Bank Information Center: Monitoring the projects and policies of the World Bank, IMF and other international financial institutions


Home ResourcesWhat's New What’s New The latest updates, articles, resources, and other content from throughout this site. RSS Press Clipping \| 17 March 2010 Lobbying intensifies on World Bank's proposed South African power plant loan South African activists Caroline Ntaopane and Makoma Lekalakala take on the World Bank's proposed loan to Eskom. Read more Update \| 16 March 2010 World Bank to hold fifth meeting of the FCPF Participants Committee March 22 to 25 in La Lope, Gabon The Forest Carbon Partnership Facility will hold the fifth meeting of its Participants Committee in order to discuss several reforms and readiness proposals. Read more Update \| 16 March 2010 Five NGOs release a joint statement on REDD in the Democratic Republic of Congo Rainforest Foundation Norway, Rainforest Foundation UK, Greenpeace, FERN and Global Witness, released a joint statement on March 12, 2010, criticizing the Democratic Republic of Congo's REDD readiness proposal for the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility. Read more Update \| 16 March 2010 Invitation: Friends of the Earth meeting on proposed Eskom loan Friends of the Earth is planning a discussion with two South African activists about the proposed $3.75 million loan to Eskom which will fund the construction of the Medupi power station tomorrow at 1 p.m. Read more Press Release \| 12 March 2010 CSOs demand reform of World Bank Group lending to private corporations A new letter from civil society organizations to the International Finance Corporation demands that the lender focus its loans more directly on social and environmental good to achieve poverty alleviation. Read more Update \| 12 March 2010 World Bank research supports renewable energy expansion World Bank research paper debunks conventional views that renewable energy is too costly for large-scale expansion. Read more Update \| 9 March 2010 Programa CAF/INRENA Read more Update \| 11 March 2010 Ian Solomon confirmed as new U.S. Executive Director at the World Bank The night of March 10, the full Senate confirmed Ian Hoddy Solomon by voice vote to be the Executive Director for the United States at the World Bank. He will replace Eli Whitney Debevoise II. Read more Press Clipping \| 11 March 2010 Mining law which IFC helped to draft in Yemen to be submitted to Parliament A mining law which the International Financial Corporation has been helping the Yemeni government to draft has recently been completed and will be submitted to Parliament. According to this article, one of the main hindrances for potential investment in Yemen's mining sector is the security issue, leaving us with a few questions: Is the IFC willing and planning to invest? Would the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency provide insurance for investors? Read more Update \| 11 March 2010 Lugar: No more money for development banks until reform The staff of Senator Richard Lugar released a report to the Committee on Foreign Relations calling for reform of the IFIs before Congress approves upcoming capital replenishment requests for the institutions. Read more Correspondence \| 10 March 2010 CSO sends letters to WB & Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources re: controversial West Delta project Habi Center for Environmental Rights continues to engage the World Bank and the Egyptian government on the West Delta project. Egyptian CSOs have been urging the Bank to consider an alternative irrigation project which would help poor farmers as well. Read more Update \| 10 March 2010 World Bank convenes multi-stakeholder energy consultation in DC The multi-stakeholder consultation addressed the World Bank's Energy Strategy Approach Paper which will guide the Bank's energy lending over the coming decade. Civil society, the private sector and international orgs provided feedback to the Bank. Read more Update \| 10 March 2010 Read more Update \| 8 March 2010 Estudios de Impacto Socio Ambiental del Corredor Vial Interoceánico Sur Read more Update \| 4 March 2010 New from BIC: CSO participation in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative In 2009, BIC conducted a survey of civil society organizations in 19 countries involved in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, a coalition that works with the World Bank Group to promote transparency in extractives. The survey looked into the effectiveness of CSO participation and the role of the World Bank in the process. Read more Update \| 4 March 2010 New CAP paper on the MDBs and climate change A new report from the Center for American Progress looks into the World Bank's ability to exacerbate or alleviate climate change through its project funding and its ability to set standards for other institutions. BIC's analysis of the Bank's energy lending is cited Read more Press Clipping \| 4 March 2010 World Bank to delay Congo hydro project three years The Bank will delay the proposed refurbishment of the Inga 1 and 2 dams until 2016, and will cut back the size of the project. Staff said that the cutbacks were due to both the world financial crisis and problems