Policy

Policy Framework

The World Bank’s Policy on Access to Information (ATI) has helped make the organization a global leader in transparency and accountability. The policy is based on the principle that the World Bank (the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Development Association) will disclose any information in its possession that is not on its list of exceptions.

The Policy also sets out a clear process for making information publicly available and provides a right to appeal if information‑seekers believe they were improperly or unreasonably denied access, or if they consider there is a public interest case to override an exception that restricts access to certain information.

List of Exceptions

In accordance with the ATI Policy, the World Bank does not provide access to information that contains or refers to:

• Personal Information
• Communications of Governors and/or Executive Directors' Offices
• Ethics Committee
• Attorney-Client Privilege
• Security and Safety
• Information Restricted Under Separate Disclosure Regimes and Other Investigative Information
• Information Provided by Member Countries or Third Parties in Confidence
• Corporate Administrative Matters
• Deliberative Information
• Financial Information

The Bank also reserves the right not to disclose, under exceptional circumstances, information that it would normally disclose if it determines that such disclosure is likely to cause harm that outweighs the benefits of disclosure.

For details on the ATI Policy exceptions, please see Section III of the Policy.

For details on the ATI Policy prerogatives to disclose and to restrict access to information, please see Section IV of the Policy.