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  • UN, World Bank chiefs launch gas flare-out initiative

    UN, World Bank chiefs launch gas flare-out initiative

    • Target 40% flaring

    A gas flare-out initiative expected to cut global flaring by 40 percent was launched at the weekend in Washington DC, the United States capital.

    Tagged Zero Routine Flaring by 2030, the initiative has already been endorsed by nine countries, including four African nations, 10 oil companies and six development institutions. The initiative was launched  by the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon and World Bank Group President, Jim Yong Kim.

    They were joined by Royal Dutch Shell Chairman Jorma Ollila; Statoil Chief Executive Officer, Eldar Sætre; Norwegian Foreign Minister, Borge Brende; Gabonese Minister of Petroleum, Etienne Dieudonne Ngoubou; and several other senior government and corporate officials, as well as representatives of the World Bank Group, African Development Bank (AfDB), Islamic Development Bank  and other international development banks. The endorsers collectively represent more than 40 per cent of global gas flaring.

    The UN scribe said: “Gas flaring is a visual reminder that we are wastefully sending carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. We can do something about this. Together we can take concrete action to end flaring and to use this valuable natural resource to light the darkness for those without electricity.”

    Kim said by endorsing the initiative, governments, oil companies and development institutions recognise that routine gas flaring is unsustainable from a resource management and environmental perspective and agree to cooperate to eliminate ongoing routine flaring as soon as possible and no later than 2030. They will publicly report their flaring and progress towards the target on an annual basis. Furthermore, routine flaring will not take place in new oil fields developments. Governments will provide an operating environment conducive to investments and to the development of functioning energy markets.

    “As we head towards the adoption of a meaningful new international climate agreement in Paris in December, these countries and companies are demonstrating real climate action. Reducing gas flaring can make a significant contribution towards mitigating climate change,” said Moon.

    Oil companies and governments that have yet to endorse the initiative are currently undertaking comprehensive reviews of their gas flaring. Many are expected to join the Initiative in the coming months.

    Every year, around 140 billion cubic meters of natural gas produced together with oil is wastefully burned or flared at thousands of oil fields around the world.

    This results in more than 300 million tons of carbon dioxide being emitted to the atmosphere—equivalent to emissions from approximately 77 million cars.

    If this amount of associated gas (AG)  were used for power generation, it could provide more electricity (750bn kWh) than the entire African continent is consuming today. But currently, the gas is flared for a variety of technical, regulatory, and economic reasons, or because its use is not given high priority, Kim said.

     

  • Nigeria’s, others’ economies gloomy, says World Bank

    Nigeria’s, others’ economies gloomy, says World Bank

    Falling global oil prices and other commodities’ rates’ decline will leave Nigeria and other sub-Sahara African’s economies worse-off this year than last year, the World Bank has said.

    It stated in its projections for the year just released at its headquarters in Washington DC ahead of its Spring meetings, that sub-Saharan Africa’s growth will slow in this year to 4.0 per cent from the 4.5 per cent recordrd last year. This year’s forecast is below the 4.4 per cent average annual growth rate of the past two decades, and well short of Africa’s peak growth rates of 6.4 per cent in 2002-08.

    However, it said the harsh economic climate will start to rebound from next year, especially for countries such as Nigeria with a diversified economy and strong services orientation.

    “ In Nigeria, for example, although the economy will suffer this year, growth is expected to rebound in 2016 and beyond, driven by a relatively diversified economy, and a buoyant services sector,” it said.

    The forecast, put together by Africa’s Pulse – a Think Tank Group of the apex bank, said low oil prices will continue to weigh down on prospects of less diversified oil exporters such as Angola and Equatorial Guinea. It added that in several oil-importing countries, such as Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya and Senegal, growth is expected to remain strong. It said in Ghana, high inflation and fiscal consolidation will weigh on growth, the same way that problems in the electricity sector will curtail growth in South Africa.

    The body said Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows were subdued last year, reflecting slower growth in emerging markets and declining commodity prices, pointing out that a good number of African countries are turning to the international bond markets to finance infrastructure projects.

