IFI governance

Background

An economic future for whom? The Cascade/MFD and recovery

25 March 2021 | Minutes

Moderator:  Jennifer del Rosario-Malonzo, Executive Director, IBON International
Panelist 1:  Maria Jose Romero, Policy and Advocacy Manager, Development Finance, European Network on Debt and Development
Panelist 2:  Beverly Longid, Coordinator, International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation
Panelist 3:  Jason Braganza, Executive Director, African Forum and Network on Debt and Development
Panelist 4:  Henry Morales, Coordinator for Latin America and the Caribbean / Member of the Comité Directivo Reality of Aid Network (RoA) / La Red Latinoamericana por Justicia Económica y Social (LATINDADD)
Discussant:  Joergen Frotzler, Alternate Executive Director of the Nordic Baltic Constituency, World Bank Group.

1.       Maria Jose Romero, Policy and Advocacy Manager, Development Finance, European Network on Debt and Development

Eurodad has conducted research to understand the Bank’s response to the crisis. The World is experiencing a deep recession with dramatic consequences.

The Maximising Finance for Development (MFD/Cascade) approach, which was launched in 2017, builds on previous World Bank work and places private investment at the centre of development.

The World Bank’s Covid-19 pandemic programmes have three elements: Relief, restructure and resilient reconstruction.

The Bank’s programmes count on $160 billion in resources to mid-2021. The World Bank’s responses maintain a strong focus on the private vs. public sector and on finance over real sectors. These trends are not in line with calls for support to public system and informal sectors.

Despite addressing the health emergency aspect of the crises, the World Bank has persistently pushed for the inclusion of the private sector, particularly through public-private-partnerships (PPPs), as a key component of its strategy.  Beyond the emergency response, the Bank has, through the IFC – its private sector arm – supported the tourism sector and wealthy foreign clients along with companies in tax havens, and private health sector. This type of programming is not well aligned with efforts to ensure a just and equitable recovery and fail to meet the needs of the real economy and most vulnerable.

As an example, the World Bank is working to develop PPP framework in Somalia, which privileges the private sector.

The IFC’s programming suffers from poor transparency and stakeholder engagement. The lack of transparency is particularly problematic in the light of the IFC’s substantial support to the financial sector.

The reality is that the crisis is being used to deepen the multiple crises that have their origins in the reliance on private solutions.

A call for action:

The World Bank must restore the balance between the public and private sectors, support debt relief, provide grants over loans, and re-evaluate the cascade approach to all its actions are guided by a Human Rights framework.

2.       Beverly Longid, Coordinator, International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation

Will provide an indigenous perspective.  Unfortunately, the experiences do not leave much room for optimism as it reflects a history of violence, lack of respect and discrimination. This includes 1976 World Bank support for a damn project in the Philippines that submerged villages without consultation. While popular protests led to a cancellation of the project, the costs were extremely high, as the military government ensured retribution against protesters.

These disturbing dynamics continue in various countries such as Peru, Bolivia and Nepal today.

Many projects supported by International Financial Institutions are part of national plans, but do not respond to the needs of the most vulnerable, particularly indigenous populations. These projects tend to lack respect for land ownership frameworks and self-determination of Indigenous Peoples. Free Prior and Informed Consent must be respected but often is not.

The pandemic has worsened the situation. Of the $15 billion in 27 World Bank loans, and $1.4 billion from the World Bank to support disaster response – IBON found only 8% has gone to healthcare. Where has the remainder of the funds gone? World Bank resources continue to support militarised responses.

Benefits do not cascade to the people on the ground, particularly for indigenous peoples.

3.       Jason Braganza, Executive Director, African Forum and Network on Debt and Development

The current system continues to exacerbate pre-existing concerns. The pandemic must be considered within the context of a deepening debt crisis- much of it private within a complex landscape.

The irony remains that the main propagators of debt are being cajoled to undertake more debt. Projections for the African economic for 2021, show that women-headed households are likely to comprise majority of poor on the continent.

The African continent is still obsessed by mega infrastructure projects, financed through debt and reliant on user fees. Questions must be asked. To what extent are these loans generating the income necessary to ensuring the sustainability of their financing and to support domestic resource mobilisation? The private sector is operating very aggressively through tax havens and tax avoidance, for example. These dynamics perpetuate cycle of dependency – putting profits before people.

The Global Financial Crisis of 2008 and the Covid-19 pandemic have shown the soft underbelly of international architecture.

4.       Joergen Frotzler, Alternate Executive Director of the Nordic Baltic Constituency, World Bank Group.

The executive board has been working with management on many of the issues noted above, as there are some shared concerns. Panellist is a Swedish national and an IDA deputy involved in IDA18 process.

We are in a deep crisis, although the health consequences thus far seem concentrated in high and middle-income countries. That said, low-income countries are suffering greatly from the economic impacts of the pandemic.

The Paris Agreement requires considerable investments in renewables. The Sustainable Development Agenda (SDGs) agenda has been set back considerably and little time remains to achieve the 2030 agenda.

The financing needs of low and middle-income countries are widening.  Disagrees with negative approach to private sector involvement. Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) will never suffice. We must therefore find sustainable ways to mobilise private capital where suited. Encouraging management to focus on additional private investment, but also focused on progressive domestic resource mobilisation, including wealth tax. The executive board remains concerned about IFC investments in companies in tax havens. Much resistance to this. The executive board would like to see the use of intermediary jurisdictions only when it makes good business sense, other wise all companies should be domiciled, and taxes paid in the country.

What constitutes good private sector investment? What is the role of private sector investment in health and education?  It must be focused on universal access. Should not enable elites. Affordability and access are imperative.

Maria Jose Romero:

It is clear that ODA is not sufficient in the current context. That said, many governments are not meeting their obligations and the quality of ODA is deteriorating.

