International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Knowledge

Background

Recommended resources on the World Bank and IMF 2022

Bretton Woods Project publishes its selection of the best books, reports and other resources on the World Bank and IMF from 2022.

25 January 2023 | Resource

Infrastructure

Analysis

World Bank and IMF influence casts shadow over South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Partnership

World Bank’s support for fossil fuel projects, including problem-riddled Medupi coal power station, leaves its reputation in tatters with South African civil society.

8 December 2022

IFI governance

Analysis

IMF quota review: Putting climate at the core of IMF governance reform

Addition of cumulative carbon emissions indicator in IMF quota formula would give climate-vulnerable countries greater voice in IMF.

8 December 2022 | Guest analysis

Environment

Commentary

Bridgetown Initiative calls for new Global Climate Mitigation Trust financed via Special Drawing Rights

IMF’s lending instruments fail to provide swift and large-scale funding for climate transition. The Bridgeton Initiative proposes a new trust backed by $500 billion in SDRs for climate and development.

8 December 2022 | Guest comment

Gender

Analysis

New IMF gender strategy's potential to catalyse change undermined by austerity and problematic mission creep

IMF’s new gender mainstreaming strategy makes effort to include civil society demands but falls short of transformative vision as austerity remains Fund’s raison-d’état.

8 December 2022

Conditionality

News

Unbalanced financial stimulus followed by fiscal austerity: When will the IMF learn from its mistakes?!

New reports by Financial Transparency Coalition and Eurodad highlight uneven distribution of Covid-19 stimulus spending followed by socially painful fiscal austerity.

8 December 2022

Finance

News

UN letter of allegation outlines concerns about the impact of IMF surcharge policy on human rights

Civil society urges IMF to reply to UN letter and finally take action to review its surcharge policy.

8 December 2022

Finance

News

Egypt reaches agreement for IMF programme, but proposals for debt relief are still lacking

Egypt’s new EFF program will likely deepen the country’s debt crisis, instead of helping improve its socioeconomic conditions.

8 December 2022

Rights

News

A new SDR allocation: Combatting deepening fragility concerns

The links between high debt burdens, lack of climate finance, austerity and the rise in political instability and fragility, conflict and violence remain largely neglected as IMF shareholders consider calls for a new SDR allocation, as proposed by the Bridgetown Agenda.

8 December 2022

Finance

News

Debt overhang risks another lost decade and could derail progress on poverty reduction and SDGs

Over 60 per cent of low-income countries and more than 25 percent of emerging market economies are in or at risk of debt distress, and are in danger of being unable to fulfil their fiscal obligations.

8 December 2022

IFI governance

News

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.

8 December 2022

Accountability

Background

The Bretton Woods Project welcomes new project leads on Financialisation and IFI Governance

Robert Bain and Mihaela Sirițanu join the Project as it expands its focus on financialisation and reform of the Bretton Woods Institutions.

8 December 2022 | Project news