Timeline:

1985
World Bank issues first instructions to staff on information disclosure, called the “Directive on Disclosure of Information”, establishing a “presumption in favor of disclosure” in absence of compelling reasons not to disclose. It divided information into 3 categories: published, available to specific audiences, or restricted, and listed the information that could be disclosed through a “Positive list” .

1993
Board of Executive Directors approved revisions to the World Bank’s Disclosure Policy expanding types of existing documents to be made publicly available, introduced the Project Information Document (PID), and creation of a Public Information Center (PICs) in Washington, D.C., and a network to disseminate information through the World Bank’s country offices.

1997
The InfoShop is established in Washington, D.C., as one-stop shop for information on the World Bank's work.

2001
Board of Executive Directors approved major revisions to information disclosure policy, agreed to disclose a greater number of Board and program-related documents and use a more systematic approach to access historical information in the World Bank Archives.

2002
Unprecedented surge in demand for information leads to significant adjustments in World Bank facilities to cope with increased demand for information during the first year implementing the revised information disclosure policy approved in 2001.

2003
Board agreed to strengthen Public Information Centers (PICs), and adopted a Translation Framework that broadened access and dissemination of information to stimulate interest and encourage participation in the World Bank's work.

2005
Executive Directors approved disclosure of more World Bank documents, simplified clearance procedures for disclosing information not on “positive list,” and proposed to pilot disclosure of Board drafts before Board deliberation (“simultaneous disclosure”).

2009
Board approved a new Access to Information policy, providing for disclosure of unprecedented amount of information. Interested stakeholders will be able to follow projects step by step through each stage of a project lifecycle. The new Policy includes clear procedures for making information available to the public and an appeal process in case access is denied to certain information.

July 1, 2010
World Bank implements new Access to Information policy, replacing the world Bank’s Information Disclosure policy.