International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Rights

News

IMF transparency improved

The IMF has outlined a new information policy.

15 June 1999

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.

15 June 1999

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.

15 March 1999

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.

15 March 1999

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.

15 March 1999

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.

15 March 1999

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.

15 March 1999

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.

15 March 1999

News

Surveys show tough views on Bank and Fund

Respondents to two recent surveys revealed widespread continuing mistrust of Bank and Fund approaches.

15 March 1999

News

IMF “serious” about improving NGOs relations

Useful Contacts

15 March 1999

Finance

News

ESAF-HIPC Link Attacked

Mr Jagdeo, Guayanese Finance Minister, has attacked the IMF for its lack of commitment to debt reduction and using the HIPC Initiative as a means of forcing countries to comply with ESAF programmes.

15 December 1998

IFI governance

News

Bank Uganda video available

A two-part TV programme giving a behind the scenes look at World Bank/IMF negotiations in Uganda has just been screened in the UK.

15 December 1998