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UN

Accountability

News

UDHR and IPN anniversaries underscore urgent need for Human Rights policy at all IFIs

World Bank and IMF shareholders must use the anniversaries of the Inspection Panel and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights respectively to demand both establish human rights policies and meet their international obligation to provide remedy

19 July 2023

Finance

Analysis

UN Financing for Development: The best chance to democratise global economic governance?

As Bretton Woods Institutions fail to deliver transformative, systematic reform of deeply unequal global architecture, countries should embrace a more democratic space: the United Nations Financing for Development process

19 July 2023 | Guest analysis

Rights

Background

The World Bank's approach to human rights

This Inside the Institutions explores how the World Bank approaches human rights in the context of the international human rights obligations of international financial and development institutions.

19 July 2023 | Inside the institutions

IFI governance

Analysis

Spring Meetings 2023 Preamble: Threats to multilateral system and to achievement of development goals mount as hopes of substantive reform at World Bank and IMF wane

Spring Meetings unlikely to deliver structural reforms required to respond to worsening polycrisis, as Global North-driven World Bank reform set to divert attention from poverty and inequality and geopolitical tensions dampen hopes of new SDR allocation and IMF quota reform.

6 April 2023

IFI governance

Analysis

Democratic deficit in World Bank presidential appointment: Where is the evolution?

The World Bank Group needs to address its democratic deficit and lack of accountability. As it prepares to elect a new president and implement its “evolution roadmap”, it should use these key opportunities to embrace a profound reform.

5 April 2023

Finance

Analysis

The global financial architecture and the international debt crisis: An urgent call for reform

Influence of unreformed international financial institutions and creditor interests in debt solutions in low- and middle-income countries plagued by delay and ineffective when undertaken.

5 April 2023 | At Issue

IFI governance

Analysis

IMF quota review: Putting climate at the core of IMF governance reform

Addition of cumulative carbon emissions indicator in IMF quota formula would give climate-vulnerable countries greater voice in IMF.

8 December 2022 | Guest analysis

Environment

Commentary

Bridgetown Initiative calls for new Global Climate Mitigation Trust financed via Special Drawing Rights

IMF’s lending instruments fail to provide swift and large-scale funding for climate transition. The Bridgeton Initiative proposes a new trust backed by $500 billion in SDRs for climate and development.

8 December 2022 | Guest comment
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Other news

Finance

News

IMF continues to disregard UN Human Rights Commission concerns about its surcharge policy

IMF managing director continues to refuse to answer letter from UN Human Rights Council concerning the negative impact of IMF surcharges as world celebrates 75th anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

5 April 2023

Finance

News

A different ‘evolution roadmap’: Havana conference calls for changes in world order hierarchy

As IMF and World Bank tinker at margins, 50 policymakers, diplomats and academics from over 26 countries issue Havana Declaration calling for an assertion of Southern power and the building of a new "planetary bloc".

5 April 2023

Finance

News

UN letter of allegation outlines concerns about the impact of IMF surcharge policy on human rights

Civil society urges IMF to reply to UN letter and finally take action to review its surcharge policy.

8 December 2022

Rights

News

'Uber Files' and 'Back off BlackRock' campaign expose 'pink washing' as the heart of corporate women's economic empowerment agenda

Uber Leaks and cancelled BlackRock and UN Women partnership highlight contradiction of corporate ‘pink washing’ interests with IFI gender commitments.

4 October 2022

IFI governance

Background

Global South feminist perspectives and proposals on accelerating climate finance for countries facing debt crises

Notes from a Civil Society Policy Forum event on 12 October titled, "Global South feminist perspectives and proposals on accelerating climate finance for countries facing debt crises."

12 October 2022 | Minutes

IFI governance

Background

IMF surcharges: A necessary tool or counter-productive obstacle to a just and green recovery?

Notes from the Civil Society Policy Forum session on 6 October on the governance and resourcing implications of IMF's surcharges.

6 October 2021 | Minutes

Rights

News

Will IMF Strategy for Fragile and Conflict-Affected States escape traditional focus on austerity?

The IMF’s new Fragile and Conflict-Affected States strategy has incorporated many civil society concerns, but civil society and international actors like the UN must also have input into its implementation.

4 October 2022

Gender

Background

The Bretton Woods Project welcomes new gender project staff

BWP is pleased to welcome Friederike Strub as our Gender Equality and Macroeconomics Lead and Amy McShane as Gender Project Officer.

6 April 2022 | Project news
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