Fund inflexibility in Nicaragua disputed (Bretton Woods Project)

Fund inflexibility in Nicaragua disputed

The IMF has defended itself in response to a civil society campaign in Nicaragua (see Update 51). A 19 June letter from the IMF's Nicaragua mission head blamed social spending constraints on "weaknesses of the structure and efficiency of social spending". The IMF pinpointed spending on universities, the Supreme Court, transfers to municipalities and public sector wages as the largest impediments. Coordinadora Civil, a coalition of Nicaraguan NGOs, responded that the IMF should respect the constitution of Nicaragua which requires the municipal transfers and university spending. It also challenged the IMF characterisation of public sector wage increases for health and education workers as not being pro-poor.

Defensa del Fondo respecto a su inflexibilidad en Nicaragua News|Bretton Woods Project|19 September 2006|update 52|url
El Fondo se defendió ante a la campaña de la sociedad civil en Nicaragua. read article...
One hand gives while the other takes: Nicaragua under IMF conditions Comment|Adolfo José Acevedo Vogl|19 June 2006|update 51|url
IMF conditionality undermines achievement of MDGs in Nicaragua read article...
Inflexibility on aid scale up haunts IMF fiscal conditions News|Bretton Woods Project|19 June 2006|update 51|url
The rigidity of Fund programmes is causing chafing at the collar in governments and civil society organisations in low-income countries, as the debate over the scaling up of aid rages. read article...