World Bank Reforming to Meet New Challenges: Access to Information Effective July 1, 2010

1. World Bank Reforming to Meet New Challenges:Access to InformationEffective July 1, 2010 The World Bank

2. http://www.worldbank.org/wbaccess Adapting to Changing Demands

3. 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 http://www.worldbank.org/wbaccess

4. Guiding principles of the policy http://www.worldbank.org/wbaccess

5. What Progress Looks Like Access to Information Policy List of Exceptions Disclosure Policy Clear procedures Positive list Maximizing access Cumbersome and costly Right to appeal Lack of clarity No right to appeal http://www.worldbank.org/wbaccess

6. Snapshot: Comparing the Past and Future http://www.worldbank.org/wbaccess

7. 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 http://www.worldbank.org/wbaccess

8. 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 http://www.worldbank.org/wbaccess

9. 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 http://www.worldbank.org/wbaccess

10. 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 http://www.worldbank.org/wbaccess

11. Bank’s Prerogatives • The Bank preserves the right, under exceptional circumstances to: • Disclose certain restricted information or • 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. http://www.worldbank.org/wbaccess

12. 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 http://www.worldbank.org/wbaccess

13. 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. • http://www.worldbank.org/wbaccess

14. Accessing Information http://www.worldbank.org/wbaccess

15. 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

16. 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) http://www.worldbank.org/wbaccess

17. Right to Appeal – Two Grounds http://www.worldbank.org/wbaccess

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