Illicit financial flows and tax avoidance deprive countries of resources. Of course, there is a need to mobilise private resources, however this requires clear parametres to ensure private investments contribute to the public good. There is an urgent need for guidance from national actors. In many cases, on the contrary the World Bank uses its resources and technical assistance to promote approaches that do not benefit local populations and local businesses.

Question: What is required to enable a people-first approach (moderator)

5.       Henry Morales, Coordinator for Latin America and the Caribbean / Member of the Comité Directivo Reality of Aid Network (RoA) / La Red Latinoamericana por Justicia Económica y Social (LATINDADD)

The situation in Latin America is dire with the continent still suffering from decades of erosion in public services and decreases in state legitimacy. The pandemic has hit the poorest, including Indigenous Peoples hardest and a private sector-first approach is not sustainable, as the public sector in the end is left to take on the risk of private investors while the social services continued to decline.

There is a need for a radical restructure of the global financial architecture, with a strong focus on debt relief and local or regional solutions.  The continuation of the current model is not an option as the focus on private sector-led development actually undermines domestic resource mobilisation capacity as resources are extracted by multinational companies and investors.

Beverly Longid:

Agreed. Noted that it would be better if we had better taxation and domestic resource mobilisation framework, but the truth is otherwise, as countries adopt tax holidays and other incentives to attract foreign investment.

There is a need for paradigm shift in understanding of development and of Indigenous People’s human rights. All IFI activities should be based on a robust human rights framework and should focus on FPIC.

Need for mutual trust and aspirations that also enable contribution of Indigenous People’s to national development plans.

Undeniable that many human rights violations are linked to development projects. The World Bank must condemn these violations and reconsider activities in sensitive areas with investments in companies and perhaps governments. It should withdraw funds in the absence of FPIC.

Jason Braganza:

Yes, it is true, there is a finite amount of resources. The recommendation is not to exclude private sector, but rather to develop a new ideology of social multiplier and contributor to local tax base. There seems a contradiction between the focus on private sector investment and progressive taxation as businesses will reflexively turn to lower taxes.

The question of who delivers essential services is extremely important, as private sector delivery could undermine access and also local tax base in a nefarious cycle.

Africa suffers from high tax losses perpetrated by the very actors the World Bank considers essential to the development process.

Joergen Frotzler (Nordic ED) response to recommendations:

Agrees that the approach should be human rights and people centred. Would like Bank to operate based on a human rights framework, however this is difficult. In Fragile, Conflict-Affected and Violent settings (FCVs) participation is indeed central to the strategy. The executive boards would like to ensure the Bank does not harm those already marginalised.

Working on improving accountability mechanisms, including at the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman, the IFCs, independent accountability mechanism.

Regarding the recalibration of public-private participation: The World Bank is working on both. Nordics consider some sectors such as water treatment, energy production, transport as good targets for private sector investments and perhaps not so much education and health.

Agrees that countries require good policy governance framework to support tax revenues. Agrees on tax havens and progressive tax systems, subsidies must be considered. There is much to consider on both the revenue and expenditure sides of the fiscal scale.

Do not share the view that we can do without the private sector. Sees quite a lot of interest from institutional investors such as pensions funds, which are keen to support sustainable investments.

Moderator clarified that CSOs are not against private sector as such, but want the World Bank to more clearly acknowledge the tensions that exist between private and public interests.

Q: Does the executive director acknowledge the tension between the need to attract reluctant private investor through de-risking or private investments and the public good. Tax policies in Ireland clearly show the threat of a ‘race to the bottom’ and the power imbalances between investors and states, particularly in the global South. What conclusions does the executive director draw from about the developmental role of the private sector in the light of its unwillingness to participate in the G20’s debt suspension initiative?

Joergen Frotzler (Nordic ED):

Agrees that there is a tension and conflict between private and public interests. The question about the balance of subsidies required is central and difficult. Sweden has experienced the issue when guarantee risks materialise. Must not subsidise private investment unnecessarily. DSSI a different matter.

The responsibility remains on the state to ensure that borrowing is made for positive development outcomes. The World Bank can assist countries to undertake these assessment vis-à-vis financing modalities.

Moderator: What could be the role of CSOs in supporting policy development at the local level?

Henry Morales:

Indigenous peoples have different ideas of development and different priorities and vulnerabilities that cannot be easily reflected in current models used by many states or the World Bank. It is essential that indigenous communities are key actors in developing their own plans and ideas. The World Bank must support this process.

Beverly Longid:

In addition to what Henry mentioned about the need to strengthen the systems of consultation available toindigenous communities’, perhaps there is also a need for the World Bank to visit and monitor the conditions after the pandemic.

Maria Jose Romero:

Calls on executive board members to push strongly to ensure extreme caution on IFC investments in essential services. This approach must be reconsidered, particularly in the light of the crisis. How can the IFC ensure it supports those most in need. We are concerned about the focus of IFC investments in large international conglomerates.

More background on this issue

IFI governance

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12 April 2023 | Minutes

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12 April 2023 | Minutes

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12 April 2023 | Minutes

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11 April 2023 | Minutes

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14 October 2022 | Minutes

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14 October 2022 | Minutes

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13 October 2022 | Minutes

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13 October 2022 | Minutes

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13 October 2022 | Minutes

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12 October 2022 | Minutes

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12 October 2022 | Minutes

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12 October 2022 | Minutes

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12 October 2022 | Minutes

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12 October 2022 | Minutes

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11 October 2022 | Minutes

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4 October 2022 | Inside the institutions

