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African Development Bank

illustration of the Bretton Woods Observer winter 2024, presenting the World Bank globe sitting on a hidden pile of gold looking at the Wall Street Bull (which represents the financial sector)

Environment

Analysis

COP29 sees MDBs climate finance take centre stage, as civil society brands new climate finance goal a ‘betrayal’

Rich countries agree to provide a paltry $300 billion in public finance by 2035 including funds channelled through MDBs, as Small Island States and Least Developed Countries stage walkout.

12 December 2024

Private Sector

Commentary

IFC standards review must respond to UN’s call for rights-based transition mineral value chains

Amid escalating transition minerals mining, the expected 2025 review of IFC’s Performance Standards must result in a new approach.

16 October 2024 | Guest comment

Finance

Analysis

Balancing ambitions and bridging divides at multilateral development banks

The success of the World Bank Evolution Roadmap will depend on developed countries' willingness to bridge the gap with developing countries by increasing Global South decision-making power and committing to a capital increase.

4 October 2023 | Guest analysis

Infrastructure

Analysis

World Bank and IMF influence casts shadow over South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Partnership

World Bank’s support for fossil fuel projects, including problem-riddled Medupi coal power station, leaves its reputation in tatters with South African civil society.

8 December 2022

Environment

News

World Bank’s update on Paris alignment fizzles at COP27 as countries demand MDBs evolve to face climate emergency

Despite continued public rhetoric about importance of civil society engagement, Bank is yet to commit to holding a public consultation period on its Paris alignment approach.

8 December 2022

IFI governance

Analysis

Spring Meetings 2021 wrap up: Socialism for those who can afford it, neoliberalism for the rest

As the world struggles with divergent recovery paths from the pandemic, the IMF and World Bank once again failed to take the decisive action required during the Spring Meetings.

13 April 2021

Finance

News

First gathering of world’s public development banks fails to deliver concrete commitments

World Bank and other MDBs fail to sign on to general declaration as multilateral leadership on solutions to climate, debt and inequality crises remains inadequate.

10 December 2020
Civil society groups call for the World Bank to stop financing fossil fuels outside its 2019 Annual Meetings in October

Environment

News

EIB rules out most fossil fuel funding from 2021, setting new benchmark for MDBs

New energy policy sees European Investment Bank end support for unabated coal, oil and gas from 2021.

12 December 2019
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Other news

Infrastructure

News

New US treasury guidance introduces limits for US support for fossil fuels at World Bank

Civil society voices concern about continued support for fossil gas under the policy.

22 September 2021

Private Sector

News

CSOs call on World Bank to halt its aggressive support of PPPs

152 CSOs call demand World Bank halt its aggressive support of PPPs, publicaly recognise their significant risks.

6 December 2017

Background

Global Infrastructure Forum: Opening plenary

Notes from the opening plenary of the inaugural Global Infrastructure Forum, during the World Bank/IMF spring meetings 2016.

18 April 2016 | Minutes

Infrastructure

Background

Bridging the gap: scaling up investment into Africa's infrastructure

Sponsors: NEPAD Business Group, African Business Roundtable Panelists: AfDB representative, Agnes Dasewicz, (Private Capital Group of…

11 April 2014 | Minutes

Social services

News

World Bank's health work challenged on gender

Gender Action's new report Banking on health, published in October, examines IFIs' commitment to addressing gender issues in health-related projects.

6 December 2012

Infrastructure

Background

Private sector investment in energy lending and climate finance

Meeting notes of 'Private sector investment in energy lending and climate finance'

30 November 2010 | Minutes

Conditionality

News

Swazi unions tell IFIs to "go hang"

The IMF, World Bank, and African Development Bank criticised the 4.5 per cent pay rise of Swazi public servants in August, because of the country's tight fiscal situation.

30 September 2010

Rights

News

Bank directors bound by rights obligations

A report by a coalition of German NGOs finds that Germany extra-territorial obligations extend to its role in multilateral development banks.

31 January 2007
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