IMF proposes a grassroots communication strategy to convince the public of the need for further austerity measures as publications reveal fear that social unrest will make reforms ‘unimplementable’.
The Bretton Woods Project is a civil society watchdog of the IMF and World Bank. We advocate for a multilateral system that is democratic, inclusive, transparent, accountable, and responsive to people, especially the poorest and most vulnerable.
Latest from the Bretton Woods Project
Environment
Analysis
MDBs take centre stage at COP29 as CSOs call new climate finance target a ‘betrayal’
Private Sector
Commentary
World Bank’s new Business-Ready (B-Ready) index offers new measures but reductionist approach, ultimately rewarding countries driving down labour rights in favour of business.
Private Sector
Commentary
The B-Ready index: the World Bank’s bluewashing of labour rights
Accountability
Analysis
The Corporate Scorecard’s accountability gap is symptomatic of a broader failure on the part of the WBG to fully internalise, integrate and learn from the work of its accountability mechanisms.
Accountability
Analysis
Missing in action: accountability noticeably absent from WBG’s new Corporate Scorecard
IFI governance
Analysis
Annual Meetings 2024 Wrap-up - Don’t look back: BWIs plough down path of reforms lacking evidence and willingness to engage with broader UN-led reform processes
The 2024 World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings, taking place in the context of the institutions’ 80th anniversary, offered little substantive reform despite multiple ongoing organisational processes and reviews.
Land
News
World Bank goes full steam ahead on agribusiness, but new CAFOD report highlights gendered harms of Bank's approach
Under President Banga, the World Bank is going full steam ahead on agribusiness financing with a $9 billion annual commitment by 2030, but a CAFOD report highlights harmful gendered impacts of current approach to commercialising farming.
Environment
News
MIGA’s new guarantee for voluntary carbon markets risks shielding big polluters
CSOs warn MIGA's proposal at COP29 to de-risk carbon markets for private investors could shield polluters from accountability, leaving local communities to bear the costs.
IFI governance
News
New report debunks claims that inadequate MDB transparency results from private sector concerns
Amid underwhelming private capital mobilisation, new report underscores poor state of transparency and disclosure of private sector finance by multilateral development banks and development finance institutions.
Finance
News
IMF’s PRGT review places the burden of financing the program on low-income countries
As the IMF increases cost of lending for LICs by introducing a tiered interest mechanism to the PRGT, CSOs and V20 Group call instead for an SDR interest rate cap to reduce the cost of lending and for sale of gold reserves to address the funding gap.
Other news
Finance
News
IDA21 cobbles together $100 billion replenishment in context of wider aid cuts
Amid concerns about the policy package and in the face of global crises, IDA's 21st replenishment showed difficulty of mobilising donor finance amid elections and geopolitical tensions.
Accountability
News
CAO report adds to concerns about IFC's compliance with its own GHG emissions obligations
CAO report substantiates civil society findings about IFC’s failure to comply with its own requirements for GHG emissions measurement, alternatives analysis, mitigation and disclosure.
Finance
News
BWIs use frozen Russian assets as part of $50 billion support to Ukraine
BWIs engineer creative ways to provide financial support to Ukraine using frozen Russian assets as back up, in contrast to lack of support for debt-stricken African countries.
Finance
News
UN's Fourth Financing for Development Conference takes place at key moment for international financial architecture reform
Civil society Financing for Development (FfD) Mechanism calls for FfD4 conference to deliver meaningful reform and a true path towards democratic multilateralism.
Environment
News
Trump election may add pressure to reverse World Bank’s prohibition on support for nuclear power
Donald Trump’s election may result in a revision of World Bank’s long-standing prohibition of support to nuclear power.
Accountability
Background
Strengthening governance of development policy finance: Improving transparency, accountability, stakeholder engagement, and Paris alignment
Notes from the Civil Society Policy Forum on 24 October 2024 titled "Strengthening governance of development policy finance: Improving transparency, accountability, stakeholder engagement, and Paris alignment".