Global Transparency Iniciative

The Global Transparency Initiative (GTI) is a network of civil society organisations promoting openness in the International Financial Institutions (IFIs), such as the World Bank, the IMF, the European Investment Bank and Regional Development Banks.

The GTI believes the people have a right to information from public institutions and a right to participate in the development policies and projects that affect their lives. In IFI-supported activities, transparency can help reduce corruption; identify potential social, environmental and economic risks and benefits; and avoid damaging communities and sensitive ecosystems.

Current projects led by the GTI and its member organisations include: 1. drafting a Transparency Charter setting out the standards and norms that we say should govern IFI disclosure policy, and the principles that should guide its practice. The Charter is the key discussion document for widening and extending the global IFI transparency and accountability movement. 2. Development of a comprehensive IFI transparency resource which compares the transparency standards of ten IFIs. 3. Case studies and transparency audits illustrating how transparency, or lack thereof, has contributed to positive and negative outcomes. 4. Comparative legal studies looking at specific exceptions of particular importance to IFI openness. 5. Coordinated requests for information from IFIs using domestic Freedom of Information legislation. 6. Addvocacy around ongoing IFI disclosure policy reviews. 7. Providing small grants to individuals and organisations to contribute to any of the above listed activities.