Explicit mention of human rights obligations has long been a taboo subject at the World Bank.
Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)
Environment
News
MIGA’s new insurance for voluntary carbon offsets risks propping up junk assets, say campaigners
World Bank’s political insurance arm to provide risk cover to existing offsets if they are affected by governments efforts to better regulate problem-plagued offset schemes.
IFI governance
Analysis
Spring Meetings 2024 Preamble: Bretton Woods Institutions continue to sleepwalk through crises as 80th anniversary of Bretton Woods Conference approaches
At a time when transformative changes on governance and development financing are required, the World Bank and IMF have instead opted for a slimmed down Spring Meetings schedule.
IFI governance
Analysis
IDA21: Moving beyond a focus on ‘historic’ replenishment
Calls for a ‘historic’ IDA21 replenishment risk diverting attention from the policy framework necessary for IDA to support countries to break their dependence on development finance and undertake the ecologically sustainable and just economic transformation long sought by their populations.
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.
Environment
News
World Bank’s reliance on private capital to finance green transition in low- and middle-income countries risks falling flat
Despite lofty rhetoric, Bank’s attempts to use scarce concessional finance to build investable project pipelines to secure power sector decarbonisation faces significant hurdles.
Environment
Background
Job opening: Bretton Woods Project seeks Environment Project Officer (closed)
BWP is now accepting applications for the new role of Environment Project Officer, which will support the Project's advocacy and research on the Bretton Woods Institutions' climate-related policies.
IFI governance
Analysis
Civil society calls for World Bank to reroute ‘Evolution Roadmap’ away from Cascade
Civil society questions the proposed expansion of the Cascade approach, which has failed to deliver the ‘trillions’ promised.
Environment
News
As World Bank launches Paris alignment approach, unclear guidelines raise greenwashing concerns
Bank’s approach relies on countries' national climate plans, which are not currently collectively aligned with 1.5°C temperature goal.
IFI governance
Analysis
Spring Meetings 2023 Preamble: Threats to multilateral system and to achievement of development goals mount as hopes of substantive reform at World Bank and IMF wane
Spring Meetings unlikely to deliver structural reforms required to respond to worsening polycrisis, as Global North-driven World Bank reform set to divert attention from poverty and inequality and geopolitical tensions dampen hopes of new SDR allocation and IMF quota reform.
IFI governance
Analysis
Democratic deficit in World Bank presidential appointment: Where is the evolution?
The World Bank Group needs to address its democratic deficit and lack of accountability. As it prepares to elect a new president and implement its “evolution roadmap”, it should use these key opportunities to embrace a profound reform.
Infrastructure
News
MIGA’s support for gas projects raises concerns about its climate credentials
World Bank’s commercial insurance arm provided nearly $850 million in guarantees for gas projects in Bangladesh and Mozambique in fiscal year 2022.
