Bypass: the hidden social toll of Georgia’s East-West Highway on its towns and villages
May 5, 2025
Supported by international development banks and promoted as a strategic corridor linking Asia to Europe, Georgia’s East-West highway is central to the country’s ambitions of becoming a regional transit hub. With a price tag of EUR 1.2 billion, much of which is financed through loans from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), European Investment Bank (EIB), and the World Bank (WB), the highway construction project was framed as a symbol of progress, promising speed, connectivity and economic growth.
The World Bank’s role in supporting inclusive and sustainable community-level reconstruction in Ukraine
November 11, 2024
The World Bank has vast experience in post-disaster and conflict reconstruction projects across various regions and settings. These previous experiences must be utilised to ensure that Ukraine’s reconstruction considers all aspects of life in a complex, holistic, and multidimensional process. Success depends on combining physical reconstruction with elements of the rule of law, good governance, strengthening democratic institutions, and restoring society.
A call to defend the independence of accountability mechanisms
October 9, 2023
Bankwatch joins other community advocates around the world in sounding the alarm about growing threats to the independence of accountability mechanisms attached to international financial institutions and other development agencies.
Departing World Bank chief leaves climate job unfinished
January 9, 2019
Jim Kim reformed world’s largest development lender, but it continues to finance fossil fuels and his climate legacy could be challenged if the US chooses his successor. Source: Departing World Bank chief leaves climate job unfinished
Going for a more country safeguards system in Asia-Pacific
May 24, 2016
The Asian Development Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency and the World Bank are partnering to boost safeguard systems in the Asia-Pacific, ensuring that development projects meet international standards for environmental and social protection. The three organizations will “help improve member countries’ safeguards systems and better manage the environmental and social risks associating with major developments,” Mark Kunzer, principal environment specialist of the ADB told Devex.
Guest post: Throwing evidence to the wind? The World Bank continues pushing PPPs
September 30, 2015
Although World Bank research and documents acknowledge the limitations of public-private partnerships the bank continues to push PPPs despite concerns.
Jordan’s modern mirage: reporting from the Red Sea – Dead Sea Conveyance project
June 3, 2015
In November 2014 CEE Bankwatch Network visited Jordan to explore issues surrounding the Red Sea – Dead Sea Conveyance project. The aim of the mission was to understand better the problems, concerns and hopes of local communities living along the route of the project, and identify the risks and benefits of the project through interviews with specialists having knowledge of its development.
Guest post: Resettlement process for Kosovo Power Project does not comply with international standards
February 3, 2015
A report being presented today analyses the process with which 7000 are to be resettled for the Kosovo lignite mine and concludes that the World Bank-financed process does not comply with the bank’s own standards and is plagued by a slew of other weaknesses.
Where’s Plan B for Kosovo’s energy sector?
March 18, 2014
When it comes to Kosovo’s energy future, institution after institution has been putting most of its eggs in a ‘new lignite’ basket while some very reasonable alternative investment options seem to fall by the wayside.
Guest post: Dr. Kim’s World Bank legacy hinges on Kosovo climate test
March 12, 2014
Environmentalists and public finance watchdogs are taking to twitter today to urge World Bank president Dr. Jim Yong Kim to head his own rhetoric and reject the Kosovo coal power plant.
