BIC is a resource for government employees, IFI staff, the media, students, and the general public.
BIC is a resource for government employees, IFI staff, the media, students, and the general public.
Mission: The Bank Information Center (BIC) partners with civil society in developing and transition countries to influence the World Bank and other international financial institutions (IFIs) to promote social and economic justice and ecological sustainability. BIC is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organization that advocates for the protection of rights, participation, transparency, and public accountability in the governance and operations of the World Bank Group and regional development banks.
General information
The International Financial Institutions (IFIs) include the World Bank, the regional development banks, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). They are the largest source of development finance in the world, typically lending between US$30-$40 billion to low and middle-income countries each year.
The IFIs, and in particular the World Bank, are a primary source of development knowledge, publishing research that frames the debate on development issues. Other donor institutions often take their lead from the World Bank and the IMF, thus amplifying the impact of those institutions’ lending approaches and decisions.
IFI loans to finance investment projects and policy reforms in developing countries are intended to reduce poverty and encourage economic development. However, ill-conceived IFI loans have often caused widespread environmental and social damage including irreversible impacts on natural habitats, displaced communities, and indigenous peoples.
IFI activities are often carried out without the informed participation of affected people, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and-in many cases-even the legislatures of the Banks’ borrowing countries. Moreover, despite some progress the IFIs still do not release comprehensive information in a timely manner during project design and implementation. Finally, as publicly financed institutions, the IFIs should be held accountable for the consequences of the funds they loan to developing countries.
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