Economic and Sector Work

5.                   The Bank undertakes economic and sector work (ESW), which, among other things, provides the basis for the Bank’s diagnosis of a given country’s development prospects.  Reports emanating from ESW (ESW Reports) that are distributed to the Executive Directors for information (known as “gray cover reports”) are publicly available after such distribution.

6.                   ESW reports other than those referred to above in paragraph 5 may be made publicly available by the director concerned, taking into account such factors as the need to protect confidential information and the country’s internal deliberative process, and after consultation with the country concerned.

Country Assistance Strategies [5]

7.                   The Bank prepares country assistance strategies (CASs), which provide the framework for Bank assistance to a given country over a period of time.  CASs for countries eligible for IDA financing (including countries eligible for both IDA and IBRD financing) are publicly available after they have been discussed by the Executive Directors and finalized, unless in exceptional circumstances, the country concerned objects to such disclosure and the Executive Directors agree that it may not be disclosed. 

8.                   CASs for countries other than those referred to above in paragraph 7 are made publicly available at the request of the country concerned after they have been discussed by the Executive Directors and finalized.

9.                   The Concluding Remarks of the Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors on their discussion of a CAS are publicly available except when the CAS itself is not disclosed.

Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers, Joint Staff Assessments, and Chairman’s Summings Up

10.               Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) and Interim PRSPs (I-PRSPs)[6] are prepared by the country concerned, and among other things, summarize the country’s objectives, policies and measures for poverty reduction.  Once a PRSP (or I-PRSP) has been disclosed in-country, the Bank makes it publicly available after distributing it to the Executive Directors and before they discuss it.

11.               Staff of the Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) undertake a joint assessment of each PRSP and I-PRSP.  Such Joint Staff Assessment (JSA) of a PRSP or I-PRSP is publicly available after it has been discussed by the Executive Directors of the Bank and by the Executive Directors of the IMF.[7]

12.               The Summing Up by the Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of their discussion of a PRSP (or I-PRSP) is publicly available. [8]

Sector Strategy Papers

13.               The Bank prepares Sector Strategy Papers (SSPs) that review Bank experience in a given sector and set out the Bank’s strategy for future work in the sector.  SSPs are publicly available once they have been discussed by the Executive Directors and finalized.  In addition, the draft Concept Note and the Consultation Plan for an SSP under preparation, as well as the draft SSP, are publicly available upon notification to the Executive Directors of such proposed disclosure.  

14.               The Concluding Remarks of the Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors on their discussion of an SSP are publicly available, unless the Executive Directors decide otherwise.

Project Information Documents

15.               For all lending operations under preparation for Bank financing, the Bank prepares a Project Information Document (PID) that provides a brief factual summary of the main elements of the evolving project.[9] A list of factual technical documents that underpin project preparation (including analytical work, assessments, surveys, etc.) is contained in the PID.^[10]  The PID is prepared when the first formal review of the proposed operation is held by Bank management, and is made publicly available.  As project preparation evolves, the PID is updated.  The updated PIDs are also publicly available.

Factual Technical Documents

16.               When an interested party requests additional technical information about a project under preparation, the director concerned may release factual technical documents, in whole or in part, after consulting with the borrower concerned.[11]

Monthly Operational Summaries

17.               The Bank prepares a Monthly Operational Summary (MOS) of its prospective lending pipeline.  The MOS reports on the status of each lending operation under preparation for Bank financing—from its inception and identification through signing of the relevant agreements with the Bank. ^[12]  Entries are dropped from the MOS after the relevant agreements are signed or if the proposed operation itself is dropped from the lending program.  The MOS is publicly available.

Project Appraisal Documents

18.               For each investment project proposed for Bank financing, the Bank prepares a Project Appraisal Document (PAD), which describes the project, and sets forth the Bank’s appraisal and assessment of the feasibility of, and justification for, the project.  Once the loan, credit, or guarantee for the project has been approved, the related PAD is publicly available.

Program Documents

19.               For each adjustment operation proposed for Bank financing, the Bank prepares a Program Document (PD),[13] which describes the operation, and sets forth the Bank’s appraisal and assessment of the feasibility of, and justification for, the program to be supported by the Bank.[14]

20.               Poverty Reduction Support Credits.  If the adjustment credit is a Poverty Reduction Support Credit (PRSC), which supports a country’s program for poverty reduction derived from its PRSP, the related PD is publicly available once the credit has been approved by the Executive Directors.