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13 April 2022 | Minutes

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14 April 2022 | Minutes

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13 April 2022 | Minutes

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12 April 2022

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11 April 2022 | Minutes

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19 October 2021 | Minutes

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8 October 2021 | Minutes

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6 October 2021 | Minutes

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6 October 2021 | Minutes

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4 October 2021 | Minutes

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25 March 2021 | Minutes

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20 April 2018 | Minutes

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19 April 2018 | Minutes

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19 April 2018 | Minutes

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19 April 2018 | Minutes

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18 April 2018 | Minutes

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18 April 2018 | Minutes

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13 October 2017 | Minutes

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12 October 2017 | Minutes

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11 October 2017 | Minutes

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11 October 2017 | Minutes

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11 October 2017 | Minutes

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10 October 2017 | Minutes

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Background

7 October 2016 | Minutes

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IFI governance

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10 November 2016 | Minutes

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IFI governance

Background

7 October 2016 | Minutes

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IFI governance

Background

6 October 2016 | Minutes

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IFI governance

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6 October 2016 | Minutes

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6 October 2016 | Minutes

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IFI governance

Background

6 October 2016 | Minutes

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IFI governance

Background

4 October 2016 | Minutes

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IFI governance

Background

4 October 2016 | Minutes

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IFI governance

Background

17 April 2016 | Minutes

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IFI governance

Background

17 April 2015 | Minutes

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IFI governance

Background

17 April 2015 | Minutes

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IFI governance

Background

17 April 2015 | Minutes

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IFI governance

Background

16 April 2015 | Minutes

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IFI governance

Background

16 April 2015 | Minutes

Aligning the financial system with sustainable development

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IFI governance

Background

11 October 2014

Sovereign debt restructuring: options, obstacles and opportunities

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IFI governance

Background

11 October 2014

The impact of the BRICS’ Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) and the New Development Bank (NDB)

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IFI governance

Background

10 October 2014 | Minutes

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IFI governance

Background

10 October 2014

IFC Update on Dinant financing

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IFI governance

Background

10 October 2014

Discussion with the IFC/MIGA Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO)

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IFI governance

Background

10 October 2014

From interim strategy to full country partnership: lessons from Myanmar

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IFI governance

Background

9 October 2014

Financing for development: What actions are needed on debt and illicit capital flows?

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IFI governance

Background

9 October 2014

Matching money and expertise: ensuring conflict sensitivity is top of the agenda for the bank's fragile state financing

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IFI governance

Background

9 October 2014

After SCOTUS: Next steps in sovereign debt restructuring

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Background

9 October 2014

IFC lending through financial intermediaries - a year on from the action plan, what have we learned?

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IFI governance

Background

8 October 2014

Governance and impact report 2014

Notes of a meeting on governance and impact report 2014 at the World Bank-IMF annual meetings 2014

IFI governance

Background

8 October 2014

Comparative analysis of social and environmental safeguards in IFIs

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IFI governance

Background

8 October 2014

Emerging markets in transition: growth prospects and challenges

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IFI governance

Background

8 October 2014

Making PPPs work

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IFI governance

Background

7 October 2014

CSO roundtable with Executive Directors

Notes of CSO roundtable with Executive Directors at the World Bank-IMF annual meetings 2014

IFI governance

Background

7 October 2014

CSO land rights and resettlement

Notes of a meeting with CSOs on land rights and resettlement at the World Bank-IMF annual meetings 2014

Conditionality

Background

22 April 2014 | Minutes

Reforming IMF conditionality. Where do we stand?

IFI governance

Background

12 April 2014

An overview of the World Bank Group's new country engagement model

Conditionality

Background

12 April 2014

IMF recommendations to Arab countries in transition: Challenges & prospects

Finance

Background

11 April 2014

Financial tremors in developing countries: is another earthquake on the way?

IFI governance

Background

11 April 2014

What does real accountability mean in practice?

IFI governance

Background

9 April 2014

Mega-project mania?

IFI governance

Background

23 January 2014 | Resource

Recommended resources on the World Bank and IMF 2013

The best papers, books and electronic resources on the World Bank and IMF from 2013.

Rights

Background

14 October 2013 | Minutes

Review and update of the World Bank’s safeguard policies

Minutes from a side event with the World Bank safeguards team presenting an update on the review process during the World Bank/IMF annual meetings 2013.

IFI governance

Background

13 October 2013 | Minutes

Meeting president Kim’s pledge of “no dilution” for safeguards

Minutes of a civil society meeting on upward harmonisation of World Bank safeguards during the World Bank/IMF annual meetings 2013.

IFI governance

Background

13 October 2013 | Minutes

Continuing conversations with CAO

Minutes from a CAO sponsored event during the 2013 World Bank/IMF annual meetings.

IFI governance

Background

13 October 2013 | Minutes

World Bank Group strategy and reform process

Minutes from a World Bank sponsored event on the new World Bank Group strategy during the 2013 WB/IMF annual meetings.

IFI governance

Background

13 October 2013 | Minutes

Why the Bank and Fund provide too little debt relief too late – and what can be done about it

Expert panelists discuss the need for comprehensive and automatic debt restructuring mechanisms, at the Annual Meetings 2013 civil society forum

IFI governance

Background

13 October 2013 | Minutes

Is the European recovery finally under way?

CEPR event at the 2013 civil society forum on whether a recovery is under way in Europe; held as a debate between Prakash Loungani of the IMF's research department and Mark Weisbrot, CEPR co-director.

IFI governance

Background

13 October 2013 | Minutes

Subsidy reform in Arab countries: Reflection on IMF recommendations

New America Foundation civil society event on subsidy reform in Arab countries, held in the civil society forum of the 2013 IMF/World Bank annual meetings

IFI governance

Background

12 October 2013 | Minutes

Austerity and Inequality in Europe

Minutes from Oxfam-hosted civil society seminar at 2013 Annual meetings on European austerity and inequality

IFI governance

Background

10 October 2013 | Minutes

IMF consultation: CSO views on fiscal transparency policy

Minutes of an IMF consultation on fiscal transparency policy

IFI governance

Background

25 April 2013 | Minutes

Doing Business at the crossroads: ten years

Spring meetings side event hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies on 19 April 2013

Infrastructure

Background

23 April 2013 | Minutes

Colombia case study: results measurement and poverty eradication

This session examined Colombia's private sector partnerships and poverty eradication programme.