specific to the project. Read more Press Clipping \| 4 March 2010 IFC halts Congo investments until dispute resolved After the Democratic Republic of Congo cancelled an IFC backed mining contract over disputed payments, the World Bank arm has declared that it will not begin new projects in the country until the dispute is resolved. The IFC is currently active in nine projects in Congo with a commitment of $104.6 million. Read more Press Clipping \| 3 March 2010 Peru: Relocating entire villages for mines, dams Hundreds of Peruvian communities were displaced as they fled the 1980-2000 civil war. Today the government is pushing for urgent passage of a law that would facilitate the relocation of entire villages or neighbourhoods in mineral or energy-rich areas. Read more Press Clipping \| 1 March 2010 CSOs help train Bank staff on engaging civil society Amy Ekdawi and Nadia Daar of BIC's Middle East and North Africa Program participate in four training sessions for the World Bank's MENA staff on engaging civil society in the region. This training is part of the Bank's Enhanced Action Plan for the MENA region which includes improved consultations, increased translation, and more engagement with civil society. Read more Press Clipping \| 1 March 2010 Puno mining authorities against Inambari hydroelectric dam “In our capacity as regional authorities, we have conducted a technical analysis of this project and we will not endorse it, because this project will only benefit Brazil” stated Víctor Paredes Argandeña, regional director of Energy and Mining in Puno. Read more Update \| 8 March 2010 World Bank recapitalization update - “New world – same World Bank” The proposed capital increases for the World Bank and IFC would expand their size without expanding the scope of their reform. Read more Press Release \| 27 February 2010 Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Bid for 200% Capital Increase in Jeopardy IDB Board of Governors Urged to Address Civil Society Concerns During Upcoming March 2nd Meeting in Washington, DC Read more Press Clipping \| 26 February 2010 IDB provides grant for Peru’s national waterway plan Read more Update \| 23 February 2010 Eskom's R29 billion World Bank loan runs into opposition A broad coalition of civil society in South Africa is mobilizing opposition to the controversial loan proposed to help fund the Medupi coal plant. They threatened a boycott of World Bank bonds if the loan is approved. Read more Press Clipping \| 22 February 2010 MINAM launches consultation on Peru national climate strategy Read more Update \| 22 February 2010 IFC to discuss forestry in DC on Feb. 25th This Thursday, Mark Constantine of the IFC will speak at the Greenpeace offices in Washington, DC about the IFC's new approach to the forestry sector. The meeting is open to the public, so feel free to join us. Read more Press Clipping \| 22 February 2010 No Justice for Indians in Amazon Massacre Eight months have passed since the bloody confrontation between police and local protestors in Bagua over decrees passed by the Peruvian government that opened up indigenous land in the rainforest to oil, mining and logging companies, resulting in the death of 12 policemen and at least 10 indigenous demonstrators. Nevertheless, two falsely accused demonstrators remain behind bars, while no policemen have been charged for the deaths of the protestors. Read more Update \| 20 February 2010 No More of the Same - the Search for Governance 0n the Southern Interoceanic Highway Read more Update \| 17 February 2010 IDB Governor Accountability in Question as IDB Cruises Toward Cancun Recapitalization Request More than 100 civil society organizations from 18 countries stepped up pressure on the IDB by submitting a letter to the Board of Governors demanding Transparency and Evidence of Structural Reforms before the approval on the Capital Increase in Cancun, Mexico. Read more Press Clipping \| 16 February 2010 Brazil, Argentina say IADB failing Latin America Brazil and Argentina called on Friday for reforms at the Inter-American Development Bank, saying the regional lender had failed to understand the needs of Latin America during the global financial crisis. Read more Press Clipping \| 16 February 2010 Bangladesh rejects terms for £60m of climate aid from UK The Bangladeshi government objects to grant money being channelled through the World Bank, which it says will attach unfavourable "strings and conditions." Read more Press Release \| 16 February 2010 PRESS RELEASE: South Africans say no to Eskom's R29 billion World Bank Loan Communities, environmental groups, academics and NGOs today call on the World Bank to cease and desist from a proposed loan of R29 billion ($3.75 bn) to Eskom. If this loan – which may come up for a Board vote in March or April – goes through, poor South Africans will have to bear the burden of Eskom’s debt and the World Bank’s cost recovery programme, and climate change will intensify. A world campaign begins now. Read more Update \| 13 February 2010 GUYANA: Pro-Forest Measures Anger Miners Read more Press Clipping \| 13 February 2010 US-HAITI: The IDB Loan that Wasn't – Part 1 Read more Update \| 12 February 2010 The New Extractivism in South