oD support open standards:

About Nora Honkaniemi

Nora joined Eurodad in November 2009 as the Advocacy and Networking Officer. Nora works on aid effectiveness, and on the role of International Financial Institutions in development finance. Her roles include advocacy, monitoring policy developments, network coordination and facilitation.

Before joining Eurodad Nora worked in policy and campaigns and in fundraising in ActionAid International in Brussels and London. Nora has also worked in political risk analysis, for the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, and in NGOs working on accountability, gender, governance and EU Africa issues.

Nora has an undergraduate degree in European Studies from the University of London and a MA in International Studies and Diplomacy from the School of Oriental and African Studies. Nora speaks Finnish and Swedish as her mother tongues, as well as English, French and Portuguese.

Articles by Nora Honkaniemi

Tuesday 31st August

World Bank crisis-lending contravenes Eurodad responsible lending principles

Nora Honkaniemi and Clare Birkett, 31 August 2010

Despite commitments by the World Bank to significantly reduce conditions attached to its loans, research from Eurodad reveals that a massive 57 conditions were attached to three loans given to Ghana in 2009. 12 out of the 57 conditions were stipulated in a side document, and not made explicit in loan agreements themselves, contravening responsible financing principles.

These economic policy conditions restrict the right of Ghana - a country with good democratic credentials - to decide for itself how to recover from the global crisis and boost sustainable investment. The reforms that the World Bank imposes may hinder not help Ghana's development and democratic institutions.