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.
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
The role of Bretton Woods Institutions remains a key point of contention, amidst their stark governance deficits.
Finance
Analysis
Civil society calls for FfD4 in Seville to revive Monterrey Consensus
Social services
Commentary
Bloomberg investigation adds further evidence of negative consequences for people and governments of IFC’s for-profit healthcare model.
Social services
Commentary
New report exposes human rights consequences of Bank's "billions to trillions" approach
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.