The evaluation of the Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) of the World Bank’s support for gender issues between 2002 and 2008 is of significant relevance in the light of the Beijing+15 review, meaning 15 years after the landmark 4th World Women´s Conference 1995 in Beijing and its launching of gender mainstreaming as crucial strategy for all institutions and organizations. Comment by Christa Wichterich
The IEG found out that the Bank`s support for gender equality improved in the evaluation period 2002-2008 compared to the earlier decade. In 2001, the Bank had launched Country Gender Assessments (CGAs) as a new diagnostic tool in its strategy for action. Each borrower was supposed to complete a CGA at country level by the end of 2005 and to identify sectoral priorities for gender in order to increase development effectiveness ... ... this article is for subscribers only. For direct log in >>> click here.If you have no subscription >>> pick your option or >>>
After decades of isolation - imposed by major OECD countries out of concern for the country's human rights violations - Myanmar is emerging as a new darling of the "West" - judging by the accelerating succession of visits by senior officials and gurus. New groups of investors are waiting to enter the country as soon as possible.
Persistent high unemployment, the euro area debt crisis and premature fiscal austerity have already slowed global growth and factor into the possibility of a new recession. Now the United Nations have downgraded significantly its forecasts for the world economy in the next year.
Eastern European states are in for a new round of the crisis. The external control of the banking sector and high reliance on external credit has landed the countries of Eastern Europe in a vulnerable position. Now, credit flows from Western banks are drying up again. Hungary has been the first country in the region to ask for IMF support again.
While the G20 efforts to manage global aggregate demand, exchange rate management and stronger regulation of the international financial sector have not worked out quite as planned, in Cannes the Group was further solidifying its role in directing the system of multilateral institutions.
In November 2011, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is celebrating its 50th anniversary.The new Minister, Dirk Niebel of the (neo)-liberal FDP has launched a 'radical change of course'. In the recent edition of the Reality of Aid shadow report the change is analyzed.