IFI governance

Background

23 April 2013 | Minutes

The private sector and poverty eradication

This session gave an overview on the links between private sector and healthcare provision in tackling poverty.

Accountability

Background

22 April 2013 | Minutes

Bending the arc of poverty

The session focused on the World Bank's development strategy, poverty eradication goals, global inequality, and the threat of climate change.

Accountability

Background

22 April 2013 | Minutes

Financial and housing crises, the Bank's safeguards and the right to adequate housing

This session featured a presentation from UN special rapporteur on the links between financial and housing crises, safeguards and the right to adequate housing.

Accountability

Background

22 April 2013 | Minutes

The challenges of advancing sustainability at the World Bank

This panel discussion reflected on the major sustainability challenges facing the World Bank through exploring two World Resources Institute areas - a portfolio analysis on 2012 projects, and the interaction between country systems and World Bank safeguard approaches.

IFI governance

Background

22 April 2013 | Minutes

From the Arab revolutions to global austerity trends

This session examined issues thrown up by the Arab revolutions, including the fiscal, monetary, tax and investment policies being considered by governments facilitating, or hindering countries in the Arab and other regions in building an inclusive economy and supporting socioeconomic recovery, the impact on public expenditure for the strengthening of education, health, and other social sectors as well as the management of chronic and high unemployment and high food and fuel prices.

IFI governance

Background

18 April 2013 | Minutes

After recent court decisions: how can sovereign debt workouts become fair, comprehensive and account

This session examines the challenges which recent court decisions pose to sovereign debt workouts that allow for burden-sharing and take into account the social development needs of debtor countries.

Knowledge

Background

18 April 2013 | Minutes

Frameworks to support IMF policy advice to low-income countries

This event examined financial Sector Surveillance in Low Income Countries - Financial Deepening and Macro-stability Financial Deepening and Macro-Stability

Accountability

Background

18 February 2013 | Minutes

UK Civil Society Meeting with Minister of State Rt Hon Alan Duncan MP

This was a meeting on 1 October 2012, between the Minister of State of the UK's Department for International Development (DFID) and civil society representatives, focusing on the World Bank.

IFI governance

Background

13 October 2012 | Minutes

World Bank Inspection Panel at 19: Some Lessons for Safeguard Policy

This panel discussion centered on the possible policy lessons for the Safeguard Review of learning from the emblematic or most frequently registered cases of non-compliance with Bank safeguard policies, particularly project supervision, environmental assessment, and involuntary resettlement.

IFI governance

Background

13 October 2012 | Minutes

Think tanks: promoting local solutions, influencing global thinking

This session brought together representatives of three leading policy research organizations from Bangladesh, Tanzania and Ecuador, to share their experiences and analysis of the potential of think tanks to promote local solutions and influence global thinking.

Infrastructure

Background

13 October 2012 | Minutes

Post Fukushima: The Role of the Financial Sector in Energy Future

This session introduced the audience to an overview of global energy issues and specific analyses of the environment and economic impacts of Fukushima nuclear power accident, and discussed the roles of the financial sector in viable global energy future.

Accountability

Background

12 October 2012 | Minutes

Doing business report rankings

This session will bring together experts from labour, development and business organizations to highlight issues and perspectives that need to be part of the review of these influential rankings.

Accountability

Background

12 October 2012 | Minutes

IMF consultation meeting on engagement with civil society: review and way forward

This session sought to gather CSO views, suggestions, and concerns on how to improve the current guidelines, including IMF consultation processes on policies, strategies, and Article. IV consultations

IFI governance

Background

12 October 2012 | Minutes

Citizen-Led Accountability at the World Bank Group: experiences of independent recourse mechanisms

This session aimed to gather CSO views, suggestions, and concerns on how to improve the current guidelines, including IMF consultation processes on policies, strategies, and Art. IV consultations.

IFI governance

Background

12 October 2012 | Minutes

Facilitating international adjustment through timely debt resolution

This session highlighted the perspectives of finance ministers, policy makers, and academics on the need to ensure timely, effective international adjustment in a manner consistent with sustained global growth and continued adherence to the system of open, dynamic international trade and payments constructed over the past 65 years.

Rights

Background

12 October 2012 | Minutes

World Bank safeguard review and CSOs approaches in their engagement

Interaction between the Bank and CSOs on the approach paper through this panel provided an opportunity for the Bank and CSOs to highlight areas of importance and provide input about the direction of the safeguard review.

IFI governance

Background

11 October 2012 | Minutes

The Role of the Independent Evaluation Group (IEG)

This session provided CSOs with the opportunity to have an exchange with IEG's Director-General and Senior Vice President on the role of the IEG.

Accountability

Background

11 October 2012 | Minutes

Global financial regulations and their Impact on major campaigns

This event was a collegial information-sharing and strategy session to explore the linkages between financial regulations and grass roots campaigns.

IFI governance

Background

11 October 2012 | Minutes

CSO Townhall with Jim Yong Kim and Christine Lagarde

This townhall was for CSO representatives accredited to the Annual Meetings. The CSO Discussants made initial remarks on Fund and Bank policies and were followed by comments from Mr. Kim and Ms. Lagarde. This was then followed by a general discussion on issues of concern to CSO representatives.

IFI governance

Background

11 October 2012 | Minutes

From country systems to DPLs: understanding the World Bank's approach to social and environmental ri

This session will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the Bank’s approaches with respect to different financial instruments and evaluate the challenges of ensuring coherence in environmental and social sustainability outcomes across instruments.

