Established development banks no longer the only option

SUPPOSE you were to approach a bank for a loan to finance a home extension. Questions about income and assets (to determine repayment ability) would come as no surprise and it might be considered normal too if the bank asked whether the extension would add value to your home.

But suppose the bank wanted to know about the environmental impact of your extension, what effect it might have on the neighbours, whether it could create pollution or health hazards, the strain it might place on power and water supply, on the construction industry, and myriad other things.

What if the bank also wanted to assess "governance standards" in your home, your approach to education and gender issues, views on poverty reduction and so on? You might give up the whole idea or resign yourself to a long wait while all these apparently spurious criteria were examined.