This paper proposes a revised Disclosure Policy for the World Bank. Public interest in transparency has been increasing and the World Bank itself has provided advice and technical assistance to many governments in this area. In this new climate, the transparency standards of international financial institutions have come under increasing public scrutiny. The proposed policy (released on 2 October 2009) would constitute a radical shift in the Bank’s disclosure paradigm — from a policy that spells out what the Bank may disclose, to one that presumes the Bank will disclose any information in its possession that is not on a list of exceptions. Under the revised policy, the Bank would routinely make available to the public as much information as practical, particularly on its external website, and it would adopt clear and cost-effective procedures for requesting, and responding to requests for, information. It would also provide an appeals mechanism for those who believe that the Bank has unreasonably denied access to information that should be publicly available.