IFI governance

Background

10 October 2012 | Minutes

Making global governance accountable: civil society experiences with 13 Institutions

This session discussed the conclusions reached on the global governance role of civil society by the Civil Society and Accountable Global Governance project.

Accountability

Background

3 August 2012 | Minutes

IFI re-engagement in Burma

Minutes of Burma and IFIs meeting, Washington DC, 18 April 2012

Accountability

Background

23 April 2012 | Minutes

EIR + 10

Minutes of afternoon sessions of extractives conference, Washington DC, 23 April 2012

IFI governance

Background

23 April 2012 | Minutes

2012 Tokyo Annual Meeting Planning Session

2012 Tokyo Annual Meeting Planning Session held on Saturday, 21 April.

Accountability

Background

21 April 2012 | Minutes

Lessons from IEG's Cluster Review of IFC-supported Extractive Industries Projects

Minutes of IFC and extractives meeting, Washington DC, 21 April 2012

Accountability

Background

21 April 2012 | Minutes

Safeguards in a Changing Landscape

Minutes of safeguards meeting, Washington DC, 21 April 2012

Finance

Background

20 April 2012 | Minutes

How can the IMF enhance its focus on growth and poverty reduction in LICS?

A civil society meeting held at the World Bank and the IMF hold their 2012 spring meetings in Washington DC on Friday 20th April.

IFI governance

Background

20 April 2012 | Minutes

Seminar - Time for a New Consensus: Regulating Financial Flows for Stability and Development

As the World Bank and the IMF hold their 2012 spring meetings in Washington DC this week, Latindadd and the Bretton Woods Project organised a seminar about regulating financial flows on Thursday 19 April.

IFI governance

Background

20 April 2012 | Minutes

Austerity in the Eurozone

Seminar at the Spring meetings 2012, 19 April 12

Infrastructure

Background

20 April 2012 | Minutes

Kosovo's options for a sustainable energy future

Minutes of presentation and discussion on Kosovo's options to develop a sustainable energy future, Washington DC, 20 April 2012.

Infrastructure

Background

20 April 2012 | Minutes

World Bank's Climate Investment Funds 4 years later

Minutes of meeting on the World Bank-housed Climate Investment Funds and the Green Climate Fund, Washington DC, 19 April 2012

Land

Background

20 April 2012 | Minutes

Agriculture and Food Security

Minutes of agriculture and food security meeting, Washington DC, 19 April 2012

Infrastructure

Background

20 April 2012 | Minutes

Climate change, energy access and sustainable development

Minutes of climate change and energy access meeting, Washington DC, 18 April 2012

Accountability

Background

19 April 2012 | Minutes

Supporting Social Accountability for Better Results

Minutes of World Bank Social accountability plenary, Washington DC, 19 April 2012

Accountability

Background

19 April 2012 | Minutes

Development Policy Lending (DPL) Retrospective consultation

Minutes meeting, Washington DC, 18 April 2012

Environment

Background

19 April 2012 | Minutes

IMF Consultation on Natural Resources Management and Taxation

Notes of meeting, Spring meetings 2012, Washington DC

Infrastructure

Background

26 September 2011 | Minutes

India's energy future: Consequences of India's coal rush and alternative energy scenarios

Notes of a panel discussion, Washington DC, 20 September 2011

Infrastructure

Background

26 September 2011 | Minutes

India's energy future: What role for the Bank?

Notes of meeting, Washington DC, September 21, 2011

Knowledge

Background

26 September 2011 | Minutes

Civil Society Strategy Meeting on the Doing Business rankings

Notes of a meeting, Washington DC, 21 September 2011

Environment

Background

26 September 2011 | Minutes

CSO Roundtable with Lars Thunel

Notes of a meeting, Washington DC, 21 September 2011

Environment

Background

26 September 2011 | Minutes

Safeguards and climate finance in Indonesia in the context of REDD+

Notes of meeting, Washington DC, September 23, 2011

Social services

Background

23 September 2011 | Minutes

Seminar - Gender Equality Matters: The Way Forward

Notes of meeting, Washington DC, September 21, 2011

Accountability

Background

23 September 2011 | Minutes

CSO Townhall with Robert Zoellick and Christine Lagarde

Notes of meeting, Washington DC, September 22, 2011

Infrastructure

Background

23 September 2011 | Minutes

Scaling up Climate Finance

Notes of meeting, Washington DC, September 22, 2011

IFI governance

Background

23 September 2011 | Minutes

Financial Transaction Tax implementation

Notes of a meeting, Washington DC, 22 September 2011

Finance

Background

23 September 2011 | Minutes

Real Aid

Notes of a panel discussion, Washington DC, 21 September 2011

Environment

Background

23 September 2011 | Minutes

Plundered nations?

Notes of a meeting, Washington DC, 21 September 2011

Accountability

Background

18 April 2011 | Minutes

Consultation on Program for Results (P4R)

Notes of meeting, Washington DC, April 16, 2011

Rights

Background

18 April 2011 | Minutes

Safeguards consultation, World Bank, 16 April 2011

Summary of consultation held at the World Bank in Washington, 16 April 2011

Accountability

Background

18 April 2011 | Minutes

IFC and Financial Intermediary Lending

Notes of meeting, Washington DC, April 15, 2011

IFI governance

Background

15 April 2011 | Minutes

How the Financial Stability Board Affects Development Prospects: Opening the Black Box

Notes of a meeting held in Washington DC, 15 April 2011

Finance

Background

14 April 2011 | Minutes

IFC's international development goals

IFC staff member discusses plans for goals to guide future work in private sector development.

Land

Background

14 April 2011 | Minutes

The regulation of excessive speculation in commodity markets: what's at stake

Financial experts critically discuss commodity speculation.

