[stop-imf] Bretton Woods Update March-April 02

[Robert Weissman]

Dear subscriber, 

The new issue of the Bretton Woods Update is now available in PDF and
HTML versions at http://www.brettonwoodsproject.org/update. Among the
topics covered are water privatisation in Ghana, the Bank's role in
anti-corruption work, its failure to implement the World Dams Commission
guidelines, the NGO campaign on oil, gas and mining, the role of
parliamentarians in scrutinising the World Bank, and disappointment
surrounding the Financing for Development conference. More details, plus
links, below. 

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Best wishes, 
Jeff Powell
Communications and Research Officer
Bretton Woods Project 

______________________________________
Bretton Woods Update 27, March/April 2002

Highlights

* Ghanaians contest Bank-backed water privatisation
A broad coalition of organisations is challenging the plan to privatise
Ghana's water system. They complain that the World Bank- and
IMF-promoted scheme will not extend services to poorer people or ensure
fair pricing. 
http://www.brettonwoodsproject.org/topic/privatesector/p2701ghanawater.html

* Company seeks compensation after Bolivians force re-nationalisation 
US multinational Bechtel is seeking compensation from the Bolivian
government after protests forced the cancellation of its contract to
provide water in Cochabamba. The case has been accepted by an arm of the
World Bank Group. 
http://www.brettonwoodsproject.org/topic/privatesector/p2703boliviarenat.html

* Engineers, campaigners condemn Bank for Dams Commission follow-up
The World Bank was praised for helping establish the World Commission on
Dams, which included dam critics and proponents. Now it is under fire
from both sides for failing to implement the Commission's suggested new
approaches to water and energy planning. 
http://www.brettonwoodsproject.org/update/27/2702.html

* NGOs continue challenge to Bank on oil, gas and mining 
NGOs have achieved some changes to the World Bank's Extractive
Industries Review but feel that problems remain. Their determination to
change the Bank's approach to oil, gas and mining is shown by a new
campaign launched in France. 
http://www.brettonwoodsproject.org/topic/environment/e2704eir.html

* Peru, Lesotho decisions leave Bank anti-corruption work in doubt
The World Bank has recently announced that it will not be taking action
following allegations of corruption levelled at corporate clients in
Peru and Lesotho.  
http://www.brettonwoodsproject.org/topic/governance/g2705perucorrupt.html
http://www.brettonwoodsproject.org/topic/governance/g2723lesothocorrupt.html

* Limitations of Asian PRSPs revealed
A new study questions achievements in PRSPs in Lao PDR, Cambodia and
Vietnam, while Bangladeshi organisations have mounted a challenge to the
process in their country. 
http://www.brettonwoodsproject.org/topic/adjustment/a2707prspasia.html

* New reports on Bank's participation and empowerment agendas
Oxfam, Christian Aid and the World Bank have produced studies
questioning aspects of the Bank's agendas and suggesting ways forward. 
http://www.brettonwoodsproject.org/topic/adjustment/a2708prsppartic.html
http://www.brettonwoodsproject.org/topic/governance/g2709empower.html

* Bank studies raise questions about participation and empowerment
approaches 
Two new World Bank studies express doubts about the extent of its work
on participation and empowerment. 
Trade policy training challenged, but donors commit more funds
The heads of six major international institutions recently discussed
their roles in trade policy formulation. They agreed that the World Bank
should play a "lead role", while NGOs released a statement of concern.
http://www.brettonwoodsproject.org/topic/knowledgebank/k2714tradepoltrain.html

* IMF faces hard tests in Nigeria, Argentina 
The Nigerian government has cancelled its IMF programme. IMF
spokesperson tests Argentinian's sense of humour by agreeing that
mistakes may be made again in the future. He explained: "that is
economics. And that is why it is so much fun".
http://www.brettonwoodsproject.org/topic/adjustment/a2716nigeria.html

* Parliamentarians gear up to increase scrutiny of World Bank
A number of efforts are moving forward to make it easier for elected
representatives to monitor the World Bank. They include the World Bank
Parliamentary Network and initiatives stemming from the World Social
Forum and the French parliament. 
http://www.brettonwoodsproject.org/topic/governance/g2720pnowb.html

* Wolfensohn appoints poverty results champion under pressure from US
The World Bank has appointed a new Vice President for 'results'. This is
a response to calls from the US administration which has said future
contributions to the Bank will be conditional on results measurement.
http://www.brettonwoodsproject.org/topic/governance/g2725povresults.html

* Development finance summit a fiasco, say campaigners
The Financing for Development conference has yielded little new. Civil
society groups organised their own parallel forum and questioned the new
aid money pledged by the US government. 
http://www.brettonwoodsproject.org/topic/reform/r2726ffd.html

This is a selection of stories in the January/February 2002 issue of the
Update. For a full Update 26 contents listing see:
http://www.brettonwoodsproject.org/update/27/index.html   

The fully formatted PDF version of the Update can be downloaded at: 
http://www.brettonwoodsproject.org/update/27/bwupdt27.pdf