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World Bank Group

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)

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

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.

13 December 2023
Suralaya Power Station, Indonesia. Credit: Melvinas Priananda, Trend Asia.

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.

13 December 2023 | At Issue

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.

13 December 2023
IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva participates in the Joint Climate Seminar during the 2023 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund in Marrakech, Morocco on October 11, 2023. Credit: IMF Photo/Kim Haughton

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.

13 December 2023

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.

13 December 2023

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.

13 December 2023
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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.

13 December 2023

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.

13 December 2023

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.

13 December 2023

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.

4 October 2023

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."

11 November 2023 | Minutes
Flyer of CSPF on 12 October 2023, titled: The B-Ready Project: A Significant Departure from the Doing Business Report?

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?"

12 October 2023 | Minutes

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.

11 October 2023 | Minutes

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’.

4 October 2023
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