insert_link Business / Economics World Bank’s IFC under fire over alleged abuses at Liberian plantation it funded An investigation into the International Finance Corporation’s handling of human rights abuses at a project it financed in Liberia, the Salala Rubber Corporation, is expected to severely incriminate the World Bank’s private lending arm. The World Bank’s Compliance Advisory Ombudsman investigated whether the IFC did enough to address allegations of gender-based violence, land grabbing and unfair compensation by its client, Socfin, between 2008 and 2020. It’s anticipated that […] todayApril 8, 2024 35
insert_link Namibia Development Bank of Namibia and World Bank Explore Collaboration The Development Bank of Namibia and the World Bank have initiated discussions to explore cooperation between the two development financiers. A senior team from the World Bank visited DBN to discuss potential avenues of collaboration. The primary focus of the discussions was the preparation of a technical background paper concerning the financial sector for the upcoming Namibia Climate Change and Development Report. todayMarch 22, 2024 50
insert_link Africa World Bank investigates Tanzanian tourism project allegations The World Bank says is investigating allegations of human rights violations committed by Tanzanian authorities during the implementation of a $150 million tourism resource management project. Daniel Kijo reports. todayFebruary 6, 2024 32
insert_link Africa Davos: Global economists see bright spots in Africa growth prospects By Conrad Onyango, bird story agency Top economists agree that Africa's economic prospects for 2024 are positive, as small countries sparkle in the face of sluggish global growth projections. Chief economists from the World Economic Forum, World Bank and United Nations project Africa’s economy will defy the impacts of weak investments, debt crises, inflation, tight financial conditions and extreme weather patterns to record an improvement over 2023. A strong majority […] todayJanuary 19, 2024 28
insert_link Opinion Pieces At Davos Forum, Secretary-General Warns of Global Norms Collapsing, Highlights Need to Rebuild Trust, Reform Governance UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the World Economic Forum, in Davos, Switzerland: Thank you very much for your warm welcome. It’s good to be back — to be back and to see Davos highlighting the global crisis in trust. I believe this crisis is the direct result of a paradox facing our world. In the face of the serious, even existential threats posed by runaway climate chaos, and the […] todayJanuary 18, 2024 14
insert_link Africa AfCFTA to boost regional trade by 80% More than half of African countries will use the rules of a continental free-trade pact this year as the continent moves closer to fully integrating into a single market. According to Bloomberg News, AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene told a World Economic Forum panel in Davos Tuesday that of the 47 countries that have ratified the African Continental Free Trade Area, 31 will join the trade initiative, up from seven in […] todayJanuary 17, 2024 9
insert_link Africa COP28: The deals so far From historic agreements on Loss and Damage, to transformative declarations on food systems and health, COP28 could mark a monumental shift in how the world addresses environmental challenges. Here are some of the deals announced so far. COP28 has mobilized over $83 billion in funding, setting the pace for a new era in climate action. These include the first ever declarations on food systems transformation and health, plus declarations on […] todayDecember 12, 2023 7
insert_link Africa African countries lost control to foreign mining companies – the 3 steps that allowed this to happen By Ben Radley, University of Bath Within a few years of independence, African governments asserted sovereignty over their metal and mineral resources. Prior to this, the resources were exploited by European mining corporations. Since the 1990s, transnational corporations have once again become the dominant force as owners and managers of major mining projects. Ben Radley has researched economic transformation in central Africa, with a particular focus on resource-based industrialisation. He […] todayDecember 4, 2023 9
insert_link Namibia President Geingob defends international travel President Hage Geingob has called on the media to concentrate their reporting on important issues instead of trivial ones like the travel allowance of politicians. During his annual press briefing at State House on Monday, Geingob digressed from his prepared speech to address the media criticism of his and his ministers’ traveling, reportedly to benefit from travel and subsistence allowances (S&Ts). “You see how I am standing here, because I […] todayNovember 28, 2023 14