countries in Europe and Central Asia (ECA) increased by 30% between FY07 and FY08.</description>
      <link>http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3904.aspx</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3904.aspx</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>EBRD approves Pechora Energy Project in Komi Republic</title>
      <description>The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has approved a US$50 million loan for expansion of oil and gas extraction operations in the Timan-Pechora basin of the northern Komi Republic in Russia. Various civil society groups have raised concerns of the major project's implications for the environment and the indigenous Komi-Izhemts people's rights.</description>
      <link>http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3902.aspx</link>
      <pubDate>Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3902.aspx</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Additional challenges for the BTC Pipeline</title>
      <description>Following the August 25 reopening of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline after the armed conflict in Georgia, the BTC has faced several technical and strategic issues when it comes to its future and viability.</description>
      <link>http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3900.aspx</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3900.aspx</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The IFIs and financial intermediaries in ECA: Implementation of environmental and social standards</title>
      <description>International Financial Institution (IFI) lending through financial intermediaries (FIs) has become particularly significant in the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region, but the IFIs lack adequate policies to ensure social and environmental best practices are applied to subsequent FI lending. </description>
      <link>http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3884.aspx</link>
      <pubDate>Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3884.aspx</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>IFC and leading international banks do not have a robust framework for minimizing human rights risks</title>
      <description>A new study finds that international project financiers, including the leading international banks and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), do not have a robust framework for minimizing the social risks posed by their projects. </description>
      <link>http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3876.aspx</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:13:53 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3876.aspx</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Available company data for IFC required disclosures</title>
      <description>The International Finance Corporation (IFC) fails to provide adequate links to government payment disclosures by its extractive industry clients.</description>
      <link>http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3874.aspx</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3874.aspx</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Newmont prepares mining operations in Ghana forest reserve</title>
      <description>As Newmont, the world's largest mining company prepares for gold mining operations in Ghana, civil society groups challenge the purported benefits for local communities. Meanwhile, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) has come under fire for the environmental and social legacies of its gold mining investments in Ghana and its plans proceed to begin the next phase of Newmont's controversial Ahafo gold project.</description>
      <link>http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3821.aspx</link>
      <pubDate>Sat, 21 Jun 2008 14:45:24 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3821.aspx</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>IFC out of compliance at Karachaganak oil field </title>
      <description>In a recently released audit report, the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) Office of Compliance, Advisor/Ombudsman (CAO) has found that the IFC is out of compliance with safety standards for toxic emissions at the giant Karachaganak Oil and Gas Condensate Field in western Kazakhstan.</description>
      <link>http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3745.aspx</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:43:06 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3745.aspx</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Press highlights World Bank blunders in Congo's forest</title>
      <description>Last week, the Financial Times published an article on the World Bank's errors in its forest operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and allegations of support for illegal logging in the country by the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Just two days later, the IFC announced it would sell its stake in Olam International Ltd., the Singaporean commodity trading company accused of "environmental malpractice" in the world's second largest rainforest. As those gathered in Bali for the United Nations conference on climate change discuss the importance of forests to the future health of the planet, the Bank's missteps in Congo deserve a closer look.</description>
      <link>http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3619.aspx</link>
      <pubDate>Tue, 11 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3619.aspx</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>IFC continues push for Africa’s minerals</title>
      <description>Proposed copper-cobalt and gold projects re-enforce civil society's misgivings about the International Finance Corporation's commitment to environmental and social sustainability.</description>
      <link>http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3507.aspx</link>
      <pubDate>Mon, 24 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3507.aspx</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>UN adopts Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples</title>
      <description>On September 13th, after over 20 years of negotiations, the United Nations General Assembly finally adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The international declaration sets a higher standard for international financial institutions (IFIs) to ensure safeguards and strengthen their policies on indigenous peoples.</description>
      <link>http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3495.aspx</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 20 Sep 2007 16:34:28 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3495.aspx</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Groups urge World Bank to strengthen guidelines for controversial mining projects</title>
      <description>Major weaknesses found in IFC’s environmental, health standards</description>
      <link>http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3477.aspx</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 06 Sep 2007 10:12:58 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3477.aspx</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Prospect of profits is making more MENA governments see 'green', says World Bank</title>
      <description>A recent article by the World Bank applauds governments in MENA for increasing investment in environmental protection. While the World Bank is encouraging MENA countries to decrease their carbon emissions, it continues to finance extractive industry projects in the region. This apparent contradiction is just one of several reasons to take a closer look at the Bank's recent coverage of the 'greening' of MENA.</description>
      <link>http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3470.aspx</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 23 Aug 2007 14:19:20 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3470.aspx</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Independent evaluation finds over 40% of IFC projects fail to deliver development results</title>
      <description>The Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), found that 41% of the IFC projects studied had low development ratings. IFC performed particularly poorly in Africa and Asia, where only half of its projects had positive development outcomes. In Africa, the quality of IFC work was particularly poor, rated as “high” in only 45% of projects, as compared to 68% in other regions.</description>
      <link>http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3466.aspx</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 22 Aug 2007 15:21:41 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3466.aspx</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>World Bank has split personality on global warming </title>
      <description>The World Bank Group's pledge to reduce greenhouse gases rings hollow as the organization increases assistance for the development of fossil fuels. </description>
      <link>http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3272.aspx</link>
      <pubDate>Wed, 18 Apr 2007 16:44:10 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3272.aspx</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>MIGA reviewing Social, Environmental and Disclosure Policies</title>
      <description>The World Bank's Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) has posted draft policies for public comment until April 27, 2007. 
</description>
      <link>http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3175.aspx</link>
      <pubDate>Fri, 23 Feb 2007 13:30:25 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3175.aspx</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Lee un Resumen y Análisis del Reporte Oficial de la CAO que critica la Mina Marlin y la Corporación Financiera Internacional</title>
      <description>Lee un análisis y resumen de la evaluación del proyecto Mina Marlin por la CAO. Ve como critica a la CFI y la compañía Glamis Gold. Aprende sobre las diferencias entre la versión final del documento y el borrador. </description>
      <link>http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.2335.aspx</link>
      <pubDate>Thu, 15 Sep 2005 11:02:16 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.2335.aspx</guid>
    </item>
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