Washington, DC – On Friday, March 13th, the World Bank released an “Approach Paper” to revising its current information disclosure policy entitled “Toward Greater Transparency: Rethinking the World Bank’s Disclosure Policy.” The public launch of the Approach Paper marks the first step in a yearlong review process of the Bank’s transparency standards. The forthcoming analysis provides an entry point for civil society organizations to challenge the current restrictive policies of the World Bank with regard to access to information.
In the first of two updates for the Global Transparency Initiative (GTI, a network of civil society advocates), Bruce Jenkins, Director of the Policy Program at the Bank Information Center (BIC), argues the case for heightened levels of transparency within Bank procedures and highlights the barriers to access to information within the current World Bank information disclosure policy. GTI Update 2 provides brief information on the upcoming review process.
First, the right to access information is a fundamental prerequisite to meaningful participation and democratic accountability. “Without timely access to information, individuals are unable to participate in decisions that may affect their lives and livelihoods. Without public access, communities are unable to hold decision makers accountable,” Jenkins noted.
Secondly, the World Bank’s current “Policy on Disclosure of Information” critically limits public access to information. According to Jenkins, “While the Bank has made considerable strides in improving access to information in recent years, particularly in response to external pressure, significant transparency gaps remain,” such as secret loan conditions between the Bank and recipient governments that are only disclosed to the public after approval and a weak translation framework that restricts access for large sectors of the population in countries in which the World Bank operates. Broadly written exceptions to disclosure routinely block the release of documents that would not otherwise be classified as confidential.
Finally, the 2009 World Bank review of its transparency standards provides a window of opportunity for civil society to advocate for a change in policy. The release of the Bank’s Approach Paper on the disclosure policy review and the upcoming consultation and comment period provides an opportunity for civil society to challenge the continued secrecy of decision making at the Bank and to strengthen information access to Bank-financed projects and programs. BIC and organizations of the Global Transparency Initiative will support civil society groups to advocate for increased transparency at the World Bank.
Contacts:
- Bruce Jenkins, Policy Director, Bank Information Center, bjenkins@bicusa.org, 202-624-0620
- Rebecca Harris, Information Services Coordinator, Bank Information Center, rharris@bicusa.org, 202-624-0632
Download the Updates:
GTI World Bank Transparency Review Update 1, by Bruce Jenkins, Bank Information Center, February 25, 2009GTI World Bank Transparency Review Update 2, by Bruce Jenkins, Bank Information Center, March 13, 2009
Further Resources:
- Visit the GTI website to endorse the Charter and to learn more about IFI transparency issues.
- World Bank website on Disclosure Policy Review and Global Consultations