Energy policy at the World Bank remains controversial, with escalating lending to coal projects and a delay to the energy strategy review. Past Bank-financed energy projects in Ghana and Albania are also proving problematic.
Anti-corruption
Accountability
News
IMF grants Antigua loan amid controversy
The IMF has faced increased political pressure to refuse a $118 million loan to Antigua and Barbuda following the government’s seizure of assets belonging to Allen Stanford, former head of the now fallen Stanford Investment Bank (SIB).
Environment
News
IFC's mining investments: a black hole for human rights?
A spate of human rights violations and environmental abuses by mining ventures backed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank, is raising alarm over the inadequacy of its social and environmental standards.
Accountability
News
IMF restores votes for Zimbabwe
The IMF board announced in mid February that the voting rights of Zimbabwe would be restored after seven years of suspension for unpaid debt, meaning that Zimbabwe can now participate in Fund decision making.
Accountability
News
Education strategy review: has the Bank learned its lessons?
The World Bank launched a review of its education strategy in January with a concept note setting out key challenges and principles for a sector where its activities have come under sustained criticism.
IFI governance
News
IEG: IDA anti-corruption measure inadequate
The IEG published in April a Review of IDA Internal Controls, finding deficiencies in the fiduciary processes and controls the Bank has set up to manage the risk of corruption in IDA operations.
IFI governance
News
Racial discrimination at World Bank
A review of the treatment of black employees at the World Bank in recruitment, retention and justice decisions has been released by the Government Accountability Project (GAP).
Accountability
News
Clarification: Armenia corruption Allegations
We would like to appologise for any confusion due to an article in Update 62 on water privatisation. In discussing a Bank project in Yerevan, Armenia, it may not have been clear that all statements about tendering the parliamentary commission, water services, and project material were allegations from the Government Accountability Project (GAP) report.
Accountability
News
World Bank debarred software provider
In December 2008 the World Bank declared that it had debarred Satyam Computer Services for providing "improper benefits to bank staff".
Conditionality
Background
Combating tax flight: ending evasion and reducing avoidance
Norway, Germany, IMF, WOrld Bank and experts discuss tackling tax evasion and capital flight.
Featured briefings
30 March 2021
World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings 2021
23 March 2021
The Bretton Woods Observer: Spring 2021
23 March 2021
Tip of the iceberg: How the call for SDRs reveals the urgency for deeper reforms of the global reserve system to address systemic inequalities
Renewed calls for a substantial SDR allocation raise urgency of reforming the inequitable global reserve ‘non-system’.