| |
Contributions from
the Column
Monitor
Sudan: fragmented and neglected
IMF: US pushes for refom of voting rights
Good grades for German Technical Cooperation
10th Bremen Solidarity Prize
World Press Photo 2005
Wolfowitz’ difficulties at the World Bank
US administration modifies development approach
UN peacekeepers accused of corruption
Cooperative without Borders treads new paths
Afghanistan: new support and old criticism
03/2006
|
|
[ The World Bank ]
Up-hill struggle for Wolfowitz
Nine months after assuming office, World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz is evidently meeting with growing displeasure within the Bank. The World Bank Staff Association is accusing the former US Deputy Secretary of Defence of inadequate consultation with staff and of stretching Bank rules when making decisions on leadership positions.
In particular, the appointment of Suzanne Rich Folsom, who has been a close confidante of Wolfowitz for many years, as the new director of the internal anti-corruption Department for Institutional Integrity rocked the boat at the end of January. In an e-mail message to all employees, Alison Cave, chair of the Staff Association, stated that the president has a certain degree of freedom to make decisions, but that such an important positions had to be filled in a more transparent manner. Cave bemoaned that Rich Folsom will continue to be an adviser to Wolfowitz. The double assignment, in her view, raises “questions about independence and objectivity”. Cave added: “ In order to be effective as an institution, we must exemplify the recommendations we make to others. This is particularly important at the highest levels of the institution.”
Wolfowitz defended the appointment of Rich Folsom at a staff meeting in early February. The US citizen was brought to the bank by Wolfowitz’ predecessor James Wolfensohn and given the task of improving World Bank relations with Republican members of the US Congress.
The appointment of Kevin Kellems – another of Wolfowitz’ confidantes with Republican Party affiliations – as new Chief Strategist in the Department of External Affairs has also stirred up disquiet. At the end of January, the anti-corruption unit received an anonymous complaint stating that Kellems’ appointment violated the internal rules with regard to salary and term of contract.
Close friends of Wolfowitz say that a change in top-leadership always leads to frictions at the World Bank. Meanwhile, in a survey conducted in autumn 2005, only 48% of World Bank staff declared they knew in which direction the Bank was heading. In 2003, 67% had responded accordingly. The survey is conducted every two years. The proportion of those who think the Bank has developed for the better in the past 12 months shrunk from 35% in 2003 to 19% last year. 55% of respondents stated they had read Wolfowitz’ speech from the last World Bank annual meeting in autumn 2005. Of those who did, however, 96% stated they agreed with policy outlined in the transcript. (ell)
|
