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Analysis

illustration of the Bretton Woods Observer winter 2024, presenting the World Bank globe sitting on a hidden pile of gold looking at the Wall Street Bull (which represents the financial sector)

Environment

Analysis

COP29 sees MDBs climate finance take centre stage, as civil society brands new climate finance goal a ‘betrayal’

Rich countries agree to provide a paltry $300 billion in public finance by 2035 including funds channelled through MDBs, as Small Island States and Least Developed Countries stage walkout.

12 December 2024
The World Bank's interactive new Corporate Scorecard on display at the 2024 World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings in Washington DC. Credit: Paul Blake/ World Bank.

Accountability

Analysis

Missing in action: accountability is noticeably absent from the World Bank Group’s new Corporate Scorecard

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.

12 December 2024
Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and Communications Department Director Julie Kozack field questions at the Civil Society Townhall during the 2024 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund in Washington, DC, on October 21, 2024. Credit: IMF Photo/Alyssa Schukar

Conditionality

Analysis

Who’s afraid of the grassroots? IMF policymaking in the era of social discontent

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’.

12 December 2024
Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva clasps hands with World Bank President Ajay Banga at the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable during the 2024 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund in Washington, DC, on 23 October 2024. Credit: IMF Photo/Allison Shelley

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.

30 October 2024
October 25, 2024 - Washington, D.C. | Participants of the 2024 IMF/World Bank Group Annual Meetings’ Development Committee: Mohamed bin Hadi Al Hussaini, Ajay Banga, Kristalina Georgieva, and Mercy Tembon. Photo: Simone McCourtie / World Bank (via Flickr).

IFI governance

Analysis

Development Committee chair’s statement analysis Annual Meetings 2024: compounding crises expose the World Bank’s role in structural failures but limit scope for reform

Despite Development Committee’s call for increased development impact amidst compounding crises, persistent geopolitical fragmentation constrains the critical reforms needed to address structural failures.

29 October 2024

IFI governance

Analysis

G20 communiqué analysis Annual Meetings 2024: progress on tax and inequality obscures Group's wider failures

At the 25th anniversary of the Group’s Finance Track, the G20 communiqué’s robust language on the taxation of billionaires, including encouraging “constructive discussions” about the UN Tax Conference was contrasted by much more cautious language on MDB reform, climate finance, debt and Special Drawing Rights.

29 October 2024

IFI governance

Analysis

G24 communiqué analysis Annual Meetings 2024: calls for robust multilateral response to mounting risk and global crises

G24 calls for robust multilateral response to debt, development and climate crises, arguing the IMF and World Bank must continue reform in order to maintain legitimacy and fulfil their mandate.

29 October 2024

IFI governance

Analysis

IMFC chair’s statement analysis Annual Meetings 2024: a fiscal consolidation “pivot” as IMF struggles to get its house in order

Chair’s statement calls for a ‘pivot’ to fiscal consolidation and announces possible approaches to guide further quota realignment by June 2025. In contrast, China’s statement calls for work to begin on alignment even without resolution of 16th quota review.

29 October 2024
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Other news

Finance

Analysis

Our world in 2020

As the Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated and helped reveal pre-existing injustices and structural flaws in the global economy - and the IMF and World Bank proved unable to reverse course on broke policy prescriptions - calls for reforming the international financial and development architecture gained strength. 

22 February 2021

Gender

Analysis

The IMF and Gender Equality: Operationalising Change

This briefing raises critical questions on the latest developments in the IMF’s approach to gender.

10 February 2019 | Briefings

IFI governance

Analysis

CSO roundtable with World Bank Group executive directors

Sponsor: World Bank Group Chairs: Merza Hasan (WB Executive Director, MENA Constituency), Lindsay Coates (Acting…

14 April 2015 | Note

Environment

Analysis

CIFs and the private sector

Information on the private sector and the CIFs taken from each section of CIF Monitor…

23 October 2013

IFI governance

Analysis

Annual meetings 2014: communiqués coverage

G24 communiqué (09 October): analysis, original document G20 finance ministers' communiqué (10 October): original document…

2 October 2014

Environment

Analysis

NGOs call for halt of World Bank’s climate initiatives

In July 2012 NGOs called on governments to pivot away from funding the Bank-housed Climate…

23 October 2013

Environment

Analysis

CIFs Monitor: past issues

Climate Investment Funds Monitor 7 25 April 2013 This briefing, including references, can also be…

13 October 2013

Accountability

Analysis

Submission to the International Development Committee of the UK parliament: inquiry into the World B

The UK should not increase its contribution to IDA in the current replenishment. Instead, it should focus on achieving substantial reforms of the World Bank and IFC in key areas, including health, gender, climate and energy, and the private sector, and in radically improving the legitimacy, transparency and accountability of the institution.

19 October 2010 | Paper
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