US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicates US will stay in the Bank and Fund, claiming “America First does not mean America alone,” as tariffs and rising debt vulnerabilities prompt gloomy forecast.
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
IFI governance
Analysis
G20 press conference and media statement analysis Spring Meetings 2025: lack of Chair's statement yet more evidence of challenges to global consensus
The South African G20 Presidency failed to issue a communiqué and opted not to issue a Chair’s statement at the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings as the US administration’s explicit hostility to multilateralism significantly decreases the potential for consensus across all multilateral fora.
IFI governance
Analysis
G24 communiqué analysis Spring Meetings 2025: failure to tackle structural injustices amid geopolitical turmoil
At this year’s Spring Meetings, the G24 communiqué failed to present strategic solutions for multilateralism’s future, offering no real path to address the multiple crises facing the world.
IFI governance
Analysis
V20 communiqué analysis Spring Meetings 2025: amid attacks on climate action, climate vulnerable countries once again highlight urgent need to step back from the brink
Faced with deafening silence from Bank and Fund leadership on climate issues at the Spring Meetings, climate vulnerable countries demand urgent changes to global financial architecture.
IFI governance
Analysis
IMFC chair statement analysis Spring Meetings 2025: IMFC statement reflects IMF’s scramble to reshape the international order in new US administration’s image
IMFC chair’s statement promises private sector-led growth, productivity, and job creation, while ignoring climate action, in an almost word for word copy of US Treasury Secretary’s speech at Spring Meetings.
IFI governance
Background
Missing labour: Fixing the Fund’s approach to the gendered division of labour
Notes from the Civil Society Policy Forum on Thursday the 24th of April titled 'Missing labour: Fixing the Fund’s approach to the gendered division of labour'
IFI governance
Background
Hidden debt: Tackling grand corruption in debt management to safeguard financing for development
Notes from the Civil Society Policy Forum on 23 April 2025 titled 'Hidden debt: tackling grand corruption in debt management to safeguard financing for development'.
IFI governance
Background
Decoding IMF accounting, unlocking the full potential of SDRs
Notes from the Civil Society Policy Forum session on 23 April 2025, titled "Decoding IMF Accounting, unlocking the full potential of SDRs".
IFI governance
Background
How the Jubilee Year Can Address the Debt and Development Crises in the Global South?
Notes from the Civil Society Policy Forum on 22nd April titled How the Jubilee Year Can Address the Debt and Development Crises in the Global South?
IFI governance
Analysis
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.
Finance
Analysis
Civil society calls for FfD4 to revive 'spirit of Monterrey' and reassert UN's role in global economic governance
The role of Bretton Woods Institutions remains a key point of contention, amidst their stark governance deficits.
Finance
Analysis
Breaking free from the aid trap: time for Africa to halt international financial institutions' austerity policies
The ‘aid trap’ continues in light of significant ODA cuts amidst political change in donor countries, as the BWIs continue to facilitate the financialisation of essential services like healthcare.
