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Environment

News

Resilience and Sustainability Trust’s first loans promote climate PPPs, raising concerns they may create fiscal risks

Initial financing for Costa Rica, Barbados, Rwanda, Bangladesh and Jamaica tied to efforts to ‘green’ PPP frameworks.

5 April 2023

Social services

News

World Bank’s definition of ‘universal’ social protection - another buzzword?

World Bank’s newly released Social Protection and Jobs Compass guidance note creates confusion over the Bank’s definition of ‘universal’ social protection.

8 December 2022

Conditionality

News

Unbalanced financial stimulus followed by fiscal austerity: When will the IMF learn from its mistakes?!

New reports by Financial Transparency Coalition and Eurodad highlight uneven distribution of Covid-19 stimulus spending followed by socially painful fiscal austerity.

8 December 2022

Rights

News

A new SDR allocation: Combatting deepening fragility concerns

The links between high debt burdens, lack of climate finance, austerity and the rise in political instability and fragility, conflict and violence remain largely neglected as IMF shareholders consider calls for a new SDR allocation, as proposed by the Bridgetown Agenda.

8 December 2022

Social services

News

World Bank issues new guidance on PPPs legal frameworks, ignoring long-standing concerns with the model

New World Bank guidance on PPP legal frameworks evidence of institution’s continued reliance on PPPs as key to addressing SDG financing gap despite well-documented failures. Previous World Bank PPP contracts template criticised for incompatibility with human rights norms.

4 October 2022

Social services

News

World Bank’s commitment to private sector-led development casts doubt on effectiveness of new Pandemic Preparedness Fund

The World Bank’s proposal to establish a fund for Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response raises questions about the Bank’s support for private sector healthcare at the expense of public provision.

21 July 2022

Social services

News

World Bank's new gender strategy: Concerns about approach to social protection and gender-blind macroeconomic reforms remain

With the World Bank’s current gender strategy set to expire next year, care and social protection emerge as a possible focus, but CSOs remain skeptical that Bank's private sector-led approach will deliver on women's rights.

21 July 2022

Social services

Analysis

IMF rhetoric and practice on public sector wage constraints: Advice to slash spending continues despite Covid-19 pandemic

Forthcoming research from ActionAid International shows IMF’s dogmatic support for public sector wage bill cuts continues.

29 September 2021 | Guest analysis

Other news

Social services

News

4 October 2023

Sri Lankan trade unions call out IMF and World Bank's dismantling of country’s social protection system in favour of ineffective targeting schemes

Sri Lankan trade unions call out IMF and World Bank's dismantling of country’s social protection system in favor of ineffective targeting schemes.

Social services

News

5 April 2023

Civil society calls to move away from PPPs grow, while World Bank doubles down on private finance-led approach

Civil society ramps up calls to move away from public-private partnerships (PPPs) with Santiago Declaration for Public Services. 

Infrastructure

News

5 April 2023

MIGA’s support for gas projects raises concerns about its climate credentials

World Bank’s commercial insurance arm provided nearly $850 million in guarantees for gas projects in Bangladesh and Mozambique in fiscal year 2022.

Conditionality

News

21 July 2022

The human face of the World Bank's private sector bias: The privatisation of Kenya's healthcare

A November 2021 report by the Center for Human Rights and Global Justice at New York University highlights the human rights consequences of the World Bank’s Maximising Finance for Development approach.

Social services

News

21 July 2022

World Bank’s IFC ends funding for fee-paying primary and secondary schools

Independent Evaluation Group report highlighted private sector education provision can exacerbate inequality and undermine the public sector school system.

Social services

News

6 April 2022

Civil society hails IFC’s divestment from for-profit education provider Bridge International Academies

The divestment follows a 2020 freeze in new IFC direct and indirect investments in for-profit education providers.

Social services

News

9 December 2021

Global Day of Action against the IMF and World Bank rejects corporate recovery agenda

Civil society day of action rejects corporate agenda and greenwashing in World Bank and IMF Covid-19 recovery.

Finance

News

9 December 2021

Civil society frustrated by lack of substantive engagement in IDA20 replenishment process

Private sector first approach intact in IDA20 replenishment despite CSO recommendations.