While crises accumulate in the developing countries, major donors decrease their aid budget. Consequently, understanding determinants of aid effectiveness is crucial to improving health around the...Show moreWhile crises accumulate in the developing countries, major donors decrease their aid budget. Consequently, understanding determinants of aid effectiveness is crucial to improving health around the World. Previous research has put forward the positive influence of democratic regimes on health improvements. Nonetheless, little is known about the role of recipients' political regimes on the success of aid project implementation. This paper seeks to clarify this relationship by answering the question “What is the effect of regime type on the effective implementation of project-aid targeted to health?”. The study focuses on the World Bank projects in the health sector in Africa. An OLS approach is chosen to investigate democratic mechanisms, data is retrieved through the Independent Evaluation Group and Freedom House. The results show a positive but weak non-significant effect of democracy on aid effectiveness. Hence, findings do not provide evidence that democracies are better at implementing health aid projects. Using a larger sample is recommended for future studies.Show less
Over the years, large multilateral banking institutions like the World Bank have attracted substantial criticism regarding their private sector investments. However, the World Bank’s International...Show moreOver the years, large multilateral banking institutions like the World Bank have attracted substantial criticism regarding their private sector investments. However, the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) branch, the largest private sector focused global development institution, and the IFC’s independent accountability body, the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO), have not received much scholarly attention. By means of a thematic content analysis, this research seeks to investigate the following research question: How do different accountability mechanisms shape the Dispute Resolution and Compliance role of the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman? The theoretical foundations of this research build on agent-centric constructivism and the forum-based accountability model. Based on the Wilmar Jambi case in Indonesia and the operational policies of the CAO and IFC, it can be concluded that social accountability is integrated to different extents, depending on which role the CAO performs. Furthermore, the analysis finds that the CAO’s authority as an administrative accountability body ultimately depends on the IFC’s voluntary compliance.Show less
The World Bank has been increasingly involved in post-Independence Kenya’s agricultural development since the drought of 1973 and the Oil Crisis of the same year. Their stated objectives across...Show moreThe World Bank has been increasingly involved in post-Independence Kenya’s agricultural development since the drought of 1973 and the Oil Crisis of the same year. Their stated objectives across these loan agreements and Structural Adjustment Programs have been to liberalise trade and ultimately create a situation of food security in Kenya. In the years that have followed, Kenya has continued to be a major exporter of horticultural goods such as cut-flowers and black tea. Yet Kenya has not emerged as a food secure nation. In fact Kenya is now recognised as a food insecure nation. This is undeniably a highly complex issue with all manner of contributing factors, most notably the worsening climate crisis and internal displacement this has caused. However, Kenya is East Africa’s largest and arguably most stable economy with hugely profitable agricultural exports. Kenya is also a nation unlike many other African nations in that its most valuable natural resource is its soil rather than what lies beneath it. Despite this, more than a third of Kenyan children suffer from stunting meaning chronic malnutrition in pregnant women and children is widespread. This research therefore utilises a theoretical framework based on elements from the Neoliberal Theory of Development, Postcolonial Theory and World Systems Theory to analyse how the World Bank’s loan conditionalities have contributed to Kenya’s status as food insecure. With many of these loans still in the process of being repaid this research focuses on the impacts they have had thus far.Show less
The overall aim of this thesis is to better understand the role of International Financial Institutions in achieving economic development. The problem statement therefore focuses on the appropriate...Show moreThe overall aim of this thesis is to better understand the role of International Financial Institutions in achieving economic development. The problem statement therefore focuses on the appropriate governance approach for international financial support to ultimately achieve sustainable economic development. To assess the problem statement the case of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in the Tunisian context will be analysed. The lens that will be used to perform the analysis will mainly compose of literature on Global Public Goods and Commons. The case study will be established through policy papers, academic literature, opinion papers and primary data retrieved from a questionnaire on the Tunisian public opinion concerning the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. On this basis, the hypothesis stating that a bottom-up approach leads to more sustainable economic development will be tested. The analysis shows that the current Global Public Goods approach to International Financial Institutions does not result in sustainable economic development. A Commons approach would probably have better results, but it is difficult to establish such a bottom-up approach in practice. However, theoretically it can be concluded that a bottom-up approach will lead to more sustainable economic development.Show less
In 2008, the World Bank developed the State and Peacebuilding Fund (SPF) to deal with post-conflict countries. The financial institution has been involved in post-conflict reconstruction since the...Show moreIn 2008, the World Bank developed the State and Peacebuilding Fund (SPF) to deal with post-conflict countries. The financial institution has been involved in post-conflict reconstruction since the late nineties. However, its adoption of the political concepts of state and peacebuilding seems to represent a shift towards a comprehensive position of the World Bank regarding post-conflict situations (World Bank, 1998, p. 4). The emphasis is put on the political aspects of state and peacebuilding as they imply the building of ‘institutional capacity and legitimacy’ and the management of ‘the internal and external stresses that increase vulnerability to conflict’ in ‘fragile and conflict-prone and -affected situations’ (World Bank, 2019a). At the same time, the World Bank has reminded the importance of not interfering in politics and the necessity to stick to its role of economic actor as stated in its Articles of Agreement. The organisation appears torn between a supposedly comprehensive approach concerning state and peacebuilding and its economic mandate. The evolution of the paradoxical discourse of the World Bank on post-conflict reconstruction is therefore considered in this thesis by examining the power-knowledge and the associate regime of truth at stake in the production of its discourse. The method selected is a critical discourse analysis and the SPF is the case-study for this research. This thesis allows to unpack the problematic handling of state and peacebuilding by the World Bank.Show less
