(May 10, 2005) Western aid programs are hobbled by two fundamental problems. The first is the failure to distinguish between African governments or leaders and the people. In Africa, governments or leaders have been the problem, not the people
The limits of reform: the Wolfensohn era at the World Bank
(May 9, 2005) With all the hullabaloo generated by the designation of Paul Wolfowitz as his successor, outgoing World Bank President James Wolfensohn’s record in leading the Bank has so far escaped serious scrutiny, claim Walden Bello and Shalmali Guttal in a new report drawn from Bello’s latest book, Dilemmas of Unmaking the American Empire.
Wolfowitz sets Africa poverty aim
(April 1, 2005) Paul Wolfowitz, the new head of the World Bank, has said his main goal will be to achieve "real success" in cutting poverty, particularly in Africa.
Bigger obstacles ahead for World Bank’s Wolfowitz
(March 31, 2005) Paul Wolfowitz’s appointment as the new head of the World Bank has underlined some of the institution’s inherent weaknesses but has also made clear a need to reform the existing framework for development assistance.
KAIROS analysis of debt recommendations in Commission for Africa Report
(April 1, 2005) Possible actions in the report’s Annex 9 are closer to the actual proposals being debated by G7 finance ministers: some additional debt service relief until 2015 and reinforcement of IMF and World Bank conditionality for African countries.
Our common interest
(March 1, 2005) British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s Commission for Africa report.
The world’s 10 worst dictators
(February 22, 2005) The annual top 10 “world’s worst dictators” list compiled by the U.S. weekly lifestyle magazine, Parade in consultation with human-rights organizations.
The impact of debt burden on women
(February 2, 2005) The early 1980’s financial crisis faced by many countries in the South had unpayable debt service as the immediate cause that was precipitated by the tight money policies in the rich countries that drastically hiked international interest rates. The debt debate ignores the fact that debts were contracted as a result of borrowing by undemocratic governments that were not mandated by the people.
On odious debts, the Paris Club, and reparations
(November 28, 2004) Following our first announcement released March 8, 2003 after the re-activation of our union, we demanded a development plan to help kick-start the Iraqi economy. At that time, our union confirmed that an essential prerequisite for such a plan to succeed was the cancellation of debt and reparation claims against the Iraqi people.
Resolution prepared for the Iraqi National Assembly
(November 22, 2004) The Iraqi National Assembly has agreed to support a recommendation by its Economic and Financial Committee (EFC) to repudiate the odious debts incurred by Saddam Hussein.
Action Alert: Argentina’s debt-swap in dispute
(November 19, 2004) Send a message to the US Securities and Exchange Commission in support of Argentinian MP and debt campaigner Mario Cafiero’s challenge questioning the legal soundness of Argentina’s massive debt-swap proposal.
Proposal to declare foreign debt incurred by military regime odious
(November 11, 2004) Legislation contesting the legitimacy of Argentine foreign debt contracted during seven years of military rule will be debated next week by the National Congress of Argentina.
Enhancing accountability at the World Bank
(October 29, 2004) There is an old saying that “the road to hell is paved with good intentions”. Sadly, this is all too true when we consider the track record of the multi-lateral development banks.
Curbing corruption in multilateral development bank projects
(October 29, 2004) “It makes no sense for one MDB to do business with a company that another MDB has debarred because of corruption.”
Whistleblower protection policies of multilateral development banks
(October 29, 2004) Nearly all the new whistleblowers are from the World Bank reports Thomas Devine of the Government Accountability Project (GAP), who notes that the Bank’s whistleblower policy in practice had been ‘the primary weapon against them.
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