
Non-governmental organizations are calling for reforms at the World Bank as donors are set to announce their contributions to the International Development Association, the bank’s fund for the poorest nations.
Donors are due to conclude today (Dec. 15) their final meeting in Brussels for the 16th replenishment of IDA, which covers the 2011-2014 period.
>> Donors to Announce New IDA Contributions
“We do support an IDA replenishment but we think it would be a missed opportunity if donors did not use their leverage for change,” said Oxfam spokesperson Elizabeth Stuart, as quoted by the Inter Press Service. “It is the responsibility of donors to ensure the Bank is spending the money effectively during the recession.”
The bank has affirmed having implemented reforms in its process of monitoring the results of its lending, IPS notes.
“The Bank talks a lot about tracking results but this tracking is often too technical and doesn’t include the right indicators. People can’t really understand it. We need something very simple that both taxpayers and people in poor recipient countries can understand,” Stuart said.
InterAction, a coalition of U.S.-based NGOs, meantime, has welcomed the bank’s effort to seek the input of civil society organizations in modifying the draft IDA replenishment report released in November.