America So-called extractivism, which includes mineral and oil exploitation, has a long history in Latin America. Current exports have been nourished by extractivist activities. Extractivism has continued to play a key role in national economies. It has also occupied a place at the center of powerful struggles because of its economic, social, and environmental impacts. Read more Update \| 12 February 2010 Illegally transferred tribal land mortgaged to foreign banks? A cement plant in India financed in part by the IFC and ADB has been shut down pending a Supreme Court review of the mining operation supplying the plant. The complaint alleges that land was illegally transferred from tribal groups, that mining was undertaken without approval of the Ministry of Environment and Forest, and that customs and other duties were ignored. Read more Press Clipping \| 12 February 2010 Unasur pledges 300 m USD for Haiti The Union of South American Nations, Unasur, leaders agreed Tuesday to provide 300 million US dollars in aid to Haiti at a summit in Ecuador which left aside regional disputes that have undermined relations since 2008. Read more Press Clipping \| 11 February 2010 Madeira: Brasil Public Ministry Hears Bolivian Grievances on Effects of Dam Read more Update \| 9 February 2010 A debate on energy agreement with Brazil is requested Without transparency the energy agreement would be less accountable Read more Press Clipping \| 7 February 2010 Brazil, Argentina To Take IDB Reform Proposal To G-20 Brazil and Argentina will present a proposal for reform of the Inter-American Development Bank at the next meeting of G-20 nations, Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega said Friday, according to the Estado news agency. Read more Press Clipping \| 6 February 2010 HAITI: U.S. Lawmakers, NGOs Call for Debt Cancellation On the eve of Friday's meeting by G7 finance ministers in Iqaluit, Canada, 94 members of the House of Representatives sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner that also called for 'the provision of assistance to Haiti in the form of grants so that the country does not accumulate additional debts. Read more Update \| 6 February 2010 Civil Society Organizations and Academics Warn Against Peru-Brazil Energy Treaty Read more Update \| 5 February 2010 The People have Taken a Partial Step towards Victory Read more Press Clipping \| 5 February 2010 Brazil Gives Green Light to World's Third Largest Dam Despite Kayapo protests over flawed consultation process, IBAMA has granted a preliminary license to move forward with the 11,000 MW - $20 billion Belo Monte hydroelectric dam. Brazilian government officials have threatened the Para Public Ministry not to bring lawsuits to block the dam. Read more Update \| 4 February 2010 Nine Executive Directors write to President Zoellick about U.S. coal guidelines On January 13th, nine executive directors representing China, India, and other countries in the Global South wrote a letter protesting the recently announced guidelines from the U.S. for what coal projects it could support. The directors objected to the United States declaring it wouldn't support coal projects while maintaining its own reliance on coal power. Read more Press Clipping \| 3 February 2010 Brazilian Constructor OAS Offers $100 mn for Inambari in 2009 Read more Update \| 3 February 2010 World Bank Amazon Dieback Study Predicts Greater Probability & Severity of Biome Collapse "The World Bank released a study that finally put the impacts of climate change, deforestation and fires together. The tipping point for the Amazon is 20 percent deforestation," and that is "a scary result," Tom Lovejoy, a member of the external review panel for the report, told Tierramérica in an interview. The study, "Assessment of the Risk of Amazon Dieback," released Jan. 22, drew on the expertise of several international research institutions, including Japan's Meteorological Research Institute, Britain's Exeter University, Brazil's Centre for Weather Forecasting and Climate Change (CPET/INPE), Germany's Potsdam Institute and Earth3000. Read more Update \| 1 February 2010 United States reform priorities for MDB capital increases Within the context of the upcoming general capital increase for the World Bank, African Development Bank, Inter-American Development Bank and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Treasury Department produced a document outlining U.S. reform priorities for these multilateral development banks. Read more Press Clipping \| 1 February 2010 Lebanese Physical Handicapped Union holds a workshop on the World Bank On January 27, 2010, BIC's MENA Program Manager, Amy Ekdawi spoke at a workshop organized by the Lebanese Physical Handicapped Union's Lebanon Budget Project (LBP) which was geared towards educating Lebanese civil society groups on the World Bank's involvement in Lebanon and how to participate in the Bank's decision making process. This workshop was part of LBP's broader mandate to encourage citizen participation in the design of the Lebanese budget. Read more Press Release \| 1 February 2010 Indigenous Federation of Madre de Dios Says No to Inambari Dam The principal indigenous federation of the Madre de Dios