IFI governance

Background

13 April 2011 | Minutes

IMF triennial surveillance review

Notes of meeting, Washington DC, April 13, 2011

Finance

Background

13 April 2011 | Minutes

Meeting between the UK IMF Executive Director Alex Gibbs, HM Treasury and UK civil society organisat

Notes of the seminar of spring meetings 2011

Environment

Background

12 October 2010 | Minutes

Energy, Poverty, Sustainability and Climate Change

Minutes of a seminar at the 2010 annual meetings, 8 October 2010

IFI governance

Background

12 October 2010 | Minutes

Held in reserve: can a new approach to monetary policy transform the global economic outlook?

Minutes of an experts seminar held on the sidelines of the 2010 Annual Meetings of the IMF, 7 October 2010

IFI governance

Background

12 October 2010 | Minutes

Investment lending reform

A briefing by World Bank staff on the investment lending reform, 9 October 2010

Knowledge

Background

11 October 2010 | Minutes

Post MDG Summit

Notes of the seminar of annual meetings 2010

IFI governance

Background

11 October 2010 | Minutes

Future of the global financial and monetary system

Notes of the seminar of annual meetings 2010

IFI governance

Background

11 October 2010 | Minutes

Global economic governance

Notes of the seminar of annual meetings 2010

Conditionality

Background

8 October 2010 | Minutes

Civil Society Townhall Meeting with Robert Zoellick and Dominique Strauss-Kahn

Notes of the seminar of annual meetings 2010

Knowledge

Background

7 October 2010 | Minutes

Meeting between the UK IMF Executive Director Alex Gibbs , HM Treasury and UK civil society organisa

Notes of the seminar of annual meetings 2010

IFI governance

Background

29 April 2010 | Minutes

Future of the World Bank: major reforms or a series of minor adjustments?

Civil society event at the World Bank spring meetings 2010, 24 April

Infrastructure

Background

26 April 2010 | Minutes

Launch of Bank Information Center's (BIC's) model energy strategy

Civil society event at the World Bank spring meetings 2010, 24 April

Accountability

Background

26 April 2010 | Minutes

A sustainable World Bank energy strategy: perspectives from various stakeholders

Civil society event at the World Bank spring meetings 2010, 23 April

Accountability

Background

26 April 2010 | Minutes

Evaluation as a critical tool for accountability

Civil society event at the World Bank spring meetings 2010, 23 April

IFI governance

Background

23 April 2010 | Minutes

An IMF for the 21st century - the low-income country perspective

Civil society event at the World Bank spring meetings 2010, 22 April

Environment

Background

23 April 2010 | Minutes

Financing the response to climate change: special drawing rights (SDRs) for climate finance

Civil society event at the World Bank spring meetings 2010, 22 April

Infrastructure

Background

23 April 2010 | Minutes

Governance challenges in financing green and sustainable energy policies

Freidrich-Ebert-Stiftung event at the World Bank spring meetings 2010, 22 April

Infrastructure

Background

23 April 2010 | Minutes

Roundtable on post-crisis economic recovery

World Bank event at the World Bank spring meetings 2010, 22 April

Environment

Background

23 April 2010 | Minutes

World Bank, climate change and climate finance

Civil society event at the World Bank spring meetings 2010, 22 April

IFI governance

Background

9 October 2009 | Minutes

The IMF and protectionist trade policies: What does the record of the past 15 years tell us?

Seminar on the IEo evluation of IMF trade policy advice in Istanbul, 2 October 2009.

IFI governance

Background

8 October 2009 | Minutes

Financial sector policies in the crisis

Programme of Seminars session in Istanbul on 3 October 2009 with Zeti Aziz, Andrew Crockett, Christine Cummings, Sayed Sadeeq, and John Laker.

Environment

Background

8 October 2009 | Minutes

CSO Townhall meeting

Notes from the CSO townhall meeting with Dominique Strauss-Kahn and Robert Zoellick

Accountability

Background

8 October 2009 | Minutes

IMF governance - CSO meeting with the IMF managing director

Minutes of a meeting between civil society organisations, IMF managing director Dominique Strauss-Kahn and IMF deputy managing director John Lipsky

Environment

Background

6 October 2009 | Minutes

Consultation meeting on World Bank environmental strategy

Summary of the first consultation on their new environment strategy, which they will develop next year.

IFI governance

Background

5 October 2009 | Minutes

The impact of financial regulation on developing countries

The impact of financial regulation on developing countries, World Bank Programme of Seminars, with Mingkang Liu, Joseph Stiglitz, and Alvir Hoffman.

Conditionality

Background

5 October 2009 | Minutes

The IMF: Change we can believe in?

The IMF: Change we can believe in? Notes of a civil society meeting in Istanbul. Speakers include Joseph Stiglitz, Andrew Kumbatira, Caroline Atkinson, and Bhumika Muchhala.

IFI governance

Background

5 October 2009 | Minutes

Future of the Global Financial System

Notes of part of a panel debate chaired by Martin Wolf of the Financial Times, Istanbul, 4 October 2009.

Finance

Background

4 October 2009 | Minutes

Report launch: Post-crisis growth in developing countries

Growth commission event in Istanbul.

IFI governance

Background

4 October 2009 | Minutes

The UN conference and the G20 summit

Minutes from The UN conference and the G20 summit, civil society policy forum discussion on 3 October 2009. Istanbul, Turkey

IFI governance

Background

4 October 2009 | Minutes

Critical debate on the World Bank and IMF

Summary of a presentation made by Professor Anwar Shaikh, the New School for Social Research, on "Monetary Policy and the Global Crisis"

IFI governance

Background

4 October 2009 | Minutes

Global economic governance roundtable

Summary of a discussion with German government representatives, Jomo KS of the UN and civil society organisations.