    It however called for fiscal discipline and efficient deployment of government resource. Its Lead Economist for Africa and co-author of Africa’s Pulse, Punam Chuhan-Pole said: “Large fiscal deficits and inefficient government spending remain sources of vulnerability for many countries of the region. It is urgent that these countries strengthen their fiscal positions and fortify their resilience against external shocks.”

    The World Bank Group’s 2015 Spring Meetings will draw the world’s finance and development ministers to Washington, DC,  U.S for talks on the state of the global economy and international development.

     

  • Buhari must tackle impunity, says World Bank

    Buhari must tackle impunity, says World Bank

    The World Bank spoke yesterday on Nigeria’s economic future, saying President-elect Muhammadu Buhari’s plan to tackle corruption will have consequences.

    The bank projected a drop in the economic growth rate of Sub-Saharan Africa from 4.5 per cent in 2014 to 4.0 per cent in 2015.

    The bank’s Chief Economist for Africa, Mr Francisco Ferreira, spoke during a video conference to inaugurate ‘Africa Pulse’, a World Bank Group analysis on issues shaping Africa’s economic prospects. The conference was monitored in Abuja

    “I think it is very well spelt because institutions are built in parts on norms; one norm that has to be changed is the norm of impunity.

    “I think the decision, hopefully, will have consequences for the future as institutions will be stronger and norms will be cleaner,” Ferreira said.

    According to him, the downturn largely reflects the fall in the prices of oil and other commodities.

    “The 2015 forecast is below the 4.4 per cent average annual growth rate of the past two decades and well short of Africa’s peak growth rates of 6.4 per cent in 2002 to 2008.

    “Excluding South Africa, the average growth forecast for the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa is around 4.7 per cent”, Ferreira said.

    Ferreira said an average decline, in terms of trade for Africa is about 18 per cent, a development he said, wouldlead to losses in purchasing power for the region.

    He said that the decline in oil and commodity prices were among the challenges undermining the developmental gains made in the Sub-Saharan African.

    “There is the issue of insurgency, fatalities as a result of conflicts, violence from political groups like the Boko Haram in Nigeria and Al-Shabaab in Kenya.

    “The Ebola outbreak in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone has highlighted pre-existing weaknesses in the health systems of the three most affected countries, as well as others.

    “A World Bank study estimated that the three countries will face at least $1.6 billion in forgone economic growth in 2015,’’ he said.

    Also speaking, Ms Punam Chuhan-Pole, the bank’s Lead Economist said: “Large fiscal deficits and inefficient government spending remain sources of vulnerability for many countries of the region.

    “It is urgent that these countries strengthen their fiscal positions and fortify their resilience against external shocks.”

    She said beyond macroeconomic policies, there was the need for structural reforms to ignite and sustain productivity growth in all sectors in the region.

     

     

     

  • World Bank lowers sub-Saharan Africa growth forecast

    World Bank lowers sub-Saharan Africa growth forecast

    The World Bank yesterday cut its forecast for gross domestic product (GDP) growth for sub-Saharan Africa to 4.0 per cent this year from 4.5 per cent it was last year.

    The global lender blamed   the fall in oil and other commodity prices for its action.

    Its Vice President for Africa, Makhtar Diop, said in spite of daunting challenges, the subregion was still experiencing growth, adding however that a need for structural reforms has arisen.

    “Despite strong headwinds, sub-Saharan Africa is still experiencing growth …. The end of the commodity super-cycle has provided a window of opportunity to push ahead with the next wave of structural reforms,” the World Bank  said in a statement.

  • World Bank launches initiative to promote solar power

    The Word Bank Group has launched the ‘Scaling Solar’ initiative to help create a viable market for solar power projects in Africa and increase supply of energy for millions across the continent.

    In a statement by Ejura Audu, Africa Communications, International Finance Corporation (IFC) Nigeria, an arm of the World Bank, said the World Bank Group, announced the launch of Scaling Solar at the Powering Africa Summit in Washington DC, a gathering of African ministries, utility companies and the international power community to discuss progress and initiatives to increase access to energy across Africa.

    Scaling Solar aims to create a viable market for private solar power projects in Africa that will help governments increase the supply of energy for millions of residential and commercial consumers across the continent. Scaling Solar reduces the development time and uncertainty for bidders and investors, while lowering tariffs for utilities, which ultimately benefits consumers.

