Articles & resources
Critical voices on the World Bank and the IMF
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IMF and Milei – partners in Argentina’s neoliberal autocracy
After successive programme failures, new Argentina IMF programme is complicit in Milei government’s contravention of national and human rights laws through its pursuit of autocratic and neoliberal policies.
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Spring Meetings 2025 Preamble: geopolitical turmoil further muddies path of BWI reform and multilateral cooperation
As the World Bank and IMF prepare for the 2025 Spring Meetings, the US executive order reviewing its participation in global institutions has heightened long-standing concerns about the direction of the Bretton Woods system – with civil society turning to FfD4 to reimagine the future of multilateralism.
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New Independent Evaluation Office findings expose political pressures and over-optimism in IMF’s Exceptional Access Policy
Evaluation finds Exceptional Access Policy has been applied inconsistently, influenced by political pressures, and used as a substitute for debt restructuring while failing to attract private capital.
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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.
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IMF’s Independent Evaluation Office appoints new director and releases 2023 work plan
Changes in leadership have been announced at the WB Independent Evaluation Group and IMF Independent Evaluation Office. Furthermore, the IMF IEO published its 2023 Work plan introducing two new governance evaluations of the IMF’s mandate and its Exceptional Access Policy.
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The IMF is changing and needs an independent ombudsman
The Fund’s expansion of its work into the macro-stability challenges posed by pandemics, climate change, gender discrimination and inequality increases the risks that it may negatively impact communities and individuals.
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How IMF and World Bank support for financialisation undermines human rights
IMF and World Bank policies and programmes work in tandem to expand and deepen financialisation, exacerbating the inequality crisis and harming human rights, financial stability and democratic governance
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Debt crisis prevention: We need to talk about capital controls
IMF’s position on capital controls must be revised to recognise that they are an essential and permanent macroeconomic tool necessary to increase countries’ policy autonomy and enable them to act counter-cyclically and to prevent future debt crises.
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Independent Evaluation Office downplays IMF’s promotion of austerity whilst civil society warns of further cuts
Concerns over excessive austerity waved away, despite IEO admission that protection of low-income and vulnerable groups had fallen short.
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Evaluation finds IMF advice on capital controls lacking empirical support
IMF’s Independent Evaluation Office suggests that Fund guidelines are too restrictive and recommends a refresh in light of recent experience and research.
