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.
World Bank Group
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.
Accountability
Analysis
A proposal for Ajay: No evolution without remedy
While World Bank President declares the benefits of a “bigger and better” Bank, the scandal of alleged child sexual abuse and cover up relating to IFC investments in Bridge Academies demonstrates the urgent need for the Bank to establish a robust remedy framework.
Environment
Analysis
Coal not yet confined to the “old days” by World Bank Group
Despite the World Bank’s commitment to move away from funding coal, a series of loopholes in its financial intermediary lending remain that will continue to allow finance to support coal power projects.
Finance
Analysis
Decolonising the global economic architecture: The prerequisite for a just transition
Global South faces severe structural deficiencies that weaken its economic sovereignty and put it at the mercy of a neo-colonial global financial architecture.
Conditionality
Analysis
World Bank and IMF promoting private finance and fiscal consolidation despite mounting evidence of harmful impacts
Civil society research documents clear harms from privatisation and fiscal consolidation on public services and human rights, as Bank and Fund push for their deepening.
Finance
Analysis
UN Secretary General's New Agenda for Peace calls for urgent financial architecture and policy reform
UN Secretary General’s New Agenda for Peace report identifies growing threats to global peace and stability, and proposes urgent reforms to the unjust economic system. World Bank and IMF resist policy and governance reform.
Environment
News
Selection of World Bank to host new Loss and Damage Fund draws ire of developing countries and civil society advocates
Developing countries insist on lengthy list of conditions as Bank is named host of new Loss and Damage Fund on interim basis.
Other news
Finance
News
Significant IDA21 replenishment required as need for concessional finance grows
Rich countries need to agree to an ambitious IDA21 replenishment to address compounding economic and liquidity crises, causing high levels of debt distress in low-income countries.
Environment
News
IFC trade finance continues to invest in fossil fuels, with no board oversight
New research by Urgewald finds that the World Bank Group invested an estimated $3.7 billion in oil and gas developments in 2022 via trade financing.
Environment
Background
Laure-Alizée Le Lannou joins the Bretton Woods Project as new Environment Project Officer
Laure-Alizée Le Lannou will support the Project’s work on environmental and climate advocacy targeting the World Bank as well as research on IMF Special Drawing Rights.
Social services
News
Sri Lankan trade unions call out IMF and World Bank's dismantling of country’s social protection system in favour of ineffective targeting schemes
Sri Lankan trade unions call out IMF and World Bank's dismantling of country’s social protection system in favor of ineffective targeting schemes.
IFI governance
Background
An Evolution Roadmap responsive to development crises? Towards an external evaluation of the World Bank’s cascade
Notes from the Civil Society Policy Forum on 11 October 2023 titled, "An Evolution Roadmap responsive to development crises? Towards an external evaluation of the World Bank’s cascade."
IFI governance
Background
The B-Ready Project: A significant departure from the Doing Business Report?
Notes from the Civil Society Policy Forum on 12 October 2023 titled, "The B-Ready Project: A significant departure from the Doing Business Report?"
IFI governance
Background
African perspectives on the reforms of the international financial architecture
Notes from the Civil Society Policy Forum Session 'African perspectives on the reforms of the international financial architecture' on 11 October 2023.
Environment
News
Civil society raises concerns of widespread IFC noncompliance with its own Performance Standards on greenhouse gas emissions
New analysis by Bank Climate Advocates of 300 projects found IFC failed to follow its own guidelines on ‘emissions quantification, alternatives analysis, mitigation, disclosure and affected communities impact assessment’.