Egyptian NGO, Land Center for Human Rights, has filed an appeal on behalf of farmers in the Egyptian Delta, citing that the joint World Bank and Egyptian government ‘West Delta project’ violates the Egyptian constitution that should protect the rights of farmers, and not just the interests of wealthy investors. Press Release Summary Cairo, 9/15/2009 …
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.
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.
The full committee hearing addressed the 2009 World Bank Disclosure Policy Review and the role of civil society participation in achieving successful development outcomes.
Egyptian civil society groups suggest an alternative water route for the West Delta Irrigation Project, that could serve poor farmers as well as rich investors, but the World Bank refuses to consider it.