region of Peru issued a press release rejecting the proposed construction of the Inambari dam and call for the immediate suspension of the project. Read more Update \| 29 January 2010 Ian Solomon has hearing in front of Senate Committee Awaiting his confirmation as the new U.S. Executive Director at the World Bank, Ian Solomon testified about how his experience would inform his time at the Bank, and about the role he sees the institution taking. Also testifying was Walter Crawford Jones, nominee to be U.S. Executive Director at the African Development Bank. Read more Press Release \| 28 January 2010 The Desired Future of the Peruvian Amazon 2021? Book Launch: Jan. 26 & 27, 2009 - Lima, Peru: Peruvian Amazon in 2021-Infrastructure and the Exploitation of Natural Resources: What is happening and what does it mean for the future? by Marc Dourojeanni, Alberto Barandiarán y Diego Dourojeanni is a publication in which the authors fill a informational gap that exists for Peruvian citizens regarding what the government and private investors plan to do in the coming decade in the Peruvian Amazon. Read more Update \| 28 January 2010 World Bank Environment Strategy consultation calendar now available Alongside the Energy Strategy review, the Bank has been working on a revision of its broader Environmental Strategy since September 2009. This calendar shows both the upcoming consultation dates and summaries of previous consultations. Read more Press Clipping \| 27 January 2010 Peru lacks Amazon development plan Expert in envrionmental issues Marc Dourojeanni criticized Peru for its lack of an Amazon Development Plan and warned that the Peruvian jungle will experience irreversible changes if even a third of the planned projects are implemented over the next 12 years. Read more Press Clipping \| 26 January 2010 Hundreds will lose their schools if the Inambari dam is built, warns Regional Director of Education 19 educational institutions will be lost in the construction of the Inambari hydroelectric center, affecting 634 students if the government goes forward with the project, which will benefit Brazil. Read more Update \| 26 January 2010 World Bank Energy Strategy Consultations Read more Press Clipping \| 26 January 2010 “Inambari is a threat to human health" An interview with Roxana Torres Camacho, of the Association of Biologists of Puno, who asserts that the construction of the Inambari hydroelectric dam will not only spur the disappearance and death of plants and animals, but may even increase the spread of diseases among humans. Read more Update \| 25 January 2010 New paper from Heinrich Boell criticizes direction of World Bank lending Nancy Alexander's new report finds several worrying trends in how the World Bank spends its money, namely that it is increasing its lending to middle income countries while loans and grants to low income countries stagnate, that DPOs with less stringent safeguards are outpacing project lending, and that the Gender Action Plan is not achieving its goals. Read more Update \| 25 January 2010 World Bank announces dates for first Energy Strategy consultations The Bank has initiated the first round of consultations on its Energy Strategy by opening online comments to the public and publishing dates for meetings in select countries. The consultations will last until June of this year. Read more Press Clipping \| 25 January 2010 China, India and others hit back at new U.S. coal rules A memo from the U.S. Treasury Department laying out conditions for supporting new coal projects at MDBs has angered several other shareholders in the World Bank. Nine executive directors objected that they were being cut off from financing for cheap coal while the U.S. still produces 26% of coal generated electricity worldwide. Read more Press Clipping \| 22 January 2010 Candidates emerge to head Inter-American Development Bank Read more Update \| 22 January 2010 Glenn Ross Switkes (1951-2009) Read more Update \| 21 January 2010 Environmental NGOs write to Secretary Geithner about U.S. coal subsidies Last year, the executive directors of Sierra Club and Rainforest Action Network sent a letter to Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner encouraging him to end federal subsidies for coal-fired power plants. Included in the letter is the point that the U.S. subsidizes coal plants through its vote at the multilateral development banks. Read more Update \| 21 January 2010 2010 IDB Annual Meeting - Cancun All the latest news from the IDB Global Capital Increase (GCI-9) and the Annual Meetings taking place from March 19-23, 2010 Read more Press Clipping \| 20 January 2010 CAF approves another $200 million for Southern Interoceanic Highway The Andean Development Corporation (CAF) confirmed today that it has approved an additional loan of 200 million dollars for the implementation of the final phase of of sections 2, 3 and 4 of the Southern Interoceanic Highway (CVIS). The total cost of the project, originally set at $892 million in 2006 could now exceed $2 billion. Read more Press Clipping \| 20 January 2010 Brazil, World Bank to promote water transport investment in 2010 Brazil's Ministry of Transport, in partnership with the National Departament of