The IMF has outlined a new information policy.
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Social services
News
Little new in IMF/WB pilots
Several of the pilot ESAF collaboration studies between the IMF and world Bank are in trouble, and new countries may need to be selected.
News
Update error on IMF staff
The Bretton Woods Update (March 1999) reported that the 2 social advisors recently appointed to the IMF were being funded by the Department for International Development (DFID).
Social services
News
IMF/WHO collaboration
IMF staff have met Dr Bruntland, head of the World Health Organisation, to identify mechanisms for IMF-WHO collaboration.
Conditionality
News
Initiative changes
The G7 have agreed changes to the Heavily Indebted Poor Country Debt Initiative which will impose more conditionality in return for earlier relief from interest payments.
IFI governance
News
Bank seeks balanced development strategies
Bank President James Wolfensohn has announced a new initiative which aims to balance economic with non-economic analysis and enable real participation and transparency in drawing up country strategies.
Knowledge
News
Bank/Fund growth model questioned
Both ENDS and the Bretton Woods Project co-organised a roundtable meeting in early March to discuss the World Bank and IMF’s core economic models.
Rights
News
Post-crisis social code diluted to weak Bank principles
There is danger that the aims and scope of the social principles (formerly the Social Code), which was proposed by Gordon Brown as a fourth pillar of the new international architecure, will be watered down to become simply a framework for the Bank’s social policy.
IFI governance
News
Financial Stability Forum agreed
The G7 will establish a Financial Stability Forum (FSF) to improve the monitoring and regulation of financial markets.
IFI governance
News
IMF social staff appointed
The UK Department for International Development is funding 2 social advisors to join the IMF’s Africa department to advise on the social implications of the IMF’s ESAF programmes.
Conditionality
News
Brazilians protest spending cuts
Brazilian NGOs, trade unions, students and opposition parties protested outside the World Bank’s office in Brasilia against the government’s agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Bank’s decision to suspend loans to two state governments.
News
Surveys show tough views on Bank and Fund
Respondents to two recent surveys revealed widespread continuing mistrust of Bank and Fund approaches.
