http://www.bicusa.org/en/Region.10.aspx The latest news on South Asia from the Bank Information Center 10 http://www.infodev.org/images/infodev.gif http://www.bicusa.org/en/Region.10.aspx Report by 2007 panel accuses the World Bank of causing "grievous and irreversible damage to those they intend to serve" in India. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3905.aspx Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3905.aspx Over 100 civil society groups from 31 countries are calling on financial backers to withdraw their support from the the controversial Phulbari Coal Project in Bangladesh. The project will displace over 200,000 people, impoverish farming households and cause immense environmental impacts in one of the most fertile regions of Bangladesh. Despite these factors, according to information available on its website, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) remains interested in financing the project after having distanced itself from it earlier this year. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3881.aspx Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3881.aspx The author, Shripad Dharmadhikary, examines why being a knowledge provider is so important to the World Bank, and how the Bank uses its research and knowledge services to intervene in the policy making of borrowing countries. The Bank Information Center supported the distribution of this book so as to highlight this little discussed role of the World Bank. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3859.aspx Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3859.aspx Audio from the panel discussion on the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) Safeguard Policy Update at the ADB's 2008 Annual Meeting is now available online. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3845.aspx Wed, 09 Jul 2008 15:07:12 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3845.aspx The World Bank's Tiger Conservation Initiative aims to raise global awareness about the plight of the endangered tiger and to work with local and international communities to stave off its extinction. The initiative is unprecedented for an institution whose stated mission is to fight poverty in developing countries rather than conserve endangered species. But a day after the launch, India is reported for have refused the World Bank's "offer" for a loan for the inititiative. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3807.aspx Thu, 12 Jun 2008 09:53:13 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3807.aspx The World Bank announced today that it has set up a financing facility in the order of $1.2 billion to assist with the global food crisis. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3784.aspx Thu, 29 May 2008 15:16:41 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3784.aspx After ignoring civil society demands that called for a halt to public consultations, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has finally agreed to issue an additional draft and consultation. The announcement comes a week before the Asian Development Fund (ADF) replenishment wrap-up, and ADB watchers believe the concession was made after the U.S. tied its ADF contribution to a satisfactory resolution of the review. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3765.aspx Tue, 13 May 2008 14:59:47 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3765.aspx In a recent sign-on statement, multiple civil society organizations rejected the Asian Development Bank's new strategy, arguing that it will push for more private sector involvement in development and lead to more harmful impacts on services, livelihoods, food security and the environment. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3753.aspx Tue, 06 May 2008 14:37:09 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3753.aspx Civil society organizations warn that Asia's communities and environment will continue to be at risk if the Asian Development Bank (ADB) fails to improve its existing safeguard policies that are currently being revised. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3751.aspx Tue, 06 May 2008 13:48:12 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3751.aspx At the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) annual meeting, the Bank's Long-term Strategic Framework and the global food crisis tops the agenda. Civil society groups attending the meeting have criticized the ADB's pursuit of private sector development at the expense of poverty-alleviation efforts and community and environmental interests. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3750.aspx Mon, 05 May 2008 10:05:53 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3750.aspx As the Asian Development Bank prepares to meet for its upcoming annual meeting, it faces criticism from shareholders concerned about its role and relevance in the region and by civil society over its handling of the global food crisis. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3746.aspx Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:01:13 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3746.aspx A confidential report by the Asian Development Bank's evaluation unit reveals that the Bank is violating its own rules by investing more in private equity firms than it is allowed. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3744.aspx Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:51:34 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3744.aspx While the U.S. remains committed to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and its mission of reducing poverty in Asia, objections to the Bank's lending policies and its function are causing concerns that U.S. funding commitments could be cut because of the dispute. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3741.aspx Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:01:29 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3741.aspx This update provides the most recent information regarding the 2008 Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank held in Madrid, Spain from May 3-6. It also includes the activities of civil society organizations taking place during the meeting. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3740.aspx Fri, 25 Apr 2008 13:45:11 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3740.aspx The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and ITUC-Asia Pacific represents 18.6 million members in 48 national affiliates from 29 countries in the region. In a letter to President Kuroda of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the ITUC and ITUC-AP point out that the ADB draft omits mention of all labor issues except one brief mention. They urge the ADB to adopt a policy on core labor standards and other basic labor conditions. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3730.aspx Wed, 09 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3730.aspx 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. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3720.aspx Fri, 04 Apr 2008 11:29:16 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3720.aspx As part of its North America leg of consultations, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) held a half day event in Washington, DC on April 1 to seek feedback on its draft Safeguard Policy Statement. Several NGOs declined attendance in support of the position taken by the NGO Forum on ADB which calls for a "halt" in consultations given the weakness of the consultation draft. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3714.aspx Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:36:25 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3714.aspx Representatives of the U.S. Senate judiciary and House financial services committees, urge Hank Paulson, the U.S. Treasury secretary, to demand that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) stick to tougher environmental and social criteria. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3696.aspx Mon, 10 Mar 2008 10:36:12 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3696.aspx In a press release, members of the Manila-based NGO Forum on ADB ask the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to stop its public consultations and revise the draft document known as the Safeguards Policy Statement (SPS) released in October 2007. The coalition demands ADB re-draft the policy before resuming consultations because the SPS is an “unacceptable and unsuitable basis for public review and consultation.” http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3675.aspx Mon, 11 Feb 2008 16:46:16 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3675.aspx BIC and Oxfam Australia have closely followed the review of the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Safeguards Policies since it was first announced in August 2005. Both organizations believe the dilution and weakening of the October 2007 Consultation Draft of the Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS) contradicts assurances the ADB publicly made on several occasions, and both have stated that unless revised, the current consultation process is not worthy of further engagement. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3670.aspx Wed, 06 Feb 2008 17:08:56 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3670.aspx Leading donors to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have demanded that the institution overhaul its staffing and oversight procedures. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3655.aspx Thu, 24 Jan 2008 11:57:45 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3655.aspx Phulbari resistance groups produce first documentary video. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3647.aspx Thu, 17 Jan 2008 11:09:47 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3647.aspx First of its kind loan would be invested in health, water, energy and irrigation projects. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3646.aspx Thu, 17 Jan 2008 09:54:25 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3646.aspx 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." http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3644.aspx Wed, 16 Jan 2008 12:24:50 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3644.aspx Resignation comes after internal review reveals Bank's ineffectiveness in addressing corruption in health projects in India. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3641.aspx Wed, 16 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3641.aspx 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. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3643.aspx Tue, 15 Jan 2008 10:04:40 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3643.aspx 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. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3642.aspx Mon, 14 Jan 2008 17:04:37 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3642.aspx The Compliance Review Panel is part of the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) Accountability Mechanism. It is a citizen’s complaint panel where people affected by ADB projects can request an independent investigation into problems they face and policy violations committed by the ADB. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3634.aspx Thu, 20 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3634.aspx One World Trust’s 2007 report identifies vital accountability standards for global actors. Ratings of policies and systems, however, do not reflect the most critical dimension of accountability: on-the-ground practice. Asian groups disagree with top scores for ADB. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3598.aspx Thu, 06 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3598.aspx 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. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3594.aspx Tue, 04 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3594.aspx 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. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3584.aspx Wed, 21 Nov 2007 11:11:22 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3584.aspx 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. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3562.aspx Tue, 06 Nov 2007 16:04:31 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3562.aspx 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. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3559.aspx Mon, 05 Nov 2007 16:34:52 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3559.aspx 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. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3555.aspx Thu, 01 Nov 2007 10:42:12 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3555.aspx In a letter to the Asian Development Bank's Environment Division, non-governmental organizations raised substantial concerns about recent developments with the Safeguard Policy Update (SPU) process, calling into question the possibility of genuine participation by civil society organizations. It reminds the ADB to honour its previous commitments about the process of these consultations. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3548.aspx Thu, 25 Oct 2007 16:17:16 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3548.aspx This is the first of a series of periodic electronic updates on Asian Development Bank projects in South Asia, from BIC's South Asia office. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3547.aspx Thu, 25 Oct 2007 11:42:51 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3547.aspx This is the first of a series of periodic electronic updates on World Bank projects in South Asia, from BIC's South Asia office. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3541.aspx Mon, 15 Oct 2007 00:02:35 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3541.aspx 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. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3514.aspx Wed, 26 Sep 2007 17:22:37 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3514.aspx 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. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3496.aspx Fri, 21 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3496.aspx 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. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3494.aspx Thu, 20 Sep 2007 16:17:44 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3494.aspx The World Bank allegedly removed inflammatory findings on pollution-related deaths from a report under pressure from the Chinese government. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3424.aspx Thu, 05 Jul 2007 16:43:57 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3424.aspx The Asian Development Bank released a draft of its proposed Energy Strategy on May 28 for a sixty day comment period ending July 27, 2007. Civil society groups will engage with ADB but want to see more iterations of draft. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3391.aspx Thu, 07 Jun 2007 16:56:07 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3391.aspx 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. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3354.aspx Thu, 17 May 2007 12:47:41 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3354.aspx The Asian Development Bank (ADB) celebrated its 40th anniversary in Kyoto, Japan signaling its close relationship with one of its largest shareholders (the other being the USA) and using the 10th anniversary of the Kyoto Protocol an occasion to promote its new focus on climate change and clean energy. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3304.aspx Mon, 07 May 2007 10:55:24 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3304.aspx The OED’s decision to include Khulna-Jessore Drainage Rehabilitation Project (KJDRP) in its 2007-2009 work-plan constitutes the first victory in the campaign to ensure the approach taken to manage drainage is not repeated in other ADB-funded projects in the region. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3230.aspx Fri, 30 Mar 2007 11:37:50 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3230.aspx The consultation, whose date is yet to be determined, will collect the opinions of stakeholders from eight countries. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3122.aspx Wed, 31 Jan 2007 14:01:27 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3122.aspx The India Country Updates provide information about recent developments and civil society concerns related to International Financial Institution (IFI) involvement in India, including that of the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3106.aspx Wed, 24 Jan 2007 16:42:37 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3106.aspx The Bangladesh Country Updates provide information about recent developments and civil society concerns related to International Financial Institution (IFI) involvement in Bangladesh, including that of the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3105.aspx Wed, 24 Jan 2007 16:40:51 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3105.aspx The Pakistan Country Updates provide information about recent developments and civil society concerns related to International Financial Institution (IFI) involvement in Pakistan, including that of the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3104.aspx Wed, 24 Jan 2007 16:38:38 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3104.aspx The report will guide the organization's work in Cambodia, Thailand, Burma, Vietnam, China, Laos and Indonesia. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3065.aspx Thu, 21 Dec 2006 10:09:51 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3065.aspx The Assistant will be responsible for managing the day-to-day administrative and financial operations of the New Delhi office. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.2999.aspx Tue, 31 Oct 2006 14:22:45 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.2999.aspx In continuation of its efforts to deepen engagement with communities and civil society organizations in the region, the Bank Information Center (BIC) would like to announce the opening of its Mekong/SE Asia Regional Office in Bangkok. http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.2996.aspx Mon, 30 Oct 2006 00:00:00 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.2996.aspx http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.1630.aspx Thu, 16 Sep 2004 15:19:49 GMT http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.1630.aspx