World Bank Group

IFI governance

Analysis

Spring Meetings 2025 Wrap-up: Don’t look up! Bank and Fund leadership self-censors on climate change and gender issues, as US tariffs rock global economic outlook

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicates US will stay in the Bank and Fund, claiming “America First does not mean America alone,” as tariffs and rising debt vulnerabilities prompt gloomy forecast.

30 April 2025
President Ramaphosa officiate first meeting of G20 Foreign Ministers under South African Presidency. Photo: Government of South Africa/ Flickr

IFI governance

Analysis

G20 press conference and media statement analysis Spring Meetings 2025: lack of Chair's statement yet more evidence of challenges to global consensus

The South African G20 Presidency failed to issue a communiqué and opted not to issue a Chair’s statement at the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings as the US administration’s explicit hostility to multilateralism significantly decreases the potential for consensus across all multilateral fora.

30 April 2025
Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva addresses delegates of the G-24 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors' Meeting during the 2025 Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund in Washington, DC, on April 22, 2025. Photo: Erin Scott

IFI governance

Analysis

G24 communiqué analysis Spring Meetings 2025: failure to tackle structural injustices amid geopolitical turmoil

At this year’s Spring Meetings, the G24 communiqué failed to present strategic solutions for multilateralism’s future, offering no real path to address the multiple crises facing the world.

30 April 2025
Barbados finance minister Ryan Straughn chairs V20's ministerial session on 24 April, during the 2025 World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings in Washington DC. Photo: CVF/V20.

IFI governance

Analysis

V20 communiqué analysis Spring Meetings 2025: amid attacks on climate action, climate vulnerable countries once again highlight urgent need to step back from the brink

Faced with deafening silence from Bank and Fund leadership on climate issues at the Spring Meetings, climate vulnerable countries demand urgent changes to global financial architecture.

30 April 2025
World Bank Group & International Monetary Fund 2023 Spring Meetings Development Committee, Wednesday, April 12, 2023 - Washington DC. Photo: World Bank photo collection/Flickr

IFI governance

Analysis

Development Committee chair’s statement analysis Spring Meetings 2025: holding out on climate, but not without private finance

The Development Committee met on 24 April, with the chair issuing a statement, instead of a communiqué, reflecting the views of the majority of the group and providing clarity on priorities and moments of consensus within the chaos.

30 April 2025

IFI governance

Analysis

Spring Meetings 2025 Preamble: geopolitical turmoil further muddies path of BWI reform and multilateral cooperation

As the World Bank and IMF prepare for the 2025 Spring Meetings, the US executive order reviewing its participation in global institutions has heightened long-standing concerns about the direction of the Bretton Woods system – with civil society turning to FfD4 to reimagine the future of multilateralism.

17 April 2025
Illustration showing the World Bank, the IMF and the EU and USA flags watering down the spirit of Monterrey from the walls of Seville old city.

Finance

Analysis

Civil society calls for FfD4 to revive 'spirit of Monterrey' and reassert UN's role in global economic governance

The role of Bretton Woods Institutions remains a key point of contention, amidst their stark governance deficits.

15 April 2025
Old Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda. Credit: Joyce Nanjobe Kawooya/Wikimedia

Social services

Commentary

New report documents abuses at IFC-funded hospitals, further exposing consequences of the “billions to trillions” approach

Bloomberg investigation adds further evidence of negative consequences for people and governments of IFC’s for-profit healthcare model.

15 April 2025 | Guest comment
USAID food distribution activities. Photo: USAID/ Malala Ramarohetra

Finance

Analysis

Breaking free from the aid trap: time for Africa to halt international financial institutions' austerity policies

The ‘aid trap’ continues in light of significant ODA cuts amidst political change in donor countries, as the BWIs continue to facilitate the financialisation of essential services like healthcare.

15 April 2025 | Guest analysis
Overturn Roe v Wade protest defending US abortion rights. Photo: Matt Hrkac/Wikimedia

Gender

Analysis

Civil society defends feminist demands amidst threats to women’s rights and fresh questions over the role of the BWIs

Anti-gender rhetoric, furthered by the new US administration, brings fresh questions over the approach of the World Bank and IMF to gender equality, given their controversial track record.

15 April 2025

IFI governance

Background

A closer look at the World Bank’s revised Country Partnership Framework

This Inside the Institutions explores the World Bank’s revised Country Partnership Framework, which aims to boost the impact of its country programmes through focus and efficiency.

15 April 2025

Accountability

News

IFC ends investment in waste-to-energy incineration projects in Gujarat, India, following civil society campaign

While IFC’s withdrawal is welcome, civil society urges the Bank to stop funding WTE projects and move towards zero-waste solutions instead.

15 April 2025