Environment

Background

27 April 2009 | Minutes

The World Bank's programs on forests and climate change

A civil society event organised by World Resources Institute (WRI) at the World Bank spring meetings 2009

IFI governance

Background

27 April 2009 | Minutes

Compliance Advisory Ombudsman review of standards for Bank’s private sector lending

Notes of a session with the CAO at the World Bank spring meetings, Washington, DC, April 22, 2009.

IFI governance

Background

25 April 2009 | Minutes

IMF crisis response- discussion

Notes of a meeting between the IMF and civil society organisations

Environment

Background

13 April 2008 | Minutes

Dialogue with NGOs and Lars Thunell, Executive Vice President and CEO, IFC

Dialogue with NGOs and Lars Thunell, Executive Vice President and CEO, IFC

Environment

Background

11 April 2008 | Minutes

Macroeconomic and fiscal implications of climate change and the policies to address it

A briefing by IMF economists at the spring meetings 2008.

IFI governance

Background

11 April 2008 | Minutes

Briefing on the World Bank's Six Strategic Themes

Minutes of a briefing by World Bank staff on the WBG's six strategic themese

Conditionality

Background

11 April 2008 | Minutes

IMF consultation in advance of the PSI review

Notes of a consultation between IMF staff and NGOs in advance of the PSI review

Social services

Background

10 April 2008 | Minutes

Structural conditionalities in the IMF: A discussion between the IMF, IEO, and CSOs

An upcoming civil society report demonstrates that IMF structural conditionality did not decline in the five years after the approval of the Fund's conditionality guidelines in September 2002, which were based on the principles of ownership and criticality in its application of structural conditionality, as well as to streamlining the number of conditions. Going on seven years, it seems that these guidelines have been more honoured in principle than in practice. A recent Independent Evaluation O

Finance

Background

26 October 2007 | Minutes

Macroeconomic aspects of aid scaling up and the role of the Fund

Highlights of a 21 October discussion on the macroeconomics of aid scaling up at the World Bank-IMF annual meetings 2007.

Conditionality

Background

26 October 2007 | Minutes

Wage bill ceilings, fiscal and monetary policies and absorbing aid inflows - updates and next steps

Highlights of a 20 October discussion on the the IMF's fiscal and monetary policy advice and conditionality for low-income countries at the World Bank-IMF annual meetings 2007.

Accountability

Background

26 October 2007 | Minutes

Rethinking the governance of the IMF

Highlights of a 19 October discussion on the reform of IMF governance at the World Bank-IMF annual meetings 2007.

Accountability

Background

26 October 2007 | Minutes

The role of low-income countries in IFI governance

Highlights of a 19 October discussion on the role of low-income countries in IMF governance at the World Bank-IMF annual meetings 2007.

Conditionality

Background

26 October 2007 | Minutes

The IMF's Policy Support Instrument: more flexibility or continued belt tightening

Highlights of a 21 October discussion on the IMF's Policy Support Instrument (PSI) at the World Bank-IMF annual meetings 2007.

Environment

Background

23 October 2007 | Minutes

Townhall meeting and reception with World Bank and IMF presidents and civil society representatives

Highlights of an 18 October 'town hall' meeting between WB-IMF heads and CSOs.

Environment

Background

23 October 2007 | Minutes

The agenda of the Development Committee and the provision of Global Public Goods

Highlights of a 20 October meeting hosted by the FES Foundation on global public goods, at the World Bank-IMF annual meetings 2007.

Infrastructure

Background

23 October 2007 | Minutes

Climate change and clean energy challenges and opportunities in addressing Africa's growing energy n

Highlights of a meeting at the World Bank-IMF annual meetings 2007.

Infrastructure

Background

23 October 2007 | Minutes

Low carbon, high hopes: making climate action work for development

Highlights of a 19 October meeting at the World Bank-IMF annual meetings 2007.

Environment

Background

5 October 2007 | Minutes

Highlights of BWI-UK network meeting with Douglas Alexander

Highlights of a 4 October meeting between NGOs in the BWI-UK network and secretary of state for international development, Douglas Alexander, addressing IFI strategic reviews, aid effectiveness, clean energy/climate change and a number of other issues.

Conditionality

Background

27 April 2007 | Minutes

IMF macroeconomic policies and the impacts on education budgets and teacher wages

IMF civil society dialogue, spring meetings 2007 (14 April 2007)

Conditionality

Background

27 April 2007 | Minutes

IEO Evaluation of the IMF and Aid to Sub-Saharan Africa

Civil society dialogue, spring meetings 2007 (12 April 2007) on the IEO Evaluation of the IMF and Aid to Sub-Saharan Africa

IFI governance

Background

27 April 2007 | Minutes

European CSO meeting with European IMF EDs

Incomplete minutes of European CSO meeting with European IMF EDs, 13 April 2007

Conditionality

Background

20 April 2007 | Minutes

Fiscal space and fiscal priorities: Infrastructure, trade and poverty

This panel discussion addressed the pros and cons of fiscal space for infrastructure when infrastructure is trade-related, what they mean for current proposals by the World Bank and IMF on fiscal space, and the importance of an assessment that looks jointly at the trade and financial aspects on the grounds of poverty reduction, development and environment goals.

Conditionality

Background

19 April 2007 | Minutes

Sub-Saharan Africa: Outlook and Challenges

Sub-Saharan Africa: Outlook and Challenges; IMF-civil society dialogue, 13 April 2007

IFI governance

Background

26 October 2006 | Minutes

Highlights of Hilary Benn meeting with UK NGOs

Highlights of semi-annual meeting between UK Secretary of State for International Development and UK NGOs. Topics covered include CSO access to annual meetings, conditionality, anti-corruption, odious debt, clean energy, education in LICUS, bank internal governance, IFC safeguards

IFI governance

Background

26 September 2006 | Minutes

Highlights of Tom Scholar meeting with UK NGOs

Highlights of quarterly meeting between UK executive director to the World Bank and IMF and UK NGOs. Topics covered include CSO access to annual meetings, IMF strategic review, conditionality, anti-corruption and education.