    “The World Bank Group is committed to promoting sustainable universal access to modern energy in Africa, and Scaling Solar is a key step towards attaining this goal,” said Jean Philippe Prosper, IFC Vice President for Global Client Services. “By quickly delivering affordable electricity to previously unreached populations, significant progress can be made on other development goals,” he added.

    Africa has some of the world’s most abundant solar resources, yet more than a third of the population lives without electricity. Investors developing private solar projects in Africa are often deterred by a variety of obstacles, including the unique features and structures of the different markets, high transaction costs, heavily negotiated agreements, and high perceived risk and cost of capital. As a result, the region continues to struggle with slow, relatively expensive and ineffective solar development, which impedes access to electricity, the World Bank Group said.

    The World Bank said that large-scale photovoltaic solar power can be quickly and economically developed to increase the supply of electricity to national grids and improve the reliability of power services for households and businesses.

    Scaling Solar provides a straightforward package to help countries determine the size and location of projects, then auction them competitively to developers. The initiative combines World Bank guarantees, Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, (MIGA’s) investment guarantees, and IFC financing to mobilize privately funded solar projects that are connected to the grid.  A simplified process and suite of contract templates significantly speeds this process to enable initial electricity production to begin within two years of initiating an engagement.

    “The countries we work with in Africa to support the development of solar energy look to the World Bank Group for our full suite of services – from technical knowledge and innovation to guarantees and financing,” said Anita Marangoly George, World Bank Senior Director for the Energy and Extractives Global Practice. “Through Scaling Solar, we are able to respond nimbly and effectively to this growing area of demand.”

    Scaling Solar builds on the World Bank Group’s experience in promoting small and larger-scale solar power development in emerging economies around the world and on South Africa’s successful Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme (REIPP). Scaling Solar will lower the cost of solar by helping governments to procure solar power competitively and enhance the provision of sustainable energy in Africa.

    “This initiative offers a framework that allows countries to rapidly and efficiently mobilize private capital into solar projects with high development impact without having to start from scratch,” added Edith P. Quintrell, MIGA’s Director of Operations.

     

     

     

     

  • World Bank’s support for fisheries creates jobs

    World Bank’s support for fisheries creates jobs

    The World Bank is supporting the fisheries industry in an  effort to improve food production and boost key areas for job creation. Its lead Agricultural Economist and Regional West Africa Agriculture Productivity Programme for Nigeria (WAAP) Task Team Leader GFADR Dr Abdoulaye Toure said during  the  sixth joint World Bank/Government Implementation Support Mission (ISM) in Lagos  that supporting  the  industry will increase economic opportunities, boost growth, reduce poverty and improve people’s lives.

    Toure, who was accompanied  by  Deputy Director, IDA, IER Department, Federal Ministry of Finance, Dr. Aisha Omar and the National Coordinator, WAAPP Nigeria ,Prof Damian Chikwendu, said  the bank  is  determined to improve  fisheries management and increase the economic benefits  for families.

    According  to him, fisheries are a key contributor to food security, nutrition and job creation for rural coastal populations, and  that  promoting sustainable use of fisheries and linking smaller operators to new value chains  will   boost prosperity of  Nigerians.

    He  said  the   mission include clarifying the role of WAAPP, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria Zones (ARCNZ); review the progress of the implementation of action plans developed during supervision/support mission of last year and review the progress of implementation of annual work programme, budget and provide inputs/recommendations as needed.

    Other missions, he said, involve reviewing activities of collaborating institutions, including project technology dissemination platforms; assess the status of project component implementation and update the result frame work; review project compliance with fiduciary guidelines and safeguard managements under the project. It will equally review project management monitoring and evaluation arrangement.

    During  the  trip, the team  visited Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR), Lagos,  one of the institutes that constitute the National Centre of Specialisation in Aquaculture, to ascertain the level of WAAPP project implementation. The team also visited visited Aquaculture Department of University of Ibadan in order to initiate collaboration between the University and WAAPP in the area of capacity building.

    It also adopted after visiting Institute for Agricultural Research and Training, in Apete-Onidoko, to commission cassava processing plants provided by WAAPP-Nigeria.

