IFTI Watch
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22 July 2013
IMF Issues Modified Transparency Policy
The International Monetary Fund July 22 announced modest alterations to its transparency policy. The revised policy continues to give member governments the ability to block the release of IMF assessments of their economies, but increases the pressure for disclosure. Currently, when countries seek to borrow exceptional amounts, the IMF Managing Director can condition a favorable recommendation on […]
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21 June 2013
World Bank Issues More on Trust Funds; Still Limited
By Toby McIntosh The World Bank is disclosing increasingly more information about the hundreds of “trust funds” that account for about 10 percent of Bank operations, but there’s still no easy way to get a complete picture of individual trust fund operations. A number of pro-transparency steps have been taken, and more moves are being planned. […]
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21 June 2013
GTI Critiques Access Proposal by Climate Change Fund
The Global Transparency Initiative has urged the Green Climate Fund (GCF), an international lending body, to narrow the exemptions in a proposed access to information policy. The GCF, which promotes compliance with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, has proposing an information disclosure policy, Information Disclosure, including Webcasting. The GCF Board will discuss […]
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14 June 2013
OAS Assembly Defeats Attacks on Rapporteur
The General Assembly of the Organization of American States June 6 again protected the independence of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). Attacks on their independence by Ecuador, Nicaragua and Venezuela have become almost perennial. The outcome this year was brokered by Mexico during an intense […]
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14 June 2013
G-8 Transparency Theme Prompts Suggestions
With transparency as one of its main themes, the G-8 meeting June 17-18 in Northern Ireland is expected to generate a renewed call for requring more transparency by the extractive industries and possibly the issuance of an open data charter. In addition, requiring countries to reveal the true beneficial owners of shell companies and trusts is […]
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22 April 2013
CSOs Say IMF Transparency Policy Worst Among IFIs
The International Monetary Fund is less transparent than other International Financial Institutions, according to civil society organizations that responded to the Fund’s call for comments. The Fund is undergoing a review of its 2009 transparency policy and expects for the Board to consider the subject in May. The draft of any proposed changes will not […]
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19 April 2013
World Bank Officials Praise Impact of Access Reforms
The World Bank has decided to bring more openness to its own procurements, an official said April 18. The Bank will soon make available information about Bank contracts, notwithstanding an exemption it gave itself in the 2010 access policy, according to Paul Bermingham, who chairs the Access to Information Committee. He also is director, Operational […]
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29 March 2013
IMF Transparency Criticized; Consultations Called Flawed
The International Monetary Fund “fails to establish a proper system of openness,” according to a submission made by a nongovernmental organization. The comment quoted above, by the Centre for Law and Democracy, was submitted in response to an IMF call for comment about its disclosure policy. The consultation process itself has garnered criticisms from transparency […]
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11 March 2013
World Bank Audit Questions Transparency of IFC Lending
By Toby McIntosh The World Bank “knows very little” about the environmental and social effects of lending done through “financial intermediaries,” according to an extensive critique by an internal watchdog. The report also raises questions about restrictions in the World Bank’s disclosure policy concerning such lending, in which intermediaries such as private banks receive Bank […]
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4 March 2013
World Bank Appeals Board Issues First Decisions
The World Bank’s external appeals board has issued its first two decisions, both confirming denial decisions made by the internal Access to Information Committee (AIC). In one decision, the Appeals Board agreed that reports on the implementation of a controversial transportation project in India should not be disclosed. The decision draws attention to a change in the Bank’s […]
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1 March 2013
Brazil Changes Policy, OKs Release of Annual IMF Report
Breaking its longstanding practice, Brazil in 2012 agreed to the publication of the annual “Article IV” report on its economy by the International Monetary Fund. Brazil has been a hold-out among major economies by continuing to deny permission for the release of the full report. The IMF publishes a “Public Information Notice” about all the […]
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25 February 2013
IMF Begins Consultation on 2009 Transparency Policy
The International Monetary Fund has commenced a review of its 2009 transparency policy. The IMF on Feb. 21 posted a call for comments along with eleven specific questions. The deadline is March 29. A conference call with representatives of civil society groups is being planned. The most recent revision of the IMF transparency policy went into effect […]
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22 February 2013
UNEP Council Agrees to Create Access Policy
The Governing Council of the United Nations Environmental Programme Feb. 22 agreed to create an access to information policy and increase participation of stakeholders and civil society. The draft decision was adopted by the Governing Council in Nairobi after encouragement by an information group of nongovernmental organizations calling themselves the environmental democracy group. The group […]
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14 January 2013
United Kingdom to Stress Transparency on G-8 Agenda
By Toby McIntosh Transparency has been designated as a special theme of this year’s G-8 meeting by the host country, the United Kingdom, making civil society organizations hopeful of better transparency for the operations of the G-8 itself. The eight largest developed nations have made uneven progress toward more transparency in recent years, according to critical CSOs. […]
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4 January 2013
World Bank Planning More Transparency for Trust Funds
The World Bank is planning to allow more access to information about the operations of trust funds it administers, according to a new report evaluating the first 18 months of its revised Access to Information Policy. The Dec. 19 report, placed on the Bank website without an announcement, reviews the Bank’s performance, providing many statistics. […]
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4 January 2013
Groups Urge World Bank to Expand Disclosure Policy
More than 180 international development groups recently sent the World Bank a letter about its broad review of “safeguard” policies, including some suggestions about transparency. The safeguard policies are intended to prevent harm to communities and their surrounding environment from Bank projects and programs. The bulk of the Dec. 20 joint statement is concerned with various […]
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3 December 2012
UNDP Announces Portal on Development Efforts
The United Nations Development Programme Nov. 30 launched “a new online portal allowing users access to data on its work in 177 countries and territories, in an effort to fulfill its transparency commitments.” Helen Clark, UNDP Administrator, said open access will allow the public to monitor UNDP investments in poverty and sustainable human development for […]
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2 November 2012
Results Mixed as EITI Board Discusses Future
By Erica Westenberg Westenberg is EITI Policy Officer at Revenue Watch Institute where this article first appeared as a blog post. The International Board of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) made uneven progress in its discussions on how to strengthen the EITI, while meeting in Lusaka, Zambia, on 25-26 October. The Board, which includes […]
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26 October 2012
IFIs Rate Low on Access by Publish What Your Fund
International financial institutions fared poorly in the “freedom of information” category of the recently issued ratings by Publish What Your Fund. Although the development banks ranked high overall on the 43 factors used, their scores in the access to information category merited red dots. The red dots signified “poor legislation” in the category, just one […]
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1 October 2012
Publish What You Fund Reports Improved Picture
Publish What You Fund on Oct. 1 reported that “donor transparency is on the rise but continues to fall short of best practice.” In a report ranking 72 donor organizations on their levels of aid transparency, the organization said, “This is particularly disappointing at a time when transparency is critical to ensuring confidence in aid […]