IFI governance

Background

28 June 2006 | Minutes

Highlights of Tom Scholar meeting with UK NGOs, Monday 26 June 2006

Highlights of Tom Scholar meeting with UK NGOs, Monday 26 June 2006

IFI governance

Background

9 May 2006 | Minutes

Policy issues in scaling up of aid flows

Highlights of a spring meetings dialogue hosted by the IMF on scaling-up aid, where senior Fund staff Peter Heller walked out.

Social services

Background

28 April 2006 | Minutes

Evaluating the impact of the PRGF: The cases of Ethiopia, Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia

Highlights of a civil society dialogue on the IMF Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility, at the World Bank spring meetings in Washington, 20 April 2006.

Infrastructure

Background

27 April 2006 | Minutes

World Bank dialogue on the clean energy investment framework

Highlights of a World Bank-organised dialogue on its new clean energy investment framework at the spring meetings in Washington, 24 April 2006.

IFI governance

Background

25 April 2006 | Minutes

Briefing on the implementation of new IFC performance standards

Briefing on the implementation of new IFC performance standards at the World Bank-IMF spring meetings in Washington, 20 April 2006.

Conditionality

Background

25 April 2006 | Minutes

Dialogue on national development strategies and the Millennium Development Goals

Dialogue on national development strategies and the Millennium Development Goals at the World Bank-IMF spring meetings in Washington, 20 April 2006.

Finance

Background

25 April 2006 | Minutes

Dialogue on Fund role in middle-income countries

Dialogue on Fund role in middle-income countries at the World Bank-IMF spring meetings in Washington, Thursday 20 April.

IFI governance

Background

6 October 2004 | Minutes

Grants or Loans? The Full Debate

The session considered the arguments surrounding the provision of grants or loans by IDA. It considered the recent call by President Bush for the World Bank and other development banks to provide more of their funds to the poorest countries as grants, in recognition of the pivotal role that grants play in providing prudent financing for pressing development needs.

IFI governance

Background

4 October 2004 | Minutes

CSO meeting with European Executive Directors

Note from meeting in Washington between European IFI network and European EDs as part of the civil society programme of the World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings 04.

Latest articles on this issue

IFI governance

Background

An Evolution Roadmap responsive to development crises? Towards an external evaluation of the World Bank’s cascade

Notes from the Civil Society Policy Forum on 11 October 2023 titled, "An Evolution Roadmap responsive to development crises? Towards an external evaluation of the World Bank’s cascade."

11 November 2023 | Minutes

IFI governance

Analysis

Marrakech Annual Meetings Wrap-up 2023: Bretton Woods Institutions wilt in the desert, as ‘pragmatism’ fails to resolve urgent crises

Incremental changes paper over deficiencies of status quo, as civil society calls for the radical change required to meet the moment.

18 October 2023

IFI governance

Analysis

V20 communiqué analysis Annual Meetings 2023: Climate vulnerable countries demand more voice at Bretton Woods Institutions

V20 seeks confirmation of official observer status at the Bretton Woods Institutions by COP28, as IMF quota review fails to give greater voting power to climate vulnerable countries.

18 October 2023

IFI governance

Analysis

G24 communiqué analysis Annual Meetings 2023: Scramble for 'last resort' support to struggling countries

The Annuals 2023 G24 communiqué for reiterates an urgent need for financial support from both the IMF and World Bank for indebted countries, whilst also supporting reform through quotas, a new SDR allocation & surcharge abolishment and review.

18 October 2023

IFI governance

Analysis

G20 communiqué analysis Annual Meetings 2023: Nothing new under the sun

The Group of 20 (G20) communiqué was published on 13 October. It focused on the consequences of the evolving debt situation, reaffirmed support for the much-criticised Common Framework and was silent on debt relief. The section on MDB reform meanwhile stressed ‘bigger’ rather than ‘better’ banks.

18 October 2023

IFI governance

Analysis

Development Committee chair’s statement analysis Annual Meetings 2023: Geopolitical fragmentation limits the ambition for reform

The Development Committee met on 12 October, with the chair issuing a statement, instead of a communiqué, reflecting the views of the majority of shareholders on the measures needed to tackle the development challenges that “have upended decades of hard-won development progress, and the development.”

18 October 2023

IFI governance

Analysis

IMFC chair’s statement analysis Annual Meetings 2023: Fine words but little of substance as critical decisions kicked down the road

Divisions once again prevented the IMFC from issuing a communiqué. The chair issued a statement that promised much but delivered little, supporting a third Sub-Saharan African chair on the IMF’s executive board, but kicking key reforms like quota realignment and a discussion on surcharges down the road.

18 October 2023
Flyer of CSPF on 12 October 2023, titled: The B-Ready Project: A Significant Departure from the Doing Business Report?

IFI governance

Background

The B-Ready Project: A significant departure from the Doing Business Report?

Notes from the Civil Society Policy Forum on 12 October 2023 titled, "The B-Ready Project: A significant departure from the Doing Business Report?"

12 October 2023 | Minutes

IFI governance

Background

African perspectives on the reforms of the international financial architecture

Notes from the Civil Society Policy Forum Session 'African perspectives on the reforms of the international financial architecture' on 11 October 2023.

11 October 2023 | Minutes
TRANSFORMATIVE POL ICY PATHWAYS: LESSONS FROM FEMINIST ECONOMICS PROGRAMMING FOR THE IMF.

IFI governance

Background

Transformative policy pathways: Lessons from feminist economics programming for the IMF

Notes from the Civil Society Policy Forum on 10 October 2023 titled "Transformative policy pathways: Lessons from feminist economics programming for the IMF."

10 October 2023 | Minutes