International Financial Institutions Program Current Activities

CIEL is working to strengthen the environmental policies of International Financial Institutions through a range of mechanisms. 

• The World Bank Inspection Panel

The World Bank Inspection Panel is a quasi-independent mechanism that was created under pressure from non-governmental organizations and donor governments concerned about the Bank’s history of policy violations.

The Panel provides a forum for locally-affected people to request an investigation into the Bank’s role in projects, and the extent to which the Bank has complied with its social and environmental policies.

• Controversial Projects at the World Bank

Two of the most egregious recent projects at the World Bank include the China Western Poverty Reduction Project and the Chad/Cameroon Oil Pipeline Project.  Both have been the focus of organized debates and protests by a variety of human and indigenous rights groups, and have even alarmed some of the World Bank Group's own member states.

• Profiling Problem Projects at the International Finance Corporation

Read"Profiling Problem Projects", a collection of case studies of misguided International Finance Corporation projects.

• Reforming Export Credit Agencies

CIEL is a participant in the campaign to reform Export Credit, Finance and Insurance Agencies.

Export Credit Agencies and Investment Insurance Agencies, commonly known as ECAs, are public agencies that provide government-backed loans, guarantees and insurance to corporations from their home country that seek to do business overseas in developing countries and emerging markets.

ECAs are now the world's biggest class of public IFIs, collectively exceeding in size the World Bank Group. Yet, like the World Bank Group 20 years ago, most ECAs have no social and environmental standards.

To learn more about ECAs, we recommend that you check the ECA Watch website. ECA Watch is an organizing and outreach feature of the larger international campaign to reform Export Credit, Finance and Insurance Agencies. CIEL is a participant in the campaign, alongside many development, human rights, community, labor, environment, anti-corruption and other non-governmental organizations and bodies.