(November 21, 2005) Despite improved efforts by the World Bank on corruption ahead of other regional development banks, there is still a striking inconsistency between the Bank’s discourse and practice.

(November 21, 2005) The Executive Secretary of the National Africa Peer Review Mechanism Governing Council, Dr. Francis Appiah, has said that despite Africa’s endowment with natural resources, internal factors such as "senseless coups, wars and conflicts," have made the continent poor. Speaking at an African Peer Review Mechanism and National Development Planning Commission workshop, Dr. Appiah said that Africa would have been better-off today if it had not passed through the hands of dictators who muzzled the press and ensured a "culture of silence"

(November 18, 2005) Presumptive president-elect Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is looking for a few honest men, and women, to form a government able to tackle the challenge of rebuilding war-torn Liberia, writes Lauren Gelfand for the Mail & Guardian Online.

(November 15, 2005) U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Dick Lugar announced that reforms to bring greater transparency and accountability to the five multilateral development banks (MDBs) have been signed into law by President Bush.

(November 15, 2005) Legislation to encourage greater transparency and accountability in the World Bank and other international lending institutions has been signed into law by President George W. Bush.