21.               Adjustment lending operations other than PRSCs. Once an adjustment loan or credit other than a PRSC has been approved by the Executive Directors, the related PD is publicly available after the borrower concerned has given its consent to the proposed disclosure.[15]

Letters of Development Policy

22.               A Letter of Development Policy (LDP) setting forth the program of actions, objectives and policies to be supported by an adjustment lending operation is prepared by the prospective borrower as the basis for such operation.  The LDP is publicly available with the consent of the borrower concerned after the related loan or credit has been approved by the Executive Directors.

Tranche Release Documents

23.               For each tranche of a multi-tranche adjustment lending operation, the Bank prepares a Tranche Release Document (TRD) which reports on the status of the program being supported under the operation.

24.               The TRD for a multi-tranche PRSC is publicly available (a) after the release of the tranche concerned has been approved by Bank management, and after the Executive Directors have been duly informed of such approval, or (b) if a waiver of tranche release conditions is required, after such waiver has been approved by the Executive Directors.

25.               A TRD for a multi-tranche adjustment loan or credit other than a PRSC is publicly available (a)(i) after the release of the tranche concerned has been approved by Bank management, and after the Executive Directors have been duly informed of such approval or (ii) if a waiver of tranche release conditions is required, after such waiver has been approved by the Executive Directors, and (b) after the borrower concerned has given its consent to the proposed disclosure.[16]

Status of IBRD/IDA Projects in Execution

26.               The annual report, Status of IBRD/IDA Projects in Execution, is publicly available after it has been distributed to the Executive Directors for information.  If there are significant changes to a lending operation under implementation, such changes are recorded in this report.

Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) Initiative

27.               Under the HIPC Initiative, the Bank and the IMF jointly prepare  certain documents for the Executive Directors of both institutions at three stages:  (i) the Preliminary Decision Point, when a preliminary assessment is made as to a country's eligibility for debt relief under the Initiative; (ii) the Decision Point, when the Bank and the IMF determine whether a country is eligible for the commitment of debt relief under the Initiative, identify the amount of debt relief required to achieve the Initiative’s debt sustainability target, and begin providing interim assistance; and (iii) the Completion Point, when the Bank and the IMF determine whether an eligible country has completed certain actions and is eligible irrevocably to receive the full amount of debt relief committed at the Decision Point.  These documents are publicly available after they have been reviewed respectively by the Executive Directors of the Bank and by the Executive Directors of the IMF, unless the country objects to their disclosure.

28.               The Summing Up by the Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, of their discussions of each of these HIPC documents is publicly available if the underlying HIPC document itself is disclosed, unless the Executive Directors decide otherwise. [17]

Environmental Action Plans

29.               Environmental action plans (EAPs) are prepared by the country concerned.[18]  They describe the major environmental concerns of a country, identify the principal causes of problems, and formulate policies and concrete actions to deal with the problems.  An EAP is publicly available after the country concerned has given its consent to the proposed disclosure. 

Integrated Safeguards Data Sheets [19]

30.               The Bank prepares an Integrated Safeguards Data Sheet (ISDS) for each investment project and sector adjustment operation under preparation for Bank financing, which identifies key issues under the Bank’s safeguard policies[20] and provides relevant information concerning their management in the proposed operation.  The ISDS is prepared when the first formal review of the proposed operation is held by Bank management, and is made publicly available.  As project preparation evolves, the ISDS is updated.  It is revised before formal project appraisal; if changes to the project that are relevant to the ISDS are made after appraisal, a final revision of the ISDS is prepared.  The updated ISDSs are also publicly available.

Environmental Assessment Reports

31.               Whenever the Bank requires an environmental assessment (EA)[21], the proposed borrower prepares an EA report[22] as a separate, free-standing document.  The EA report is publicly available (a) after the borrower has made the draft EA report available at a public place accessible to project-affected groups and local NGOs in accordance with OP/BP 4.01, Environmental Assessment, and (b) after such EA report has been officially received by the Bank, but before the Bank begins formal appraisal of the project.[23]

32.               For financial intermediary (FI) operations or sector investment operations that are expected to have subprojects which, for environmental screening purposes, are classified as Category A under OP/BP 4.01, Environmental Assessment, each identified participating FI or the responsible project entity provides the Bank, before the beginning of formal project appraisal, with an assessment of the institutional mechanisms or framework in place for conducting the EAs for such Category A subprojects.[24] After these assessments have been officially received by the Bank, and before the Bank begins formal project appraisal, the assessments are publicly available.  EA reports for such Category A subprojects are publicly available after they have been officially received by the Bank.

