BIC program activities are largely determined by the needs and demands of civil society organizations in the Global South.
The Bank Information Center partners with civil society in developing and transition countries to influence the World Bank and other international financial institutions to promote social and economic justice and ecological sustainability. While the political and institutional landscape in which BIC operates continues to change, the basic services and reform efforts that have characterized BIC’s m
04/27/2023
Last week, BIC and others in sent submissions to IFC and MIGA, calling on them to improve their draft Approach to Remedial Action and Responsible Exit Principles and commit to providing holistic access to remedy.
Read this update: https://bankinformationcenter.org/en-us/update/joint-cso-statement-calls-on-ifc-and-miga-to-strengthen
04/24/2023
BIC welcomes the recommendations made by AfDB’s Independent Recourse Mechanism (IRM) in its Advisory Note on “Preventing, mitigating, and responding to s*xual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (SEAH) within AfDB operations.”
BIC calls on AfDB management to provide a response that commits to implementing these recommendations and to take all necessary measures to prevent, mitigate and respond appropriately to SEAH within projects it finances.
Read more:
https://bankinformationcenter.org/en-us/update/what-action-does-bic-hope-to-see-afbd-take-to-prevent
03/30/2023
We are pleased to invite you to the launch event of the How to Engage the World Bank around Child Rights tool on Thursday April 13, 2023, 9:30-10:30 am (EDT)
Register here for online participation: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/9216794126277/WN_IOK3ZeJtTvqL3kZNHvC_vw
Or here for in person participation (Washington DC): https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfcHM_1qMCaKJouYcK18xrOXeXxibbIEOufXGOBtNhsGzRcxA/viewform
Interpretation in Spanish, English, and French available!
03/20/2023
PROJECT: BIC offers recommendations for IFC based on a document review regarding the expansion of Hotel Xcaret Mexico.
Read about this project: https://bankinformationcenter.org/en-us/project/how-will-a-major-hotel-development-in-a-sensitive-coastal
03/15/2023
UPDATE: BIC honors the momentous career of Judy Heumann and her role in providing a seat at the table for persons with disabilities.
Learn more at https://bankinformationcenter.org/en-us/update/bic-honors-the-memory-of-judy-heumann/
Happy Holidays!
We hope 2023 is a year that furthers development financing that is , considerate of , and sensitive to .
12/19/2022
It's positive that 's Global Framework respects the rights of Indigenous Peoples, and recognizes the contributions of Indigenous and traditional territories towards the of land, freshwater, and oceans. But actively engaging Indigenous groups in this work will be key to its success. Moreover, less greenwashing is pertinent. BIC calls on institutions to adopt a No Go policy that prohibits any direct or indirect financing related to , extractive, industrial, environmentally, and/or socially harmful activities.
Spotlight on nature and biodiversity Nature-based solutions offer the best way to achieve human well-being, tackle climate change and protect our living planet. Yet nature is in crisis, as we are losing species at a rate 1,000 times greater than at any other time in recorded human history, and one million species face extinction. In th...
12/13/2022
Thank you to the CSOs that joined us today for an online discussion around an upcoming toolkit on "How to Engage with the World Bank around Child Rights."
12/09/2022
UPDATE: As the World Bank moves toward developing its next Strategy, Bank Information Center (BIC) encourages the World Bank to implement each recommendation proposed by the IEG in its mid-term review of the 2016-2023 Gender Strategy. Efforts should focus on inclusion, addressing gender-based violence ( ) and s*xual exploitation and abuse (SEA/H), and disaggregating data by s*xual orientation, gender identity or expression, and s*x characteristics.
Going further, BIC has identified three areas that must be expanded on in future gender strategies.
https://bankinformationcenter.org/en-us/update/what-are-key-steps-the-world-bank-must-take-to-make/
12/09/2022
UPDATE: In the context of the 2022 " against Gender-Based Violence," BIC urges the Special Rapporteur on the sale and s*xual exploitation of children to address the role of the World Bank Group and other Multilateral Development Banks in providing remedy to project-affected children.
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11/30/2022
As it moves towards approval of an updated Integrated Safeguards System, the African Development Bank has an opportunity to place its projects at the forefront of sustainable and meaningful development. BIC and civil society partner organizations hope to see the Board of Directors approve a policy that prioritizes the needs of marginalized groups, addresses climate change, and expands protections for workers and project stakeholders.
Read more: https://bankinformationcenter.org/en-us/update/what-does-civil-society-hope-to-see-in-the-afdbs-updated
11/28/2022
Bank Information Center recognizes Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s contributions to accountability and sustainability at the Multilateral Development Banks.
Read our update: http://bit.ly/3UfBMRi