As pilot countries are selected and funding allocated, concern mounts over poor consultation, the weakness of some country proposals, and failure to address governance issues.
Analysis
Rights
Analysis
Human rights (the World Bank way)
Most of the world's governments have ratified at least one human rights treaty or convention. Kirk Herbertson, Kim Thompson and Robert Goodland of the World Resources Institute ask why the World Bank Group - which is owned by these same governments - is hesitant to discuss human rights openly.
Social services
Analysis
Social insecurity
This paper aims to raise awareness of private financial institutions' influence on healthcare and pensions in developing countries.
Knowledge
Analysis
Fundamental change or more of the same?
In this review, we assess the progress of the G20, and particularly of the UK government, towards the 12 policy recommendations as set out by the Put People First platform in March 2009 and identify areas where further progress should be pursued in 2010. This review shows that the international community needs to continue to focus on sustainable and equitable policy, by going far further than has so far been contemplated.
Infrastructure
Analysis
Clean energy targets for the World Bank
This paper questions what the World Bank counts as clean energy and whether it reports on its energy lending in an accountable way. The concerns it highlights demonstrate the need for a far more rigorous and transparent approach, subject to independent monitoring.
IFI governance
Analysis
IMF mandate needs fundamental rethink
The IMF needs to fundamentally rethink its role, and return closer to its original purpose, focussing on three key areas: reform of the international monetary system; surveillance over the policies of systemically important countries; and providing rapid access, conditionality-free finance to countries facing crisis.
IFI governance
Analysis
Analysis of World Bank voting reforms
The World Bank will continue to be overwhelmingly dominated by rich countries, which stunts its legitimacy and limits its capacity to serve the interests of developing countries.
Finance
Analysis
The International Monetary System:
Summary of seminar held at the Civil Society Forum during the 2010 World Bank/ IMF spring meetings.
Accountability
Analysis
Bottom lines, better lives? Rethinking multilateral financing to the private sector in developing co
This report examines MDBs' growing but controversial investments in the private sector in developing countries. It proposes changes to ensure that these investments work for development, rather than serving the interests of foreign investors.
Infrastructure
Analysis
Fuelling contradictions: the World Bank's energy lending and climate change
The World Bank's energy and infrastructure lending is undermining its credibility as an institution committed to combating the impacts of climate change for the world's poor, and its attempts to play a central role in managing global climate funds.
Finance
Analysis
Funding the World Bank - The sixteenth IDA replenishment: Major reform must be the price of UK suppo
Joint paper by ten UK development NGOs calling for the government to use IDA's 16th replenishment to push the World Bank to make significant reforms, without which the UK should not increase its cash allocation and instead consider alternative channels for aid.
Infrastructure
Analysis
The World Bank and energy: time for a catalytic conversion
The World Bank is currently consulting on a new energy strategy, due to be finalised in early 2011. We believe this offers an opportunity for a shift towards a limited but catalytic role for the World Bank in ensuring energy access for the poor and supporting the transition towards a low carbon future. But only if the World Bank commits itself to conversion into a much more transparent, representative and environmentally responsible institution, focused on its mission, not its own enlarge
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.