33.               If the borrower objects to disclosure of an EA report (or, in the case of a FI operation, an assessment) for a project proposed for IDA financing, the Bank discontinues project processing.  If the borrower objects to disclosure of an EA report (or, in the case of a FI operation, an assessment) for a project proposed for IBRD financing, the issue of further processing is submitted to the Executive Directors for consideration.

Resettlement Instruments and Indigenous Peoples’ Development Plans

34.               Whenever the Bank requires a Resettlement Instrument (RI)[25] or Indigenous Peoples’ Development Plan (IPDP) [26] for an operation, the proposed borrower prepares an RI or IPDP as a separate, free-standing document.  As a condition of appraisal of the operation, the borrower provides the draft RI or IPDP, which conforms to the relevant policy[27], and makes it available at a place accessible to, and in a form, manner and language understandable to the displaced or affected people and local NGOs. [28] Once the Bank accepts the draft RI or IPDP as providing an adequate basis for project appraisal, and before the Bank begins formal appraisal of the project, the Bank makes it publicly available.  After the Bank has approved the final RI or IPDP, the borrower again makes it available at a place accessible to, and in a form, manner and language understandable to the displaced or affected people and local NGOs.  When the borrower officially transmits the final RI or IPDP to the Bank, it is publicly available.[29]

Procurement Opportunities and Contract Awards

35.               Information on procurement opportunities under a Bank-financed project is available through the project’s PID, the Monthly Operational Summary, and the project’s PAD, which describes in some detail the items to be financed under the project.  A United Nations publication, Development Business, publishes for each Bank-financed project, general procurement notices for goods and works to be procured through international competitive bidding, as well as services.

36.               Information on major contract awards (a description of the contract, the name and nationality of the successful bidder, and the contract price) may be disclosed after the borrower has informed the Bank that the contract has been signed.  Major contract award decisions are published in Development Business and on the Bank’s website.

Trust Funds

37.               Subject to agreements with the donors concerned, the following information on activities financed under trust funds administered by the Bank [30] is made publicly available: (a) funding proposals after they are approved by such donor(s); (b) aggregate financial information on the amount of contributions made to trust funds by such donor; (c) aggregate financial information on the amount of disbursements made from such donor’s trust funds to specific activities or countries; and (d) the annual financial statements prepared by the Bank on trust funds.

38.               For each Full-Sized Global Environment Facility (GEF) project [31]   under preparation, the Bank prepares a GEF Project Information Document (GEF-PID)[32] that provides a brief factual summary of the main elements of the evolving project. [33]   A list of factual technical documents that underpin project preparation (including analytical work, assessments, surveys, etc.) is contained in the GEF-PID.  The GEF-PID is prepared when the first formal review of the proposed operation is held by Bank management, and is made publicly available.  As project preparation evolves, the GEF-PID is updated.  The updated GEF-PIDs are also publicly available.

39.               When an interested party requests additional technical information about a GEF Full-Sized project under preparation, the director concerned may release factual technical documents, in whole or in part, after consulting with the recipient concerned.

40.               For each proposed Full-Sized GEF project, the Bank prepares a GEF Project Brief, which describes how the project conforms to GEF eligibility criteria.  Once the GEF Chief Executive Officer has included such project in the GEF work program and submitted the program to the GEF Council for approval, the related GEF Project Brief is publicly available.  Subsequently, the Bank prepares a GEF Project Document (GEF-PD) for such project, which describes  the project, and sets forth the Bank’s appraisal and assessment of the feasibility of, and justification for, the project.  Once the GEF Chief Executive Officer has notified the GEF Council of his or her endorsement of the final GEF-PD (or intention to endorse such document), and prior to final Bank approval of the grant for such project, it is publicly available.

41.               As a GEF Implementing Agency, the Bank provides summary information relating to each Full-Sized GEF project included in its portfolio of projects in the GEF Project Pipeline Document and Operational Report on GEF Projects, both of which are publicly available.

42.               For all GEF Medium-Sized projects, [34] the Bank prepares a GEF Project Brief, which describes the project.  Prior to endorsement of such project by the GEF Chief Executive Officer, the related project brief is publicly available. 