    The National Center for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB), also hosted the team where WAAPP’s efforts at revitalising the Centre by provision of laboratory and other equipment were commended.

    The project supported the National Varietal Release Committee and the formation of a new sub-committee on fisheries, as a result of which 25 new crop varieties were released within two years.

    The team also visited Ondo State and toured three  adopted villages of Eleyewo, Owode and Ibulesoro by Federal College of Agriculture, Akure where cassava processing plants, poultry and aquaculture projects were established by WAAPP for the communities.

    In Jigawa State, the  World Bank  officials  inspected  the plot  where   System of Rice Intensification and the community-based seed multiplication project   were being conducted.

    Another team on aquaculture, which included representatives of CORAF/WECARD, WAAPP- Cote d’ Ivoire and WAAPP-Nigeria Project Coordination Office (PCO), visited private fish farms in Lagos, Ibadan and Abeokuta and fish farms of Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta; University of Ibadan; National Centre of Specialisation (NCOS) Aquaculture; National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research (NIFFR),National Centre of Specialisation (NCOS ) and Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute,(NSPRI).

    Five other teams, comprising staff of the PCO visited various other project sites in Enugu State, Niger State, Kogi State, Kwara State, Kaduna State and Ebonyi State to assess the progress of implementation of WAAPP activities.

    The mission expressed its appreciation for the assistance provided by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Federal Ministry of Finance, Jigawa State and all stakeholders.

    Other members of the mission are Sheu Saiau (Agricultural Economist and Co-Task Team Leader); El Hadj Adama Toure, (Lead Agriculture Specialist); Adetunji Oredipe (Senior Agriculture Economist); Joseph Ese Akpokodje (Senior Environmental Institutions Specialist); Mary Asanato-Adiwu (Senior Procurement Specialist); Akinrinmola Oyenuga Akinyele (Senior Financial Management Specialist); Michael Gboyega Ilesanmi (Social Development Specialist); Obadiah Tohomdet (Senior Communications Specialist); Nieyidouba Lamien (West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF); Emmanuel Ajani, National Agriculture Research Systems (NARS) and Abiodun Elufioye (Programme Assistant).

    The West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP) is a sub-regional programme, which involves 13 ECOWAS countries. The development objective of the first phase of the programme  is to generate and accelerate the adoption of improved technologies in the participating countries’ top agricultural commodity priority areas align with the sub-region’s top agricultural commodity priorities, as outlined in the ECOWAP.

    The target commodity for WAAPP Nigeria under component 11 is aquaculture. The key outcomes expected at the end of the first phase include: (i) at least three technologies released by the NCoS; (ii) all of the released technologies by NCoS show an improvement in yield of at least 15% compared to the baseline; and (iii) an adoption of improved technologies by at least, one third of the beneficiaries of the project.

  • World Bank to promote solar power

    The World Bank Group has launched the ‘Scaling Solar’ initiative to help create a viable market for solar power projects in Africa and increase supply of energy for millions across the continent.

    In  a statement issued by Ejura Audu of  Africa Communications,  the  bank announced the launch of Scaling Solar at the Powering Africa Summit in Washington DC.

    The summit is a gathering of African ministries, and utility companies that came to discuss ways of improving access to energy in the continent.

    Scaling Solar aims to create a viable market for private solar power projects in Africa that will help governments increase the supply of energy for millions of residential and commercial consumers across the continent. Scaling Solar reduces the development time and uncertainty for bidders and investors, while lowering tariffs for utilities, which ultimately benefits consumers.

    “The World Bank Group is committed to promoting sustainable universal access to modern energy in Africa, and Scaling Solar is a key step towards attaining this goal,” said Jean Philippe Prosper, IFC Vice President for Global Client Services. “By quickly delivering affordable electricity to previously unreached populations, significant progress can be made on other development goals,” he added.

    Africa has some of the world’s most abundant solar resources, yet more than a third of the population lives without electricity. Investors developing private solar projects in Africa are often deterred by a variety of obstacles, including the unique features and structures of the different markets, high transaction costs, heavily negotiated agreements, and high perceived risk and cost of capital. As a result, the region continues to struggle with slow, relatively expensive and ineffective solar development, which impedes access to electricity, the World Bank Group said.

