In 2023, BWP continued its work as a watchdog of the World Bank and the IMF, supporting and amplifying the voices of critical civil society groups to capitalise on calls for substantive change, with a focus on four advocacy areas: Gender equality and macroeconomics, the environment, governance reform and accountability, and financialisation and human rights.
International
IFI governance
News
Civil society calls for a meaningful Quota Reform that accurately reflects the changes in the global economy to ensure a fair representation of all member countries
Civil society calls upon the IMF to implement a meaningful quota reform by June 2025 and prioritise realignment of shares to reflect more accurately the changes in the global economy and address representation issues
Knowledge
Background
Recommended Resources on the World Bank and the IMF 2023
As every year, BWP published its collection of reports, briefings, CSO letters and other resources with a critical angle published in the past year on the World Bank and the IMF.
Gender
Background
(CLOSED) Gender Equality and Macroeconomics (GEM) Project Lead
BWP is seeking a Gender Equality and Macroeconomics (GEM) Project Lead to manage BWP’s ongoing GEM Project and lead BWP’s work on gender equality and women’s rights.
Accountability
Analysis
A proposal for Ajay: No evolution without remedy
While World Bank President declares the benefits of a “bigger and better” Bank, the scandal of alleged child sexual abuse and cover up relating to IFC investments in Bridge Academies demonstrates the urgent need for the Bank to establish a robust remedy framework.
Environment
Analysis
Coal not yet confined to the “old days” by World Bank Group
Despite the World Bank’s commitment to move away from funding coal, a series of loopholes in its financial intermediary lending remain that will continue to allow finance to support coal power projects.
Finance
Analysis
Decolonising the global economic architecture: The prerequisite for a just transition
Global South faces severe structural deficiencies that weaken its economic sovereignty and put it at the mercy of a neo-colonial global financial architecture.
Conditionality
Analysis
World Bank and IMF promoting private finance and fiscal consolidation despite mounting evidence of harmful impacts
Civil society research documents clear harms from privatisation and fiscal consolidation on public services and human rights, as Bank and Fund push for their deepening.
Other news
Finance
News
Significant IDA21 replenishment required as need for concessional finance grows
Rich countries need to agree to an ambitious IDA21 replenishment to address compounding economic and liquidity crises, causing high levels of debt distress in low-income countries.
Environment
News
IFC trade finance continues to invest in fossil fuels, with no board oversight
New research by Urgewald finds that the World Bank Group invested an estimated $3.7 billion in oil and gas developments in 2022 via trade financing.
Finance
News
Civil society urges governments to agree on a UN tax body as a high priority
African Group’s proposal for a UN Tax Convention moves forward as CSOs keep pressure on rich countries not to block it.
Finance
News
New book addresses shortcomings of traditional approaches to debt and economics
New book details the gendered effects of austerity and argues that the human rights of people living in debt-distressed countries must take precedence over creditors’ financial interests.
IFI governance
Background
An Evolution Roadmap responsive to development crises? Towards an external evaluation of the World Bank’s cascade
Notes from the Civil Society Policy Forum on 11 October 2023 titled, "An Evolution Roadmap responsive to development crises? Towards an external evaluation of the World Bank’s cascade."
IFI governance
Background
The B-Ready Project: A significant departure from the Doing Business Report?
Notes from the Civil Society Policy Forum on 12 October 2023 titled, "The B-Ready Project: A significant departure from the Doing Business Report?"
IFI governance
Background
African perspectives on the reforms of the international financial architecture
Notes from the Civil Society Policy Forum Session 'African perspectives on the reforms of the international financial architecture' on 11 October 2023.
IFI governance
Background
Transformative policy pathways: Lessons from feminist economics programming for the IMF
Notes from the Civil Society Policy Forum on 10 October 2023 titled "Transformative policy pathways: Lessons from feminist economics programming for the IMF."