43.               The Bank prepares an Integrated Safeguards Data Sheet (GEF-ISDS) [35] for each Full-Sized GEF project and each Medium-Sized GEF project in the manner described above in paragraph 30.  If the Bank requires an environmental assessment (EA), Resettlement Instrument (RI) or Indigenous Peoples’ Development Plan (IPDP) for such project, the disclosure requirements set forth above in paragraphs 31-34 apply to such project with the following modification:  for a GEF Medium-Sized project, the requirement under such paragraphs 31-34 that a document be publicly available before the Bank begins formal appraisal is replaced with a requirement that the document be publicly available at least 21 days before Bank approval of such project.

44.               Upon completion of each GEF operation, the Bank reviews the results, and prepares an assessment of the operation, known as an Implementation Completion Report (GEF-ICR) [36] in the case of a Full-Sized GEF project, and a Project Completion Report (GEF-PCR) in the case of a Medium-Sized GEF project.  GEF-ICRs are publicly available after they have been distributed to the Executive Directors for information.  GEF-PCRs are also publicly available.

45.               Papers submitted to the GEF Council for its information or consideration are publicly available prior to the GEF Council meeting.

Ratings

46.               The Bank prepares assessments of the policies and institutions, known as Country Policy and Institutional Assessments (CPIAs), for borrowing countries.  The relative CPIA ratings for countries eligible for IDA financing, classified by quintile, are publicly available.

Implementation Completion Reports

47.               Upon completion of each lending operation financed by the Bank, the Bank reviews the results, and prepares an assessment of the operation, known as an Implementation Completion Report (ICR)[37].  ICRs are publicly available after they have been distributed to the Executive Directors for information.

OED Evaluations

48.               The Operations Evaluation Department (OED) of the Bank, an independent department which reports directly to the Bank’s Executive Directors, prepares evaluations of selected completed operations, known as Project Performance Assessment Reports (PPARs), and assessments of the impact of selected completed operations, known as Impact Evaluation Reports (IERs).  PPARs and IERs are publicly available after they have been distributed to the Executive Directors.

49.               OED prepares evaluations of the effectiveness of Bank assistance in a given country, known as Country Assistance Evaluations (CAEs).  CAEs are publicly available after they have been discussed by the Executive Directors, unless the country concerned objects to such disclosure and the Executive Directors agree.

50.               OED prepares sector and thematic evaluations (that report on the implementation of Bank policies and development effectiveness of the Bank’s activities in a particular sector or thematic area), and process evaluations (that report on the overall efficiency, consistency with stated objectives, and effectiveness of ongoing activities).  These evaluations are publicly available after they have been discussed by the Executive Directors, unless the Executive Directors decide otherwise.  Management responses to the evaluation, if any, and the concluding remarks of the Chairman of the Executive Directors on the discussion by the Executive Directors of the evaluation are also publicly available if the underlying OED evaluation is publicly available.

QAG Synthesis Reports

51.               The Bank’s Quality Assurance Group (QAG) conducts quality assessments of selected operations during their preparation and implementation, and of ESW.  The annual synthesis reports prepared by QAG regarding its assessments are publicly available after they have been discussed by the Executive Directors.  Other synthesis reports are publicly available after they have been distributed to the Executive Directors for information.

Confidential and Sensitive Operational Information

52.               Pursuant to relevant provisions of this Part III, the Bank makes publicly available, after finalization, certain of the following documents:  ESW, CAS, JSA, PAD, PD, TRD, HIPC documents, ICR, PPAR, IER, CAE, other OED reports, QAG Synthesis Reports and factual technical documents.  Such documents may, however, involve or contain information or data that may be confidential or sensitive or that may adversely affect relations between countries and the Bank.  In such cases, taking into account the provisions of Part IV of this statement, the country or borrower concerned is requested, prior to the finalization of such documents or during negotiations related to them, to identify any text or data that is confidential or sensitive or that may adversely affect relations with the Bank if disclosed. [38]   The Bank, as it considers appropriate, makes adjustments to deal with the matters of concern prior to making such documents publicly available.  Further, in exceptional cases, if extensive issues of confidentiality, sensitivity or adverse relations with the Bank arise, the Bank may restrict the release of such document.  The cover page of any such document carries a note indicating that the release of such a document is restricted.