The latest draft of the World Bank’s updated safeguards could allow borrowers to substitute all or parts of their own laws and policies to implement Bank-financed development projects whether or not they provide equivalent risk protection. The goal of increased country ownership of development projects and programs is widely shared, and permitting the use of …
If key changes are not made to the World Bank’s proposed new safeguards, the updated framework could prevent communities from meaningfully participating in the development process. U.S. law and longstanding World Bank practice have recognized for decades the importance of providing communities with enough time to understand and voice concern about potentially harmful projects. Procedural …
Washington, DC—Trustees of the Calvert Social Investment Fund are considering a ban on purchasing World Bank bonds, in response to proposed changes to the Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) that weaken protections for Indigenous Peoples. Since 2012, the Bank has been revising the ESSF, which is intended to identify and minimize harm caused by …
Children in Peru attend BIC workshop on World Bank safeguards / BIC 2015 In August 2015 the World Bank flagged as one of the four goals of the safeguards review to “provide inclusive access to development benefits through the introduction of a non- discrimination principle.” In both the first and second drafts of the safeguards …
Yesterday, Congresswoman Maxine Waters and Congresswoman Gwen Moore of the US House Financial Services Committee sent a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew expressing “strong concern” about certain elements of the World Bank’s proposed labor policy. The Bank is in the final stages of updating its environmental and social safeguard policies, which will include …
The National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU) assessed the impact of the World Bank funded Uganda Health systems strengthening project on persons with disabilities (PWDs): A case study of Itojo and Kiryadongo Hospitals. The data was analyzed with regard to project awareness, implementation and effect on the lives of PWDs. The study was …
Bangladesh has made significant progress in education over the past two decades. With nearly 18 million children enrolled in about 80,000 primary schools in the country. Despite this progress, considerable challenges remain. These were the children who had missed out schooling at the right age or had been forced to drop out, mainly because of …
As World Bank member governments gather in Myanmar to discuss their contributions to the International Development Association, the Bank’s fund for the poorest countries, the Bank Information Center is calling on donors to make the adoption of stronger safeguard policies a key objective in the replenishment negotiations. In support of this call, BIC has released …
International development finance is intended to alleviate poverty by sparking inclusive growth. But without strong protections for local communities, it can exclude and disenfranchise instead. World Bank development projects like dams, roads, and power plants can cause devastating harm to people and the planet. Too many have suffered displacement, loss of livelihoods, pollution, destruction of …
Activist Medha Patkar speaking on resistance to the Sardar Sarovar dam during the 2014 World Bank Annual Meetings. On Tuesday, June 7th, the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission of the U.S. Congress held a hearing on the advancement of human rights in India. In his opening remarks, Congressman James P. McGovern, Human Rights Commission Co-Chairman, …