Infrastructure and Transport (DNIT) will begin to implement water transport projects over the next 20 years. The projects will be supported by the World Bank Strategic Waterway Plan. Read more Update \| 20 January 2010 Five new R-PPs submitted to the FCPF Participants Committee Five countries recently submitted Readiness Preparation Proposals to the Participants Committee of the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility. Argentina, DRC, Ghana, Mexico, and Suriname will have their proposals for grant allocation reviewed at the next meeting of the Participants Committee in March. Read more Press Clipping \| 20 January 2010 E&E News quotes BIC on Treasury Dept. coal guidelines The U.S. Department of the Treasury recently released guidelines on the funding of coal power plants by multilateral development banks, prompting mixed reactions from civil society. BIC board member Athena Ballesteros and Sustainable Energy Expert Yong Chen are quoted, expressing enthusiasm as well as concern about the guidelines and their effectiveness. Read more Press Clipping \| 19 January 2010 Andean Development Corporation loans $200 million to Peru for Interoceanic highway The Andean Development Corporation (CAF) approved a loan of 200 million dollars to Peru for the implementation of the final phase of sections 2, 3 and 4 of the Southern Interoceanic Highway (CVIS), the organization confirmed today. Read more Update \| 19 January 2010 Haiti's recovery, a repeated tragedy As the world grapples with the ongoing disaster in Haiti, many are asking what went wrong in the once rich colony to leave it so vulnerable and impoverished. The Nation's Richard Kim looks at how structural adjustment loans from IFIs have exacerbated Haiti's woes, and how a new loan will continue the cycle. Read more Update \| 1 January 2010 Esclusas del Complejo hidroeléctrico del río Madeira Read more Press Clipping \| 16 January 2010 Ecuador Minister Resigns Over Amazon Oil Project Fander Falconi was the third government official to resign over a plan to seek international donations of $3 billion over the next 10 years to keep an estimated 850 million barrels of heavy crude oil under the ground in the remote Yasuni National Park. Read more Update \| 14 January 2010 Inspection Panel case plants seeds of cultural change at World Bank What was at first a seemingly simple and non-provocative Inspection Panel case, has now led the Bank to re-evaluate its relationship with civil society across the MENA region and develop an action plan for engagement. Nadia Daar of BIC's MENA program examines the importance of this development. Read more Press Release \| 22 January 2010 French Multinational GDF Suez Criticized for Lead Role in Building the Controversial Madeira Dam Given the overwhelming evidence of GDF Suez's lack of due diligence in the planning and construction phases of the Jirau hydroelectric project - associated with significant violations of relevant human rights and environmental legislation, as well as enormous risks of additional social and environmental dam, civil society organizations call on the French dam builder to halt the construction of the Jirau dam on the Madeira River in Brazil and to undertake emergency remedial actions to address the project's risks. Read more Press Clipping \| 13 January 2010 The politics of climate Dr. Vandana Shiva of the Navdanya Trust reviews the Copenhagen conference and its underlying politics. Coming from a Global South perspective, he finds little basis for continued delay in action or the implicit assumption that present economic dominance by the Global North and certain polluters must be maintained at all costs. Read more Press Release \| 12 January 2010 More involvement of stakeholders in Bank operations in Yemen In December 2009, the World Bank held two consultative meetings on the Social Welfare Fund Institutional Support Project with Yemeni civil society. These meetings come in the context of the Bank's MENA Management's Enhanced Action Plan. Read more Update \| 1 January 2010 Lineas de transmisión (complejo del río Madeira) Read more Update \| 1 January 2010 AHE Guajará-Mirim Read more Update \| 1 January 2010 El complejo del río Madeira en los planes de infraestructura El complejo del Rio Madeira es un emprendimiento prioritario dentro de la iniciativa IIRSA y el Plan de Aceleramiento del Desarrollo (PAC) del gobierno brasilero. El complejo del río Madeira en los planes de infraestructura Read more Update \| 1 January 2010 Objetivos del Complejo Hidroeléctrico del rio Madeira Read more Update \| 1 January 2010 La cuenca del rio Madeira Read more Update \| 6 January 2010 Cronología del Complejo Hidroeléctrico del Rio Madeira Read more Update \| 11 January 2010 BIC comments on U.S. Dept. of Treasury's new guidance for developing coal power On December 14th, the U.S. Treasury released a note titled "Guidance to MDBs for Engaging with Developing Countries on Coal-Fired Power Generation" which will guide how U.S. representatives to MDBs deal with proposed coal projects. Here, BIC comments on the functionality of the new policy. Read more Update \| 10 January 2010 The Challenges of "Vivir Bien" - Living Well: Bolivian Debate Indigenous, university, academic