Explains and examines the World Bank Group’s approach to supporting private investment in developing countries through privatisation, guarantees and lending. Outlines critical perspectives on whether the Bank’s strategy will lead to poverty reduction and sustainable development (March 1997).
Analysis
Conditionality
Analysis
Bank pilot in Bolivia fails to create “clear, structured space” for CSOs
The World Bank’s pilot of its Comprehensive Development Framework (CDF) in Bolivia, reflects both scepticism and a complete lack of involvement. How did this state of affairs come about? And are the prospects for the CDF really as bleak as this might suggest?
IFI governance
Analysis
The World Bank And The State: A Recipe For Change?
Bretton Woods Project-commissioned riposte to the World Bank’s World Development Report, The State in a Changing World. (March 1998).
Knowledge
Analysis
World Development reports: The Preparation Process
The World Bank’s World Development reports are written and marketed giving the impression that they convey broadly held views and contain objective research. Many civil society organisations feel, however, that they are selective and biased and that the Bank sees them largely as a tool for self-promotion and self-justification. Outlines proposals for clarifying and improving this situation (April 1998).
Conditionality
Analysis
A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
In January 1999, Wolfensohn revealed the Comprehensive Development Framework, which frames his agenda for the Bank. This is a short examination of some of the issues raised by this announcement (July 1999).
Conditionality
Analysis
The IMF’s Final Frontier? Assessing “Second Generation” Reforms
The “second generation” reforms are aimed at implementing policies for the common good, particularly social policies that will help to alleviate poverty and provide more equal opportunity. It would appear that the IMF views itself no longer as simply an institution to achieve macroeconomic stabilisation objectives but is focused much more on structural issues, issues which have previously been the remit of the World Bank (1997).
Conditionality
Analysis
ESAF, Surviving The Spotlight?
The IMF has taken few steps to openly evaluate its operations. To try to remedy this situation, and in response to non-governmental organisations’ calls for a fully independent review mechanism, the IMF executive board decided to establish an ad hoc external review mechanism on a trial basis (1998).
Social services
Analysis
Social principles: an update
When the social principles were proposed by Gordon Brown at the 1998 AGM of the Bank and IMF it was envisaged that they would apply to all countries and would be monitored as the other codes on Fiscal Transparency, Monetary Policy and Corporate Governance will be. The Development Committee charged the World Bank with the task of drawing up the principles (1999).
Conditionality
Analysis
The IMF’s Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility: What Role for Development?
Although it has sought to adapt, the Fund still has particular difficulties in dealing effectively with low income countries. The introduction of ESAF was an important attempt at adaptation but its programmes are still too short term, the scale of support is often too small, and the policy conditions laid down are too blinkered.
Conditionality
Analysis
What Role for the Multilateral Institutions, Donors, and NGOs in the New Framework for Poverty Eradi
This paper considers how the relationships and roles of intenational and national non-governmental organisations, donors and the multilateral institutions are likely to change as a result of new initiatives to put poverty reduction and country ownership at the centre of the development process (2000).
WB/IMF roles
Analysis
Beyond Meltzer
This briefing is a response to the “Meltzer Report” produced by the US congressional Committee led by Allan Meltzer on the roles of the IMF and World Bank. It examines the Committee’s recommendations and outlines why they are inappropriate and how they would actually increase the power of the IMF, whilst turning it into an institution that would serve the needs of private sector investors rather than assisting governments (2000).
Knowledge
Analysis
The power of World Bank knowledge
For the enormous power and global reach the World Bank has today, relatively little formal debate exists on one critical aspect of its practices - the production of knowledge.
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.