Relations between the Bank and the government of Papua New Guinea were strained in July by the government’s decision to issue bonds to raise money from the private sector.
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Monitoring the monitors
The external evaluation reports on the IMF‘s surveillance and research activities have been discussed by the Board and will be published with summaries of the Board’s discussions on the IMF website in time for the Annual meetings.
Independent e-conference on Poverty WDR first draft
The Bretton Woods Project will run an electronic conference to discuss the first draft of the World Bank’s Poverty World Development Report.
Bank doubts wisdom of private infrastructure
The Financial Times reported in July that World Bank East Asia Vice President Jean-Michel Severino admitted that the Bank and other organisations had been naive about the benefits of private infrastructure.
Bank/Fund voting challenged
In late August India’s central bank chief told a meeting of bankers in Sri Lanka that the voting structure of international funding agencies should be changed to reflect the economic strengths of developing nations.
Civil society engagement in Consultative Groups
UK NGO Christian Aid has begun a research project on the role of civil society groups in Consultative Group and Round Table donor coordination and planning bodies.
NGO review of Bank social assessments
US NGO grouping InterAction is reviewing Bank social assessments.
Bribes by companies in Bank-funded African project
A dozen major international dam-building companies involved in the World Bank-funded Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) have lavishly bribed a top official on the project, allegedly giving nearly US$2 million in bribes over ten years.
“Knowledge Bank” claims queried
The Bretton Woods Project has received copies of draft papers by two academics critically querying the World Bank’s claims to have become a “knowledge bank”.
Globalization, urbanization, environment assessed
The Bank’s World Development Report 1999-2000, due out in mid-September, will examine globalization, localization, urbanization, and environmental change, presenting their implications for institutions and for policy.
Forest policy review delay, IFC scrutinised
The regional consultations that will inform the World Bank’s forest policy review have had to be delayed; they will not start until February or March 2000.
Bank/NGO communications strategy assessed
The Bank’s NGO Unit has commissioned a needs assessment of communications strategies between the World Bank and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).
Featured briefings
6 April 2022
The Bretton Woods Observer: Spring 2022
8 December 2021
The Bretton Woods Observer: Winter 2021
8 November 2021
IMF surveillance and climate change transition risks
New briefing by ActionAid USA and the Bretton Woods Project highlights research showing that IMF policy advice has undermined a just energy transition since the Paris Agreement was signed.