Tomorrow, the World Bank Board of Directors will decide whether to approve an investigation into a complaint related to the Bujagali Dam in Uganda. The complaint alleges that Management failed to take appropriate actions to protect an offset area it agreed to protect through a written agreement with the government of Uganda, in violation of …
July 13, 2018 The Bank Information Center’s Board of Directors is thrilled to announce the appointment of Elana Berger as BIC’s Executive Director, effective immediately. Ms. Berger has been serving as Interim Executive Director for the past six months. “This was an easy decision for our Board. Elana has done a terrific job as the …
Community discussion on a World Bank Inspection Panel case in Egypt Last week, Senate Appropriators sent a strong message to the World Bank in support of the institution’s Independent Accountability Mechanisms (IAMs). The FY19 State & Foreign Operations Appropriations bill that was approved by the Appropriations Committee not only recommends fully funding the U.S. contribution to IDA18, …
The Spring Meetings[*] of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund do not just serve as an opportunity for central bankers, finance ministers, and private sector executives to discuss the global economy and their new, innovative ideas for ending poverty. The Bank and Fund also host dozens of events to discuss global development issues …
FY18 Omnibus: IFI Contributions The FY18 Omnibus included nearly $1.5 billion in funding for the IFIs. At a time when the U.S. commitment to multilateralism is in question, this spending bill suggests that using the multilateral development banks to reach the world’s poorest countries remains a priority for now. Over the last year, the U.S. …
This press release was posted on the website for Centre for Law and Democracy on March 19, 2018. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) published a Draft Policy on Public Information in January 2018. According to Comments by the Centre for Law and Democracy (CLD) and Bank Information Center (BIC), the draft Policy is a good …
Last week, at the One Planet Summit in Paris, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim announced that the World Bank will cease funding upstream oil and gas after 2019. BIC welcomes this commitment from the World Bank, but cautions that the there is still more work to be done to climate-proof the Bank’s portfolio. This …
*Photo credit to scroll.in The World Bank’s independent Inspection Panel released a report today detailing the commitments made by World Bank management to prevent impoverishment, coercion, and retaliation against critics in the process of constructing a new mega-city in southern India. The World Bank and the new Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) are considering providing …
In a letter sent this week to the World Bank, over 30 civil society organizations from around the world called for substantial revisions to draft guidance notes for the Bank’s new Environmental and Social Framework (ESF). The ESF replaces the Bank’s longstanding safeguards, and represents a major shift from a rules-based system to one characterized …
“The development finance landscape is rapidly shifting, and BIC has an important role in keeping up with the trends and working with civil society and communities to influence the development activities that profoundly impact their lives. I am honored to lead BIC through this exciting transition period” – Elana Berger BIC’s Board of Directors is …