International Monetary Fund (IMF)

IFI governance

Background

Is a feminist vision on public debt possible?

Notes from the Civil Society Policy Forum on 18 April 2024 titled "Is a feminist vision on public debt possible?"

17 April 2024 | Minutes

IFI governance

Background

The future of Special Drawing Rights as a development finance tool: What's next?

Notes from the Civil Society Policy Forum session on 17 April 2024, titled "The Future of Special Drawing Rights as a Development Finance Tool: What's Next?"

17 April 2024 | Minutes

Private Sector

News

Webinar - Financialisation, human rights and the Bretton Woods Institutions: An introduction for civil society organisations

On 11 April 2024 the Bretton Woods Project hosted a webinar to present its new report Financialisation, human rights and the Bretton Woods Institutions: An introduction for civil society organisations, followed by a discussion with CSOs and academics

12 April 2024 | Events

Environment

News

Civil society raises concerns about Resilience and Sustainability Trust’s green conditionality as Fund conducts interim review

CSOs and experts question the suitability of ‘green' policy conditions attached to RST loans.

9 April 2024
IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and World Bank President Ajay Banga at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 17 January. Credit: World Economic Forum / Benedikt von Loebell

IFI governance

Analysis

Spring Meetings 2024 Preamble: Bretton Woods Institutions continue to sleepwalk through crises as 80th anniversary of Bretton Woods Conference approaches

At a time when transformative changes on governance and development financing are required, the World Bank and IMF have instead opted for a slimmed down Spring Meetings schedule.

11 April 2024
Artcover of the Observer Spring 2024, showing cartoons representing the IMF and World Bank shaking hands holding the EU and US flags respectively

IFI governance

Analysis

Undemocratic gentleman's agreement will further challenge next IMF managing director

EU countries’ backing of Kristalina Georgieva for a second term as IMF Managing Director will likely set in motion the next steps towards her reappointment, representing another lost opportunity to reform IMF governance.

9 April 2024

Finance

Commentary

Better ways to reduce the pain of debt crises for developing countries?

Amid challenging global conditions, proposals to address liquidity issues must be urgently matched by a reformed, development-focused international financial architecture.

9 April 2024 | Guest comment

Finance

News

Sri Lanka’s continued debt crisis highlights urgent need for wider reform

Sri Lanka’s inability to avoid its 17th IMF programme, and its catastrophic human rights consequences, adds to evidence of IMF and international system's failure to adequately respond to the worsening debt crisis and urgent need for debt cancellation and systemic reform.

9 April 2024

Private Sector

Analysis

Financialisation, human rights and the Bretton Woods Institutions: An introduction for civil society organisations

New BWP's report examines the role of the BWIs in driving financialisation in the Global South and perpetuating neocolonial global imbalances of wealth and power, paying particular attention to its gendered consequences.

4 April 2024 | Reports
Pile of books from the Tibet Green Library. Credit: Bart Heird

Knowledge

Background

Recommended Resources on the World Bank and the IMF 2023

As every year, BWP published its collection of reports, briefings, CSO letters and other resources with a critical angle published in the past year on the World Bank and the IMF.

19 February 2024

IFI governance

News

Civil society calls for an end to the 'gentleman's agreement' and a merit-based, open and transparent MD selection process

Civil society calls for the IMF to ensure the next MD selection process is undertaken in accordance with a merit-based, open and transparent process, underpinned by criteria involving a demonstrated commitment to international human rights, feminist principles, green and equitable development, as well as  publicly available shareholder votes.

26 March 2024 | Letters

Knowledge

Background

Bretton Woods Project Annual Report 2023

In 2023, BWP continued its work as a watchdog of the World Bank and the IMF, supporting and amplifying the voices of critical civil society groups to capitalise on calls for substantive change, with a focus on four advocacy areas: Gender equality and macroeconomics, the environment, governance reform and accountability, and financialisation and human rights.

21 February 2024 | Annual report (BWP)