The Norwegian government has stopped funding World Bank's Public Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF), says World Development Movement (WDM), a UK-based group. Norway's move comes close to the recent collapse of water privatisation scheme in Guyana, says Vicky Cann of WDM. Norway is the sixth largest donor of PPIAF. "By withdrawing financial and political support, Norway is sending an important signal to the other donors of PPIAF,' notes a WDM statement.

PPIAF was set up in 1999 with the aim to "help developing countries improve their infrastructure quality through private sector involvement'. Of late, it has been mired in controversy, with critics accusing it of favouring privatisation, particularly in poor countries.