    The World Bank said that large-scale photovoltaic solar power can be quickly and economically developed to increase the supply of electricity to national grids and improve the reliability of power services for households and businesses. Scaling Solar provides a straightforward package to help countries determine the size and location of projects, then auction them competitively to developers. The initiative combines World Bank guarantees, Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, (MIGA’s) investment guarantees, and IFC financing to mobilise privately funded solar projects that are connected to the grid.  A simplified process and suite of contract templates significantly speeds this process to enable initial electricity production to begin within two years of initiating an engagement.

    “The countries we work with in Africa to support the development of solar energy look to the World Bank Group for our full suite of services – from technical knowledge and innovation to guarantees and financing,” said Anita Marangoly George, World Bank Senior Director for the Energy and Extractives Global Practice. “Through Scaling Solar, we are able to respond nimbly and effectively to this growing area of demand.”

    Scaling Solar builds on the World Bank Group’s experience in promoting small and larger-scale solar power development in emerging economies around the world and on South Africa’s successful Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme (REIPP).

    Scaling Solar will lower the cost of solar by helping governments to procure solar power competitively and enhance the provision of sustainable energy in Africa.

    “This initiative offers a framework that allows countries to rapidly and efficiently mobilise private capital into solar projects with high development impact without having to start from scratch,” added Edith P. Quintrell, MIGA’s Director of Operations.

     

  • World Bank to promote solar power

    The World Bank Group has launched the ‘Scaling Solar’ initiative to help create a viable market for solar power projects in Africa and increase supply of energy for millions across the continent.

    In  a statement issued by Ejura Audu of  Africa Communications,  the  bank announced the launch of Scaling Solar at the Powering Africa Summit in Washington DC.

    The summit is a gathering of African ministries, and utility companies that came to discuss ways of improving access to energy in the continent.

    Scaling Solar aims to create a viable market for private solar power projects in Africa that will help governments increase the supply of energy for millions of residential and commercial consumers across the continent. Scaling Solar reduces the development time and uncertainty for bidders and investors, while lowering tariffs for utilities, which ultimately benefits consumers.

    “The World Bank Group is committed to promoting sustainable universal access to modern energy in Africa, and Scaling Solar is a key step towards attaining this goal,” said Jean Philippe Prosper, IFC Vice President for Global Client Services. “By quickly delivering affordable electricity to previously unreached populations, significant progress can be made on other development goals,” he added.

    Africa has some of the world’s most abundant solar resources, yet more than a third of the population lives without electricity. Investors developing private solar projects in Africa are often deterred by a variety of obstacles, including the unique features and structures of the different markets, high transaction costs, heavily negotiated agreements, and high perceived risk and cost of capital. As a result, the region continues to struggle with slow, relatively expensive and ineffective solar development, which impedes access to electricity, the World Bank Group said.

    The World Bank said that large-scale photovoltaic solar power can be quickly and economically developed to increase the supply of electricity to national grids and improve the reliability of power services for households and businesses. Scaling Solar provides a straightforward package to help countries determine the size and location of projects, then auction them competitively to developers. The initiative combines World Bank guarantees, Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, (MIGA’s) investment guarantees, and IFC financing to mobilise privately funded solar projects that are connected to the grid.  A simplified process and suite of contract templates significantly speeds this process to enable initial electricity production to begin within two years of initiating an engagement.

    “The countries we work with in Africa to support the development of solar energy look to the World Bank Group for our full suite of services – from technical knowledge and innovation to guarantees and financing,” said Anita Marangoly George, World Bank Senior Director for the Energy and Extractives Global Practice. “Through Scaling Solar, we are able to respond nimbly and effectively to this growing area of demand.”

    Scaling Solar builds on the World Bank Group’s experience in promoting small and larger-scale solar power development in emerging economies around the world and on South Africa’s successful Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme (REIPP). Scaling Solar will lower the cost of solar by helping governments to procure solar power competitively and enhance the provision of sustainable energy in Africa.

    “This initiative offers a framework that allows countries to rapidly and efficiently mobilise private capital into solar projects with high development impact without having to start from scratch,” added Edith P. Quintrell, MIGA’s Director of Operations.

     

  • World Bank to build climate change resilience in Nigeria

    The World Bank has said it is ready to help Nigeria in climate change adaptation and mitigation to enable the country realise its agricultural potential.

