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International Development Association (IDA)

illustration of the Bretton Woods Observer winter 2024, presenting the World Bank globe sitting on a hidden pile of gold looking at the Wall Street Bull (which represents the financial sector)

Environment

Analysis

COP29 sees MDBs climate finance take centre stage, as civil society brands new climate finance goal a ‘betrayal’

Rich countries agree to provide a paltry $300 billion in public finance by 2035 including funds channelled through MDBs, as Small Island States and Least Developed Countries stage walkout.

12 December 2024
The World Bank's interactive new Corporate Scorecard on display at the 2024 World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings in Washington DC. Credit: Paul Blake/ World Bank.

Accountability

Analysis

Missing in action: accountability is noticeably absent from the World Bank Group’s new Corporate Scorecard

The Corporate Scorecard’s accountability gap is symptomatic of a broader failure on the part of the WBG to fully internalise, integrate and learn from the work of its accountability mechanisms.

12 December 2024

IFI governance

News

New report debunks claims that inadequate MDB transparency results from private sector concerns

Amid underwhelming private capital mobilisation, new report underscores poor state of transparency and disclosure of private sector finance by multilateral development banks and development finance institutions.

12 December 2024
Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva clasps hands with World Bank President Ajay Banga at the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable during the 2024 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund in Washington, DC, on 23 October 2024. Credit: IMF Photo/Allison Shelley

IFI governance

Analysis

Annual Meetings 2024 Wrap-up - Don’t look back: BWIs plough down path of reforms lacking evidence and willingness to engage with broader UN-led reform processes

The 2024 World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings, taking place in the context of the institutions’ 80th anniversary, offered little substantive reform despite multiple ongoing organisational processes and reviews.

30 October 2024
October 25, 2024 - Washington, D.C. | Participants of the 2024 IMF/World Bank Group Annual Meetings’ Development Committee: Mohamed bin Hadi Al Hussaini, Ajay Banga, Kristalina Georgieva, and Mercy Tembon. Photo: Simone McCourtie / World Bank (via Flickr).

IFI governance

Analysis

Development Committee chair’s statement analysis Annual Meetings 2024: compounding crises expose the World Bank’s role in structural failures but limit scope for reform

Despite Development Committee’s call for increased development impact amidst compounding crises, persistent geopolitical fragmentation constrains the critical reforms needed to address structural failures.

29 October 2024

IFI governance

Analysis

G20 communiqué analysis Annual Meetings 2024: progress on tax and inequality obscures Group's wider failures

At the 25th anniversary of the Group’s Finance Track, the G20 communiqué’s robust language on the taxation of billionaires, including encouraging “constructive discussions” about the UN Tax Conference was contrasted by much more cautious language on MDB reform, climate finance, debt and Special Drawing Rights.

29 October 2024

IFI governance

Analysis

V20 communiqué analysis Annual Meetings 2024: climate vulnerable countries once again demand key changes to IMF’s approach, as world risks breaching climate tipping points

V20 members offered a searing indictment of rich countries’ failure to act on BWIs governance, debt relief, climate finance and SDRs.

29 October 2024
World Bank President Ajay Banga, speaks at an event titled Transforming Challenge into Action: Expanding Health Coverage for All, at the WBG & IMF Spring Meetings, 18 April 2024, Washington DC. Credit: Grant Ellis / World Bank

IFI governance

Analysis

Annual Meetings 2024 Preamble: BWIs’ management and key shareholders stand in the way of transformative governance reforms despite ‘evolution’ rhetoric

Unconvincing World Bank Evolution Roadmap reforms and IMF’s struggle to mainstream climate and gender symptomatic of wider malaise.

17 October 2024
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Other news

Finance

News

IDA21 cobbles together $100 billion replenishment in context of wider aid cuts

Amid concerns about the policy package and in the face of global crises, IDA's 21st replenishment showed difficulty of mobilising donor finance amid elections and geopolitical tensions.

12 December 2024

Finance

News

High stakes for December’s IDA21 pledging meeting

The replenishment process for IDA21 concludes in early December, amid hopes of a record replenishment and concerns over the global debt crisis.

16 October 2024

IFI governance

Background

Problematising the Bank’s reliance on financial inclusion, from the gender strategy to the corporate scorecard

Notes from a Civil Society Policy Forum panel on 22 October titled "Problematising the Bank’s Reliance on Financial Inclusion, from the Gender Strategy to the Corporate Scorecard".

22 October 2024 | Minutes

IFI governance

Background

Beyond size in IDA21 replenishment: What about socio-economic transformation?

Notes from Civil Society Policy Forum panel 19 April titled, "Beyond size in IDA21 replenishment: What about soci0-economic transformation?"

19 April 2024 | Minutes

Infrastructure

News

Banga calls energy access a ‘human right’ as he announces World Bank will provide access for 250 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030

Explicit mention of human rights obligations has long been a taboo subject at the World Bank.

3 July 2024

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

IFI governance

Background

Navigating Africa’s debt conundrum amid multiple crisis: Looking beyond the G20 Common Framework

Notes from the Civil Society Policy From on 13 April titled "Navigating Africa’s debt conundrum amid multiple crisis: Looking beyond the G20 Common Framework."

13 April 2023 | Minutes

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
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