and NGO organizations participated in the symposium on Vivir Bien within the V Latin American and Social Science Conference (CLASO) in La Paz, Bolivia. Read more Update \| 10 January 2010 CEADESC Informs on IIRSA Megaproject Impacts in Pando Workshop Indigenous and small farmer communities of Pando and Brazil participated in a workshop convened by CEADESC about the social and enviromental impacts of IIRSA megaprojects such as the Northern Corridor Highway, the Rio Madeira Hydroelectric Dams in late August, 2009 Read more Press Clipping \| 10 January 2010 Neighbors Challenge Energy Aims in Bolivia President Evo Morales’s leftist government, which has asserted greater control over some of South America’s most coveted natural gas reserves, is facing a challenge as neighboring countries move to achieve energy security by cutting their dependence on Bolivian gas supplies. New gas projects in Brazil and Argentina have come on line at a time when Mr. Morales is winning plaudits for a strong economy. Read more Update \| 1 January 2010 UHE Cachuela Esperanza Read more Update \| 1 January 2010 UHE Jirau Read more Update \| 4 January 2010 UHE Santo Antonio Read more Update \| 7 January 2010 U.S. Treasury guidance note for MDB coal investments In December 2009, the U.S. Treasury released a guidance note intended to be adapted by individual MDBs and incorporated into their respective operational policies, country and sector strategies, and other procedures that are related to the public or private project cycle for coal-powered generation operations. Read more Press Clipping \| 7 January 2010 Bolivia announces million dollar investment in infrastructure The road sector will be the main beneficiary with the unprecedented investment of U.S. $ 1 billion the government has budgeted for infrastructure during 2010 Read more Press Clipping \| 7 January 2010 Ecuador announces important projects for 2010 The government announced that this year will launch the construction of large projects such as the hydroelectric dam of Coca-Codo Sinclair and different opening of new roads. Read more Press Clipping \| 5 January 2010 Over a mile of new road Interoceanic collapsed without having been opened The construction company blames illegal mining, while the authorities blame the own construction company Read more Update \| 4 January 2010 World Bank reviews civil society engagement from 2007 to 2009 In December, the Bank's civil society team released "World Bank – Civil Society Engagement: Review of Fiscal Years 2007 – 2009", and hosted a discussion of the publication in Washington, DC. BIC founder and Executive Director Chad Dobson participated as commenter, noting both the Bank's improvements and continuing obstacles to civil society engagement. Read more Update \| 3 January 2010 Bolivia convenes Peoples Summit on Climate and the Rights of Nature The Plurinational Government of Bolivia has invited social movements, defenders of Mother Earth, scientists, academics, lawyers, government officials that want to work with their citizens to a World Peoples Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Nature to be held in Cochabamba, Bolivia from 20- 22 of Abril, 2010. Bolivia. Read more Press Clipping \| 30 December 2009 Brazil allocates first funds under plan to save the Amazon Brazil's Amazon Fund committed first $40 million to five NGO projects to reduce deforestation. Projects focus on monitoring, environmentally-responsible land use, forest protection, and payments for avoiding deforestation. Read more Press Release \| 23 December 2009 PRESS RELEASE: World Bank approves revised Policy on Disclosure of Information The World Bank released the final adopted version of "Toward Greater Transparency Through Access to Information: The World Bank’s Disclosure Policy," effective date 1 July 2010. The Global Transparency Initiative (GTI) congratulates the World Bank for the significant improvements of the new policy over its predecessor and looks forward to policy implementation. Read more Press Clipping \| 22 December 2009 Foreign Policy: Coal for Christmas Phil Radford, executive director of Greenpeace USA, writes a rebuttal to the World Bank on their energy lending and argues that they are still quite far from being a "climate-friendly" bank. Read more Update \| 22 December 2009 BIC signs letter congratulating IDB on sustainable transportation project BIC Executive Director Chad Dobson signed the letter to IDB president Luis Alberto Moreno after the approval of the San Francisco-Mocoa Alternate Road Construction Project. The letter notes how constructive dialogue with civil society led to many improvements in the project and encourages some of these commitments to be formalized during the general capital increase. Read more Search this website Print this page Email this page		Search Regions Africa Asia Europe/Central Asia Latin America Middle East and North Africa Institutions AfDB CAF ADB Bank of the South EBRD IDB IFC IMF MIGA World Bank Key Issues Forest Carbon Partnership Facility IFC Policies and Standards Review World Bank Energy Strategy Review World Bank Transparency Review Stay Informed! Sign up for our e-newsletters. SignUp

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