NGO activists in Jakarta wrote an open letter to World Bank President James Wolfensohn in February, asking him to meet directly with the people to hear their own solutions to reverse Indonesia’s economic decline based on small-scale, local initiatives.
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Conditionality
News
Provocative report on IMF and World Bank reforms
A US Congress commission, which reported in March, called for major cut backs in World Bank and IMF activities.
Finance
News
IMF changes its tune on capital controls
A new report from the IMF, Country Experiences with the Use and Liberalization of Capital Controls, reviews experience with the use of capital controls in 14 countries and provides detailed studies of the experience of the use of controls in Chile, India and Malaysia.
IFI governance
News
Danger US Right wing will dominate reform agenda
The Meltzer Report has renewed fears that the debate on International Financial Institution (IFI) reform will be heavily skewed towards right-wing interests.
Finance
News
UN Finance for development conference
It has been agreed that a high level United Nations meeting on Finance for Development will be held in 2001 involving political decision-makers at least at the ministerial level.
IFI governance
News
Horst Köhler new IMF head
A vote by the IMF Board has confirmed Horst K
IFI governance
News
G8 to G30
Michel Camdessus, former IMF Managing Director, has proposed that the G8 should be expanded to the G30, to include all countries represented on the IMF and World Bank boards plus representatives from the IMF, WB and UN institutions.
IFI governance
News
IMF succession process “secretive and undemocratic”
More than 120 NGOs and academics in 38 countries demanded an end to the secretive and undemocratic process for appointing the IMF Managing Director.
Social services
News
Health Commission set up
The IMF and World Bank will participate in a commission of eminent economists chaired by Jeffrey Sachs on Macroeconomics and Health.
IFI governance
News
Treasury Committee supports UK transparency
The UK should be more transparent about the decisions it takes at the IMF recommends the UK’s Treasury Committee in its February 2000 report on the IMF.
Rights
News
Bank/Fund videos wanted
Friends of the Earth International, one of the main organisers of the NGO events surrounding the Annual meeting of the World Bank and IMF, this September in Prague, is organising a two day video festival, where documentaries related to IMF/World Bank activities will be shown for a wide audience, connected with debates and presentations.
Accountability
News
IMF halts Russia loans during Chechnya crisis
In December the IMF halted loans to Russia as the war in Chechnya reached crisis point.
