Experienced UK MP and international development specialist Hugh Bayley has been elected Chair of the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank.
The Parliamentary Network on the World Bank (PNoWB) is an independent non-governmental organisation linking more than 1000 parliamentarians from 110 countries. It was founded in January 2001 to strengthen accountability and transparency in international financial institutions, particularly the World Bank as the largest donor to world-wide development programmes.
Hugh Bayley was first elected to the PNoWB Board in March 2007 at the network's annual conference in Cape Town, South Africa. Prior to that he chaired the PNoWB Committee on International Trade and has been an active member of the Network for many years. He has been a UK MP for 16 years and is both a member of the Select Committee on International Development and a founder member and Chair of the All Party Africa Group.
'I'm delighted to take on this role at what I see as a crucial time', said Hugh Bayley. 'The World Bank and other financial institutions are reviewing their own roles in the light of globalisation, strong emerging economies such as China and India, and the emergence of dedicated global funds and large individual donors. The PNoWB's role as a watchdog on transparency and accountability and its unique position as a consultative partner representing legislators from around the world, will enable us to contribute positively to this key debate.'
Hugh was elected unopposed as Chair of the PNoWB, succeeding US Congresswoman Betty McCollum, who resigned to devote more time to her role in Congress and to the US elections, although she remains a member of the PNoWB Board.
PNoWB was founded by a group of European MPs, all development champions, including Netherlands' current Minister of Development Cooperation Bert Koenders who chaired the network from its inception until his nomination as a Minister in February 2007. "We're not fans of the World Bank. We're critics when necessary, supporters when necessary. PNoWB promotes the role of parliamentarians in fighting poverty. We're a hands-on implementation group," he said.
Hugh's immediate priorities, already identified by the Board, will be to:
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fundraise to strengthen the organisation
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communicate regularly with PNoWB members
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create the basis for a more coherent and strategic role for PNoWB
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more clearly define its independence from the World Bank, and
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update PNoWB's constitution, specially with regard to elections and PNoWB Chapters.
The PNoWB mobilizes parliamentarians to address global governance and poverty challenges, to promote transparency and accountability of international development and offers a unique platform of dialogue between parliamentarians and the World Bank. Its activities include: an Annual Conference, a field visit program for parliamentarians, working groups on trade, agriculture and HIV/Aids, and several communications tools such as a Question and Answer system for parliamentarians to ask any question they may have about the World Bank.
More information available at http://www.pnowb.organd http://www.worldbank.org/parliamentarians.
For more information: Zuleikha Salim Said, PNoWB Coordinator
Tel: +33 140693055 Email: zsalimsaid@pnowb.org
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