events

The World Bank and Transport for Development

Between 1995 and 2005, the two main agencies of the World Bank -- the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA) -- provided loans totalling more than $30 billion for transport projects in middle income and low income countries respectively.

This makes transport the largest single industrial recipient of World Bank finance, but to that can be added the contribution of the Bank agency that lends directly to the private sector, the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

Since 1990, the IFC has invested in transport projects with a capital value of around £15 billion, and since 1998 the transport sector has been a declared priority.

These interventions have made the World Bank Group the leading international institution influencing change in transport infrastructure and services in developing countries over the past two decades.

Now the World Bank is about to publish its transport strategy for the next decade, at a time when climate change and the Millennium Development Goals are at the top of the development agenda. How will it reconcile those imperatives with a policy approach that has put economic growth at the heart of its poverty reduction strategy and international trade at the heart of its growth strategy?

You can find out at a special event:
   Thursday May 22,
   5.45pm to 7.15 pm,
   Portcullis House, London, SW1A 2LW.

The World Bank's recently appointed transport sector chief, Marc Juhel, will present the new strategy, followed by comments from Marinke van Riet (IFRTD) and Brendan Martin (Public World). Then you can ask your questions and join in the debate.

The event is organised by Public World in conjunction with the Bretton Woods Project. Admission is free but please register by email to admin@publicworld.org