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

IFI governance

Analysis

Geopolitical turmoil further muddies path of BWI reform and multilateral cooperation

Finance

Analysis

Civil society calls for FfD4 in Seville to revive Monterrey Consensus

Social services

Commentary

New report exposes human rights consequences of Bank's "billions to trillions" approach
USAID food distribution activities. Photo: USAID/ Malala Ramarohetra

Finance

Analysis

Breaking free from the aid trap: time for Africa to halt international financial institutions' austerity policies

The ‘aid trap’ continues in light of significant ODA cuts amidst political change in donor countries, as the BWIs continue to facilitate the financialisation of essential services like healthcare.

15 April 2025 | Guest analysis
Overturn Roe v Wade protest defending US abortion rights. Photo: Matt Hrkac/Wikimedia

Gender

Analysis

Civil society defends feminist demands amidst threats to women’s rights and fresh questions over the role of the BWIs

Anti-gender rhetoric, furthered by the new US administration, brings fresh questions over the approach of the World Bank and IMF to gender equality, given their controversial track record.

15 April 2025
The World Bank Group's Country Partnership Framework 2018-23 for India aimed at supporting the country's transition to a higher middle-income country. Photo: Curt Carnemark / World Bank

IFI governance

Background

A closer look at the World Bank’s revised Country Partnership Framework

This Inside the Institutions explores the World Bank’s revised Country Partnership Framework, which aims to boost the impact of its country programmes through focus and efficiency.

15 April 2025
Argentinians demonstrate against IMF debt payments. Credit: Nick Photoworld/ ShutterStock

IFI governance

News

New Independent Evaluation Office findings expose political pressures and over-optimism in IMF’s Exceptional Access Policy

Evaluation finds Exceptional Access Policy has been applied inconsistently, influenced by political pressures, and used as a substitute for debt restructuring while failing to attract private capital.

15 April 2025
Ethiopia Minister of Finance at the Horn of Africa Initiative Ministerial meeting, Brussels December 2023. Photo: Christophe Licoppe/ European Union/Wikimedia

Finance

News

Private lenders’ resistance to Ethiopia's debt relief highlights urgent need for debt architecture reform

Ethiopia becomes the latest victim of the dysfunctional Common Framework, as private lenders continue to hold out on its debt restructuring with significant human rights, social and economic consequences.

15 April 2025
Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva speaks during the Curtain Raiser event leading up to the Annual Meetings at the IMF Headquarters, 8 October 2019, Washington, DC. Photo: Cory Hancock

Conditionality

News

The IMF’s 2025 Conditionality Review: a test of reform or repeat?

Despite past acknowledgments of flawed policies, austerity-driven programmes continue to deepen economic hardship, entrench inequality, and prioritise creditors over sustainable development.

15 April 2025

Other news

Accountability

News

IFC ends investment in waste-to-energy incineration projects in Gujarat, India, following civil society campaign

While IFC’s withdrawal is welcome, civil society urges the Bank to stop funding WTE projects and move towards zero-waste solutions instead.

15 April 2025

Accountability

News

Civil society and communities achieve victory as World Bank cancels tourism project in Tanzania

World Bank confirms cancellation of controversial tourism project in Tanzania, after over 2 years of civil society campaigning.

15 April 2025

Rights

News

Communities demand justice as IFC fails to address coal financing fallout

IFC faces backlash for failing to address social and environmental harms from its financing of coal plants in the Philippines, despite proven health and environmental violations.

15 April 2025

Finance

News

FfD4 is a feminist issue

FfD4 civil society feminist workstream calls for gender and race equality, human rights and systemic change in the international financial architecture, while groups plan strategic convening in Morocco.

15 April 2025

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.

12 December 2024

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.

12 December 2024