World Bank President Jim Yong Kim has a simple message for critics of the bank’s safeguards revision process: “Wait till you see the final product.”
Devex Editor-in-Chief Raj Kumar sat down with Kim during the flurry of activity at the World Bank’s annual spring meetings this week to discuss the bank chief’s leadership and vision at a time when the international financial institution has responded to new challenges with a set of unprecedented — and highly controversial — reforms.
Of all the changes Kim has implemented, the bank’s revision of its environmental and social framework — more commonly known as safeguards — has commanded much of the attention. Civil society groups have risen up against the revisions, most recently by donning yellow T-shirts emblazoned with the slogan "Danger, Human Rights Violations Ahead." Another protest is scheduled to take place Friday at the World Bank’s Washington, D.C., headquarters.