IFTI Watch: A new book, “The World Bank, Asian Development Bank and Human Rights,” by Sanae Fujita, University of Essex, UK, has been published by Elgar.
A description says:
The World Bank and the Asian Development Bank are two of the world’s major institutions conducting development projects. Both Banks recognize the importance of transparency, participation and accountability. Responding to criticisms and calls for reform, they have developed policies that are designed to protect these values for people affected by their projects. This original and timely book examines these policies, including those recently revised, through the prism of human rights, and makes suggestions for further improvement. It also analyses the development of the Banks’ stance to human rights in general.
This unique book contains valuable and deeply insightful information drawn from extensive face-to-face interviews with relevant actors, including key personnel from both Banks, consultants to the Banks and members of civil society organisations.
It expands the scope of research/discussion on human rights obligation of International financial institutions that will prove insightful for both academics and students. Practitioners will gain a great deal from the detail given on the standards of transparency, participation and accountability and their applicability to the day-to-day operations of development institutions.
United States: The 4th annual survey by the US PIRG Education Fund of government websites in 50 states, describing “significant improvements in the area of online transparency.” Every state had established some form of a spending transparency website as of earlier this year, all of which were searchable except for California and Vermont’s website. When U.S. PIRG first began reviewing online transparency initiatives in early 2010, only 32 maintained such websites. Seven states earned scores in the “A” range, with Texas receiving the nation’s top overall score.
Open Government: A posting on the Reboot by Panthea Lee asks “Is Open Government Working?”
Video: The power of information in development is addressed in this video.
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