    The bank has committed $30million to combat gully erosion menace in the South East under the Erosion and Watershed Management Programme (NEWMAP).

    The bank’s Country Director, (Nigeria) Marie Francoise Marie-Nelly, disclosed this in Abuja at a meeting with the delegation from the Ministry of Environment, led by the minister, Mrs. Laurentai Mallam.

    The minister had visited the World Bank Abuja office to present the ministry’s plans and programmes for the environment sector and seeking for technical and financial assistance to realize them.

    Marie-Nelly maintained that going forward; the bank would be more strategic in all its interventions programmes in the country to avoid duplication.

    According to her, although the bank has been engaging in a number of programmes in the country, it would be more willing to help Nigeria in building climate resilience to boost agriculture production.

    Asked to name the intervention areas, the World Bank country representative, said: “We are actually doing a lot already. For instance, we have a large programme to address gully erosion in the South. We are also engaging in rehabilitating important irrigation dams in order to enhance the capacity for agricultural production.

    “What we are doing here today is in response to the request of the government, in more strategic moving forward, identifying in more strategic way what we are each doing and see how our interventions are in line with the new priority, particularly in the areas of mitigation and adaptation.”

    She added that one key area the bank is looking at is climate smart agriculture, stressing that its studies, had shown that unless Nigeria changes its agricultural practices, there would be a quantum slide in agricultural yields.

     She said that the bank is also working with the federal government to transform some of the gas that are being flared daily to energy.

    “We want to be more strategic in looking forward, in looking at the future and having a coordinated response where we will be more effective in the way our resources are going to be  mobilized to avoid duplication of interventions,” she added.

    Speaking earlier, the Environment Minister, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam, said Nigeria would need the technical expertise of the World Bank and other development partners in addressing the environmental challenges in the country.

    On the significance of the meeting, Mallan noted: “We are planning programmes that will help the environment sector. We invited them to a meeting last year where we enumerated some of the environmental challenges confronting the nation and seeking for their technical expertise in addressing them.

    “The World Bank has been supporting Nigeria in various ways and that is why we are also seeking for collaboration to move forward on how to protect the environment.”

    Other development partners at the meeting include the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP), and Japan International Cooperation Agency,(JICA).

    Ends

  • Adopt labour standard, ASSBIFI urges World Bank

    Adopt labour standard, ASSBIFI urges World Bank

    The Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) has urged the World Bank to adopt a comprehensive labour standard lending requirement in its institutions like those adopted by other multilateral development banks. The Association said that this would correct the major weaknesses in the draft labour safeguard that was recently issued for consultation.

    ASSBIFI’s National President, Comrade Sunday Olusoji Salako, who made the disclosures to newsmen in Lagos while reviewing the labour standard version proposed for protecting the rights of those who work in bank-financed projects, stressed the need for the World Bank President, Jim Yong Kim, to ensure that the proposal would be to all intents and purposes and not exist only on paper.

    He said: “The intention of the World Bank to adopt a labour safeguard is a welcome development, but we call for the version proposed would have almost no impact in protecting the rights of those who work in bank-financed projects alone, but would be to all intents apply to contracted workers, to public servants and not purposes exist only on paper”

    According to Salako, an important feature of all of the other banks’ labour safeguards in the past has been their application to contractors and sub-contractors, thus ensuring coverage of a category of workers that is highly vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. “The World Bank President, by proposing to not protect these workers in its projects, the Bank will perpetuate instances of unsafe working conditions, child labour, unpaid wages and denial of freedom of association that we have seen in bank-funded projects,” he said.

    He emphasised that the major weakness of the World Bank’s draft labour safeguard is the proposal that the International Labour Organisation (ILO’s) core labour standards only be fully complied with if they are incorporated in national law.

    “Specifically, the freedom of association and right to collective bargaining provisions would apply only where national law recognises them, thus opening the door to retaliatory measures by project managers against workers who wish to exercise those rights.

    “We fully hope and expect that the World Bank will catch up to the labour standard provisions adopted by the other development finance institutions over the past years, and not undermine the progress that has been made by adopting a labour safeguard that is full of exemptions and exclusions,” he further said.