The World Bank1

World Bank Reforming to Meet New Challenges:

Access to Information

Effective July 1, 2010

The World Bank

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Adapting to Changing Demands

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Enhancing the

development

process

Increasing transparency and

accountability

Encouraging public ownership of Bank

operations

Sharing the

Bank’s global

knowledge

New

AI Policy

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From Disclosure to Access

New AI Policy informed by: Lessons of disclosure policies External and internal consultations Experiences of governments implementing freedom of

information laws

History Evolution

1985 World Bank instruction to staff on information disclosure

1993 First Disclosure policy, creation of Public Information Centers

2001, 2003 and 2005 Expanded scope of the Disclosure policy

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Guiding principles of the policy

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Maximizing access to Information

Clear List of Exceptions – all other information is public

Safeguarding the Deliberative Process

Clearer Procedures for Disclosing Information

Right to Appeal

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What Progress Looks Like

Access to Information Policy

List of Exceptions

Clear procedures

Maximizing access

Right to appeal

Disclosure Policy

Positive list

Cumbersome and costly

Lack of clarity

No right to appeal

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Snapshot: Comparing the Past and Future

Document Type

Disclosed to the Public

Old Policy

New AI Policy

Country Assistance Strategies X X

Economic and Sector Work reports X X

Project Appraisal Documents, Program Documents X X

Monthly Statement of Loans and Credits X X

Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers X X

Portions of Implementation Status and Results (ISR) reports X

PIDs to summarize key decisions taken at Project Concept Review and appraisal stage X

Minutes of Board Committee Meetings X

Summings-up of Board meetings X

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List of 10 Exception Types

Personal information Communications of Executive Directors’ offices Board ethics committee proceedings Attorney-client privilege information Security & safety information Information restricted under separate disclosure regimes & other

investigative information Information provided by member countries or external parties

in confidence Corporate administrative matters Deliberative information Financial information

May be eligible for declassification under the 5-10-20 year schedules

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Why Restrict Some Documents?

Respect the confidentiality of clients, shareholders, employees, and other parties

Ensure frank exchange of ideas and views

Protect against harm to specific parties or interests

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Exceptions #9 - Deliberative information

Deliberative process – consideration of issues and options before making a decision or taking an action (e.g., draft reports )

Certain deliberative information may be declassified and disclosed in 5, 10 or 20 years

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Exceptions #10 - Financial Information

Bank routinely discloses: Monthly statements of loans and credits,

Loan, development credit, development grant and project agreements

Borrower’s audited annual financial statements for investment lending operations invited to negotiate after July 1, 2010

Bank does not provide access to: Estimates of future IBRD borrowing, financial forecasts or

credit assessments

Details of individual transactions under loans and trust funds

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Bank’s Prerogatives

The Bank preserves the right, under exceptional circumstances to:

1. Disclose certain restricted information or

2. Restrict access to information normally available to the public.

The Bank will weigh potential harms and benefits of a decision.

Authorized by Board, Management or Clients/Third Parties.

Note: Disclosure of information provided by a Member Country/Third Party in confidence requires its written consent.

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Client/Joint Information

Some information is publicly available as a condition for doing business with the Bank (e.g., safeguard reports)

Information jointly produced with clients/partners Partners informed that most information is

publicly available as per Bank policy

Final documents will be made available after ensuring there is no restricted information

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Declassification of Information

Confidentiality and sensitivity usually declines over time

Certain restricted information eligible for declassification over time: Deliberative Information

Financial Information (unless banking or billing information)

Provided these do not contain information under other exceptions.

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Accessing Information

http://www.worldbank.org/wbaccess

Type of Information Where to Find It

Documents and Reports http://www.worldbank.org/documents

Projects and programs http://www.worldbank.org/projects

Results http://www.worldbank.org/results

Development Data http://data.worldbank.org

Country-related information Country web-pages

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Accessing Information

Information not available or accessible on the Bank’ website can be requested by contacting a Bank Public Information Center in a member country, the InfoShop in Washington, D.C., or by sending a request via http://www.worldbank.org/wbaccess

http://www.worldbank.org/wbaccess

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Implementation Details

5 working days to acknowledge receipt of the request

20 working days to provide a response

The Bank reserves the right to refuse unreasonable requests (e.g. to create or collate information that does not exists)

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Right to Appeal – Two Grounds

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Contact Us

Submit questions, comments & requests to: http://www.worldbank.org/wbaccess