WASHINGTON, November 10, 2006—The World Bank is launching the next phase of external consultations on its approach to strengthening its governance and anti-corruption work, which was discussed by the Development Committee – the Bank’s policy-setting panel – at the recent Annual Meetings in Singapore. A draft work plan on governance and anti-corruption was drawn up by a core steering committee headed by Managing Director Juan José Daboub and made up of representatives from across the Bank. The work plan was discussed with Executive Directors at an informal meeting on Oct. 24 and endorsed by them on Nov. 9. The consultations, based on the Development Committee paper and a new work plan, will take place over the coming months, and the findings will be reflected in a progress report to be sent to the Bank’s Board before the Spring Meetings in 2007. Key stakeholders—among them government, the private sector, and civil society organizations—will be asked to review and provide feedback on the Development Committee paper. Feedback from the consultations will lead to revised guidelines for World Bank staff. The Bank’s senior management is meeting with each of the regional and network management teams to discuss the new strategy and promote full understanding of the governance and anticorruption work plan, to ensure that subsequent consultations with external groups are well-informed and effective. The consultations will help guide the Bank in implementing the new governance and anticorruption approach, which is centered on a greater awareness of these issues in the Bank’s lending and advisory work with member countries. The Bank has already produced a number of Country Assistance Strategies that have focused on governance and anticorruption issues and such an approach is expected to be applied in more CASs, where appropriate, under the new plan. Innovative approaches that have proved to be successful in some countries will help guide country teams as they help countries to develop capable and accountable states that deliver services to the poor, promote growth led by the private sector, and tackles corruption effectively. This period of consultations is expected to continue into 2007, and the Bank will seek guidance and opinion from key external stakeholders throughout the process of refining the implementation of the governance and anticorruption plan. To comment on the on the Bank Group Work in Governance and Anticorruption, please click here.
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