Social services

Analysis

Gender WDR

8 February 2012

The 2012 World Development Report is a watershed moment: it is the first time that the World Bank, the world's largest and most influential development institution, has devoted its flagship publication to gender. Kate Bedford of the University of Kent argues that the report leaves the Bank failing to face up to its role in perpetuating policies that harm women, and is seriously limited in its approach to women's movements, markets, and households.

IFI governance

News

World Bank or US Bank?

Rumours that Robert Zoellick will not seek another term as World Bank president after his term ends in June have thrown open the debate about leadership selection at the Bank.

7 February 2012

Finance

News

Unsafe haven? New IFC tax haven policy questioned

A new report finds widespread use of tax havens by World Bank clients, while the new Bank policy is criticised for having major loopholes.

7 February 2012

Social services

Commentary

IMF from Argentina to Greece: similar but different

The economic crisis in Argentina in 2001 and Greece today share both similarities and differences, so we should be wary of stretching the comparison.

7 February 2012 | Guest comment

Accountability

News

Harvesting controversy

While the Bank prepares to revise its agriculture strategy, its focus on market liberalisation is criticised, its own complaints bodies issue damning reports on agriculture projects in Peru and Papua New Guinea, and critics fault its gender focus.

7 February 2012

Conditionality

News

IMF in a euromess?

The IMF responds to calls from European leaders to get more involved in the European debt crisis through greater lending to the region, however, the austerity policies being demanded are stoking further criticism from civil society organisations.

3 February 2012

IFI governance

Background

IMF resources: quota, NAB and GAB

One of the IMF's three roles is lending to members countries with balance of payments difficulties, using resources provided by its other members. Generally, these resources come in two forms: quota contributions tied to voting rights in the institution, and bilateral contributions which do not affect countries' voting rights.

7 February 2012 | Inside the institutions

Accountability

News

New World Bank infrastructure strategy

A World Bank infrastructure strategy update, developed because of a G20 push for more infrastructure investment, reaffirms the Bank's commitment to large-scale projects and scaled up private finance through public-private partnerships (PPPs, see Update 77), despite questions about bloated costs and development impact.

7 February 2012

Accountability

News

The World Bank and extractives: a rich seam of controversy

As World Bank projects fail to reduce corruption in the mining sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), International Financial Corporation (IFC) investments in extractives are provoking complaints and protests around the world.

7 February 2012

Land

News

On a carbon market mission

While steaming ahead with new carbon market initiatives, the World Bank attracted further criticism and suffered potential setbacks on agriculture and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) at the UN climate negotiations in Durban.

7 February 2012

Accountability

News

Green light for revised PforR, but concerns remain

The World Bank board has approved the controversial new Program-for-Results (PforR) lending instrument, with some concessions to criticism.

7 February 2012

Knowledge

Background

Recommended resources on the World Bank and IMF 2011

Recommendations from Bretton Woods Project staff on the best papers, books and electronic resources of 2011.

7 February 2012 | Resource

Accountability

News

IFC's private equity investments cause controversy

The increasing use of private equity (PE) firms as conduits for World Bank lending continues to stoke controversy.

7 February 2012