The IMF and World Bank continue to be amongst the most relevant and significant powerful norm-setters, convenors, knowledge-holders and influencers of the international development and financial landscape. This Inside the Institutions sets-out some of the most common criticisms of the World Bank and IMF under three broad lenses: democratic governance, human rights and the environment.
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International Monetary Fund (IMF)
IFI governance
Analysis
Spring Meetings wrap-up 2019: what crisis of multilateralism?
As the world ponders the fate of a beleaguered multilateralism on the 75th anniversary of the Bank and Fund, both fail to act on essential governance reforms and opt to maintain the unjust privilege of the Global North.
Finance
Analysis
Falling growth, rising tensions – IMFC communiqué analysis Spring 2019
Analysis of the IMFC communiqué, issued on 13 April, from the 2019 World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings, Washington DC.
IFI governance
Analysis
Development Committee communiqué analysis – Spring 2019
Analysis of the Development Committee communiqué published on 13 April.
IFI governance
Analysis
G24 communiqué analysis – Spring 2019
Analysis of the IMFC communiqué, issued on 13 April, from the 2019 World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings, Washington DC.
IFI governance
Analysis
World Bank president selection: 'Gentleman's agreement' alive and well
World Bank's board fails to live up to commitments to open, transparent and merit-based selection process for Bank president.
Finance
Analysis
Debt and gender equality: How debt-servicing conditions harm women in Africa
As debt crises across the African continent continue to soar, concerns are raised about the gendered impact of debt-servicing conditions imposed by international financial institutions.
Conditionality
Commentary
Unsustainable? The IMF’s approach to the Sustainable Development Goals
As the IMF publishes new SDG site, meaningful policy realignment remains lacking while business-as-usual continues at IMF.
Other news
Finance
Background
Taxing to Develop: International Taxation Challenges for Africa
Notes from the IMF and World Bank 2019 Spring Meetings official session on 14 April on international taxation challenges in Africa.
Infrastructure
Background
Sustainable Infrastructure: Aligning with Rights and the SDGs
Notes from the Civil Society Policy Forum event on 10 April, which looked at sustainable infrastructure from fiscal, rights and climate lenses.
Finance
Background
Taxes, Taxes, Taxes: Shifting the IFI Narrative to Progressive Gender-just Taxation
Notes from the Civil Society Policy Forum session on 12 April on the changing international tax landscape from a feminist perspective and challenging IFIs’ role in shaping it at the World Bank and IMF's 2019 Spring Meetings.
Conditionality
Background
Austerity and the right to health - the IMF’s role in expanding fiscal space for public spending
Notes from the Civil Society Policy Forum session on 10 April on the incoherence between IMF-backed austerity policies, via loan conditionality and policy advice, and the realization of the right to health.
Finance
News
Pakistan requests 13th IMF loan, amid US-China tensions
As Pakistan requests an IMF loan amid concerns about its debt sustainability, the IMF response is caught up in China-US tensions.
IFI governance
News
Follow BWP’s World Bank and IMF 2019 Spring Meetings Dispatch
BWP will provide analysis of the ministerial meetings’ communiqués, notes from CSPF seminars and more on BWP’s Dispatch page.
Knowledge
Background
Recommended resources on the World Bank and IMF: 2018
BOOKS Enforcing the rules in a global economy: The emergence of structural conditionality in the…
IFI governance
News
IMF quota reforms: The fight for democratic governance continues
Uneven votes shares and global power imbalances shape the IMF voting shares, as it prepares to shake up its voting quotas
Featured briefings
4 April 2019
World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings 2019
4 April 2019
Debt and gender equality: How debt-servicing conditions harm women in Africa
As debt crises across the African continent continue to soar, concerns are raised about the gendered impact of debt-servicing conditions imposed by international financial institutions.
4 April 2019