UN Independent Expert publishes two reports on the World Bank and IMF human rights performance, finding the institutions must be more than a "fig leaf" for the status quo and step up their human rights commitments.
Briefings
Conditionality
Analysis
The IMF and Gender Equality: A Compendium of Feminist Macroeconomic Critiques
The Bretton Woods Project published an edited volume on the gendered impacts of some of the most commonly-prescribed macroeconomic policies of the IMF, covering tax, expenditure and labour policies.
Conditionality
Analysis
The IMF, Gender Equality and Expenditure Policy
BWP briefing explores gender dimensions of IMF’s key fiscal policy advice on expenditure policy in developing countries, focusing in particular on austerity measures.
Conditionality
Analysis
The IMF, Gender Equality and VAT
BWP briefing explores gender dimensions of IMF’s key fiscal policy advice on resource mobilisation in developing countries, in particular on Value-Added Tax.
Social services
Analysis
World Bank undermines right to universal healthcare
The IFC’s push for the PPP model, as well as its preference for healthcare ‘provision’ and the results-based payment approach, collectively undermine the human right to universal healthcare and the achievement of the SDGs.
Conditionality
Analysis
Egypt’s new IMF deal comes with a huge price tag for human rights
After 4 years of on-off negotiation and public opposition, the government of Egypt has signed a loan deal with the IMF whose impacts civil society fears will encroach upon human rights, social protection and social provision, like health and education, upon which the poorest depend.
Social services
Analysis
GFF falls short on family planning
Investments by the World Bank-hosted Global Financing Facility (GFF) do not reflect the family planning priorities identified by developing countries and local communities. The GFF also continues to suffer from a lack of transparency and meaningful civil society participation, raising doubts about the new mechanism’s effectiveness.
IFI governance
Analysis
Gender-Just Macroeconomics
BWP publishes booklet on gender-just macroeconomics, a guide to engaging the IMF and World Bank.
Finance
Analysis
World Bank and IMF: Where do they stand on progressive and responsible taxation?
The IMF and the World Bank are increasingly engaged with the challenge of addressing how tax avoidance and evasion affect developing countries, but need to address the role played by multinational enterprises and tax havens in exacerbating inequality and undermining countries’ domestic revenues.
Conditionality
Analysis
The IMF and Gender Equality: A Critical Analysis
The Bretton Woods Project has published a briefing providing a critical analysis of the IMF's latest work on gender equality. The briefing questions the sustainability of the Fund's new approach to gender equality and reveals that the Fund's analysis so far is limited and inconsistent with the full achievement of women's economic empowerment.
Finance
Analysis
China goes global with development banks
This briefing examines the trajectory of China's evolving leadership in international development finance, including the impact of it's massive increase in development finance for developing countries.
IFI governance
Analysis
IFC claims “absolute immunity” to avoid justice. But will it hold up in court?
This briefing provides an overview of the immunity of international organisations in US law, looking at a lawsuit brought against the IFC regarding the Tata Mundra coal power plant in India.
Featured briefings
16 October 2024
The Bretton Woods Observer: Autumn 2024
16 October 2024
The lost call for international financial architecture reform in the G20
At the 80th anniversary of the World Bank and IMF, global civil society must maintain pressure on the Brazilian and South African G20 presidencies to ensure the forth Financing for Development Conference in 2025 results in urgently required international financial architecture reform.
16 October 2024
Sustainable development requires sustainable finance: why local currency financing is part of the solution
Multilateral development banks can reduce their dependence on hard currency lending and make local currency financing a central element of their developmental mandate.