Unexploited Potential? What Role Can International Financial Institutions Play in Drugs and Development?

This paper assesses the potential for and obstacles to engagement on drugs issues from a development perspective by the World Bank and other International Financial Institutions, based on a review of the World Bank’s experience in Afghanistan as well as more general institutional aspects. Afghanistan demonstrates both the possibilities and benefits as well as the limitations of World Bank/IFI engagement on drugs and development. Prospects for duplicating, let alone exceeding, the level of Bank engagement on drugs seen in Afghanistan would not appear to be good. With pro-active encouragement and support by member countries of the World Bank/IFIs, however, there may be some entry points in major drug-producing countries and relating to global themes such as money-laundering or illicit-economic activities.