INTRODUCTION

On August 26, 1993, the World Bank Executive Directors approved a new and expanded information policy (Appendix I, World Bank Policy on Disclosure of Information)'. The new policy expands public availability of Bank project and sector investment documents, environmental and social information, and documents that contain information on economic and country sector work. The basis of the Bank's policy is that there is a presumption in favor of disclosure of information in the absence of a compelling reason not to disclose2.

On January 1, 1994, the World Bank established a Public Information Center at its headquarters in Washington, DC that will contain most of the information available under the new policy. Information available under the new policy can also be requested from World Bank field offices in borrowing countries and in the Bank's offices in London, Paris and Tokyo. The establishment of both a new information policy and the Public Information Center was partly in response to NGOs, legislators and member governments lobbying for more transparency and public accountability at the World Bank.

The purpose of this Citizens' Guide is to help non-governmental organizations (NGOs), local communities and people directly affected by Bank projects to gain access to World Bank documents, and to utilize the new policy and the Public Information Center to the fullest extent possible. This guide describes what documents are available under the new policy, where to find them, and contains a glossary that describes what information is contained in specific project documents. The information provided in this guide pertains to the information policy of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the

International Development Association (IDA) only. It does not review the information policy of the International Finance Corporation (IFC). The IFC policy is however reproduced in its entirety in Appendix II for your information.

This guide is based on five documents, four of which appear in the appendices:

1. The World Bank Policy on Disclosure of
Information, March 1994 (Appendix I)
2. World Bank Procedures: Disclosure of
Operational Information (BP 17.50),
September 1993 (Appendix III).
3. World Bank Office Memorandum on

Disclosure of Operational Information, Jan Wijnand, November 24, 1993 (Appendix IV); 4. World Bank Office Memorandum on Disclosure of Factual Technical Documents, Jan Wijnand, June 20, 1994 (Appendix V); and 5. Expanding Access to Bank Information (August 31, 1993)3.

As a courtesy, the NGO Unit at the World Bank provides a document called the "Monthly Operational Summary of Bank and IDA Proposed Projects” (MOS) to a number of NGOs that are able to share the information and resources of the MOS, such as NGOs that participate in networks or coalitions or provide information and services in the development field. Such NGOs may apply to receive the MOS at no cost by requesting to be added to the "MOS mailing list.” That request should be sent to: The NGO Unit, Operations Policy Department, The World Bank, 1818 "H" Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20433, USA. The fax number is (202) 522-3282.

Individuals, consultants and other interested parties may purchase an annual subscription to the MOS (12 issues per year) for US$ 125.00 from the following address:

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Document should be a minimum of two pages and give a brief factual summary of the main elements of the evolving project. This should include: (a) the project's objectives; (b) expected or probable components; (c) costs and financing, (d) environmental issues; (e) status of procurement and consulting services; (f) studies to be undertaken; (g) implementing agencies; and (h) relevant points of contact. The Project Information Document is supposed to be updated and expanded as the project is developed.

2. Factual Technical Project Documents Effective Date: January 1, 1994

During project preparation, if more information is needed than is contained in the Project Information Document, requests can be made for Project or Sector Loan Documents containing "factual technical information". Factual technical documents start becoming available during project design and planning.

The Bank has defined Factual Technical Documents to include the following types of docu

ments:

prefeasibility studies

feasibility studies, including cost/benefit
analysis

site and soil investigations
detailed design studies

financial statements of the agencies responsi-
ble for implementing the project

a description of the institutional framework
technical studies that support the environ-
mental impact analysis
project-related poverty analysis

Special Tips on Requesting Factual Technical
Documents:

1. When requesting Factual Technical

Documents, first send requests to the Public Information Center, or order the documents through your field office or the Tokyo, London or Paris offices.

2. If you do not get a timely response to your first request, send your request directly to the Country Director in the relevant Country Department.

3. The list of Factual Technical Documents (above) is preliminary and could be expanded later. If the information you want does not appear on this list, don't be discouraged. Request the information anyway and remember to be as specific as possible about what type of information or document you want. See document glossary (Appendix IX) for names and contents of other World Bank documents.

4. For more details on Factual Technical Documents refer to Appendix V.

3. Final Staff Appraisal Reports

Effective Date: Staff Appraisal Reports are publicly available for all projects and sector loans for which an "invitation to negotiate" was issued after October 1, 19934.

The Staff Appraisal Report is the main technical document of a project or sector loan. It is much more extensive than the Project Information Document.

Staff Appraisal Reports may contain the following information: (a) an in-depth description of the project or the sector (such as the energy or agricultural sector); (b) institutional issues; (c) the rationale for the Bank's involvement; (d) the goals and strategy for a given sector; (e) project origin and the status preparation; (f) details of legal agreements reached between the Bank and the borrower country; (g) monitoring and supervision arrangements; and (h) the financing plan and the economic justification.

Final Staff Appraisal Reports for projects and sector loans should be made publicly available after they are approved by the Board of Executive Directors.

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