In response to the IEG evaluation, Bank management is implementing a remedial Action Plan and a Governance and Anti-Corruption Strategy and making reforms, including the adoption of a new whistleblower policy. The new policy, however, does not meet the standards set out in the US Foreign Operations Act of 2005 for credible whistleblower protection at international institutions. Nor does it meet basic criteria of best practice according to Transparency International and the Government Accountability Project and, in the 21 months since its adoption, no Bank staff member has successfully defended him or herself from retaliation for reporting on corruption.
A report released by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in March confirms these findings and recommends that new funds and capital increases not be authorized for the World Bank and other multilateral development banks until major reforms are in place.
Find here a report that highlights these and other findings (WB_Corruption)
The Bank will roll-out sweeping reforms in its investment lending operations beginning in fiscal 2011 (July 1, 2010). These reforms are shifting considerable responsibility for the quality of World Bank-financed operations to recipient countries. Although this shift could be a positive development, there are many open questions about whether the reforms will uphold fiduciary, social and environmental standards.
A paper by Heinrich Böll Stiftung North America responds to two questions: Why is the Bank undertaking such major reforms? And, what is the nature of these reforms?
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