Throughout the 2000s, the World Bank seems to have undergone a paradigm shift from a neoliberal, market-oriented agenda to a more state-centric approach with increased attention to national...Show moreThroughout the 2000s, the World Bank seems to have undergone a paradigm shift from a neoliberal, market-oriented agenda to a more state-centric approach with increased attention to national particularities in policy design. However, in contrast to the recent enthusiasm by a variety of authors does this thesis argue that the increased attention to the role of institutions and politics in socio-economic development has merely been discursive. The here presented historical analysis of Malawi’s political economy since 1979 shows that there have been little actual changes to the Bank’s policies over the years, to the detriment of equitable socio-economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa. A continued focus on neoclassical economic theory and a lack of attention to national political economy are largely to blame. This thesis holds that to improve socio-economic development, development in practice needs to be transformed by moving beyond overtly theoretical and technocratic approaches and recognizing the inherent political nature of economies, instead of viewing the socio-political order underlying market relationships as an isolated given.Show less
The World Bank hails hydropower as the sustainable development tool to challenge the energy needs and alleviate poverty in countries. These large dams entail complex and multidimensional social...Show moreThe World Bank hails hydropower as the sustainable development tool to challenge the energy needs and alleviate poverty in countries. These large dams entail complex and multidimensional social impacts on local communities. This thesis assesses the social impacts on the resettled communities affected by the newest developmental project of the World Bank, the Nam Theun 2. Relocation leads to disappearance of traditional practices and the uptake of a modern market-based life style. Deploying the Matrix Framework find that this resettlement is not without its setbacks and impactful changes. Livelihood activities that are far removed from the traditional cultural practices fail to mature, while other activities closer connected to the previous lifestyle performed above expectations in providing villagers with a sustainable source of income. All with all, The World Bank failed to implement sustainable livelihoods for the resettled communities that suited their traditional cultural practices and livelihoods.Show less
During the Guatemalan Civil War, which lasted from 1960 to 1996, the indigenous Maya people of Guatemala have suffered immensely. Namely, 170.000 Mayas were killed and thousands have had to flee to...Show moreDuring the Guatemalan Civil War, which lasted from 1960 to 1996, the indigenous Maya people of Guatemala have suffered immensely. Namely, 170.000 Mayas were killed and thousands have had to flee to Mexico. In 1996, the Peace Accords were signed and promises were made for social justice of the Maya people in the education system, which had excluded them for centuries. At the same time, the World Bank started sponsoring a programme of heavily decentralized schools in Guatemala, called PRONADE schools, where local communities could easily open and manage primary schools through funding of the Ministry of Education. This thesis seeks to test to what extent social justice of the Maya people has been realized in these PRONADE schools compared to traditional public schools. Thereby, the approach of the Word Bank in schooling will be evaluated, using Fraser’s three-dimensional model of social justice as an indicator of success. Fraser’s dimensions of social justice consist of economic justice, cultural justice and political justice, which have frequently been applied to the education system. Fieldwork in Guatemala was carried out in March-April 2017, combining source analysis with in-depth semi-structured interviews. The results of this research show that, although the goals of the World Bank of equal access to quality education and the provision of bilingual education might have been partially realized, social justice still has a long way to go in the Guatemalan education system. Realization of economic justice in the PRONADE schools remains ambivalent, however, the PRONADE schools did score slightly better on cultural and political justice compared to traditional public schools, although by far not satisfactorily.Show less
Today the world is still plagued with the epidemic HIV/AIDS yet with the involvement of organisations such as the Global Fund to fight AIDS/TB/Malaria there are still factors that are being...Show moreToday the world is still plagued with the epidemic HIV/AIDS yet with the involvement of organisations such as the Global Fund to fight AIDS/TB/Malaria there are still factors that are being overlooked as to why this epidemic still continues to grow. As poverty is one of the main driving forces for this epidemic it is important to turn our heads to institutions who create policies in the form of structural adjustment plans which in turn has been seen to impact such an issue which is what this thesis will look into.Show less
This study provides a comparative case study on the role of the World Bank on post-conflict development. The selected cases are Ethiopia and Eritrea, that split after the war of independence in...Show moreThis study provides a comparative case study on the role of the World Bank on post-conflict development. The selected cases are Ethiopia and Eritrea, that split after the war of independence in 1993. This study researches the development paths of both countries, the approaches taken by the World Bank in both Ethiopia and Eritrea as well as in the international context, and the other development actors at play. In this study is revealed that the approaches of and the impact of the World Bank have been significantly influenced by other variables: domestic governance, international relations, and the global economy. These factors led to the fact that the impact of the World Bank has been marginalized in both countries.Show less
The objective of the paper is to find an explanation for the seemingly contradictory behavior of China vis-a-vis the IMF an World Bank. How can we interpret that we see at the same time ...Show moreThe objective of the paper is to find an explanation for the seemingly contradictory behavior of China vis-a-vis the IMF an World Bank. How can we interpret that we see at the same time 'socializing' and 'challenging' actions? The paper examines first to what extent socialization theory can help to explain China's increasing role in the governance of the IFIs. Next is an analysis from different perspectives if there is evidence that China is 'challenging' the IFIs. The final section will illustrate that China is taking an alternative route to exerting its influence on the IFIs, and that there are other theses about engagement and interaction that current International Relations Theory is not capable of explaining. This analysis of the nature of China's influence on the governance of the international financial institutions aims to give us an insight into what kind of member of the international community China aspires to be.Show less
