ABSTRACT
Environmental management in general, the extent of overall organisational change determines the feasibility rather than the mere announcement of attention to environmental issues or the allocation of budgets. The impact of World Bank policies on environmental management in developing countries has been substantial. In the past decade, large changes have taken place within the World Bank: past mistakes are now candidly acknowledged and a restructuring is under way. The international coalition sought to improve the environmental situation in developing countries by lobbying the World Bank directly and indirectly, through the most powerful member states. Requirements to reckon with the environment and to involve local organisations in the preparation and implementation of projects have enlarged the Bank's influence on borrowing countries' policies. The interplay of international, country and project factors, and the Bank's limits and possibilities in influencing performance and social and environmental impact, is clearly shown.
