UN releases Guiding Principles on human rights impact assessments of economic reforms, begging the question of how the IMF will respond.
UN
Finance
News
Tax Platform hosts tax and SDGs conference - hold the SDGs
Civil society finds lack of progressivity at first tax and development conference hosted by Tax Platform, as governments are left out of political negotiations and hopes of G77 for global tax body appear to fizzle out.
Environment
News
As Green Climate Fund and World Bank sign framework agreement, concerns about Bank's role linger
Bank and GCF finalise framework agreement, meaning nine co-financed projects can go forward.
Environment
News
World Bank remains GCF interim trustee amid questions over long-term status
GCF’s permanent trustee will chosen through open bidding process with final decision expected to be taken in October
Social services
News
CSOs urge IFC to divest from for-profit school chain
CSOs urge investors to divest from private school provider Bridge International Academies; IFC remains investor, despite WDR’s concerns with private education.
Rights
Analysis
The IMF in insecure fragile states: why being absent should no longer be an option
While there is scope to improve IMF operations in all fragile states, ahead of the forthcoming publication of the IMF IEO review of IMF work in fragile states, there is one fundamental change it must make to transform its effectiveness in fragile states: wherever it is possible, it must be present. No country should be left out.
Rights
Analysis
Civil society still waiting for ‘IMF Spring’ to blossom
Civil society was out in full force during annual meetings challenging the IMF’s claims that it is reducing economic and gender inequality.
Knowledge
Analysis
Chinese growth’s contribution to poverty reduction challenges World Bank and IMF neoliberal policies
CEPR report found that two-thirds of extreme poverty during past 25 years took place in China, which did not follow World Bank and IMF neoliberal policies.
Rights
News
CSOs express concern about IMF’s “strongly divergent” social protection approach
Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors submits letter to the IMF expressing concerns about impacts of Fund's policies on social protection.
Finance
News
IMF and Bank “intensifying” tax work: Possible progress or consolidating control?
The World Bank and IMF are intensifying their work on tax under the Platform for Collaboration on Tax, yet civil society is cautious about embracing tax policy advice coming from the Bretton Woods Institutions.
Finance
Analysis
Debt sustainability review: Tinkering around the edges while crises loom
Despite making some positive changes, the IMF and World Bank Debt Sustainability Framework review has ignored fundamental issues, as risk of new crises persist.
IFI governance
Background
Great expectations: Is the IMF turning words into action on inequality?
Notes from the 2017 World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings session on the IMF's approach to inequality, 13 October.
Featured briefings
6 April 2023
World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings 2023
5 April 2023
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.
4 April 2023