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Eastern Europe & Central Asia

Crops field in Ukraine

Land

Commentary

Ukraine's post-war agricultural recovery: Returning to the way things were is not enough

World Bank and other international financial institutions need to ensure Ukraine’s agriculture sector reforms lead to increased liquidity for smaller farms and ensure local development, environmentally sustainable investments and a transparent land market.

4 October 2023 | Guest comment

Land

Analysis

World Bank and IMF’s response to global food crisis misses mark, as financial speculation drives food prices to historic highs

Action plan launched by Bretton Woods Institutions and other IFIs ignores role of corporatisation of agriculture in contributing to current crisis.

21 July 2022

IFI governance

Analysis

Spring Meetings 2022 Wrap-Up: Progress on key issues side-tracked by Ukraine invasion and BWIs’ own sense of drift

Spring Meetings conclude with frantic calls for stronger multilateralism, but few advances in key issues such as Covid-19 unequal recovery, debt, inequality and climate crises, while Russia participation prevents G20, G24 and Development Committee from releasing a communique.

26 April 2022

IFI governance

Analysis

IMFC chair statement analysis – Spring Meetings 2022

The IMFC issued a chair statement in place of a communiqué. It discussed a long list of challenges with focus on fallout from Ukraine invasion and climate change.

26 April 2022

IFI governance

Analysis

Spring Meetings 2022 Preamble: War in Ukraine risks deepening divergent recovery as World Bank and IMF prepare for Spring Meetings

War in Ukraine will have significant spillover effects as Global South continues to carry the burden of vaccine inequity. Debt, austerity and evolving food crisis key talking points of Meetings while unequal recovery, gender, RST and surcharges key issues at CSPF.

14 April 2022

Rights

News

IFC faces critical questions over investments in gig economy

IFC’s investments in gig economy platform companies come under scrutiny

13 July 2021

IFI governance

Analysis

IMFC communiqué analysis – Spring Meetings 2021

Analysis of the IMFC communiqué published on 8 April from the 2021 World Bank and IMF virtual Spring Meetings.

13 April 2021

Conditionality

News

Civil society raises alarm about IMF’s continued backing of austerity amidst pandemic

Egypt, Ukraine, South Africa and Ecuador have recently signed IMF loan programmes that involve severe austerity measures.

6 October 2020
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Other news

Finance

News

IMF continues to disregard UN Human Rights Commission concerns about its surcharge policy

IMF managing director continues to refuse to answer letter from UN Human Rights Council concerning the negative impact of IMF surcharges as world celebrates 75th anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

5 April 2023

Land

News

Corporations are expanding control over Ukraine’s land with help from the IMF and the World Bank

New report from the Oakland Institute exposes the stealth take-over of Ukrainian agricultural land known as the “breadbasket of Europe”.

5 April 2023

Infrastructure

News

New deal allows for ICSID claims on fossil fuel investments until 2033

Loophole in renegotiated Energy Charter Treaty could see companies sue countries for losses related to fossil fuel projects until 2033.

4 October 2022

Finance

News

Calls for Ukraine debt relief grow as IMF and World Bank provide fresh loans amidst crisis

The country – reeling from the Russia invasion – owes a total of $22 billion to the IMF, World Bank and other international financial institutions.

6 April 2022

Finance

News

Civil society campaign urges IMF to stop using punitive surcharges

Over 250 civil society experts urge the IMF to eliminate its punitive surcharges on countries in debt distress as they undermine an equitable economic recovery and exacerbate the global debt crisis.

6 April 2022

Knowledge

News

Doing Business Report to be published after temporary suspension over data irregularities

World Bank plans to publish latest DBR in March and undertake an external review of the report’s methodology.

23 March 2021

Land

News

IMF and World Bank help push through contentious Ukraine land reform amid Covid-19 pandemic

Bank and Fund-backed land bill passed in dead of night during lockdown favouring private investors and Western agribusiness.

16 July 2020

Land

News

World Bank, IMF and EBRD push for controversial land reform in Ukraine

Ukraine passes contentious draft land reform law under pressure from World Bank, IMF and EBRD.

12 December 2019
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