Currently in development, the controversial strategy outlines the Bank's efforts to tackle corruption in Bank projects, member countries and the institution itself.
World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz has made corruption a defining theme of his first year in office, arguing that the leakage of development funds is “one of the biggest threats to development in many countries”. In addition to halting hundreds of millions of dollars in World Bank lending to projects in Kenya, Congo, India, Yemen, Argentina, and most recently Cambodia, he has taken steps to overhaul the Bank’s own internal unit for addressing corruption – the Department of Institutional Integrity.
While many would agree on the negative impacts of corruption, opinions diverge on how the Bank should address this broadly recognized “development cancer”. Civil society is not alone in criticizing the seemingly subjective approach Wolfowitz has taken to the issue. The Development Committee asked the Bank to develop a clear framework for stamping out corruption at this year’s Spring Meetings in April. The framework will be presented to the Development Committee at the upcoming IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings in September.
Although the Development Committee approved the framework at the September 2006 Annual Meetings, it granted oversight of the effort to the Bank's Board of Directors.
The Bank's Board of Executive Directors approved a Work Plan and consultation process for the framework in November. The consultation process will remain open for an unspecified amount of time.