Notes from the Civil Society Policy Forum session on 10 April on the incoherence between IMF-backed austerity policies, via loan conditionality and policy advice, and the realization of the right to health.
Conditionality impacts
Conditionality
Commentary
Strikes overturn wage cuts, but IMF blindness risks ruining Tunisia
General Secretary of Tunisia's largest trade union calls for an overhaul of the IMF's approach to bring about socially just expansionary policies, after strikes overturn IMF-backed wage bill
Conditionality
Analysis
The political cost of IMF programmes
As Jordan is engulfed in social unrest and political upheaval, questions are raised around the relationship between IMF conditionality and trends in instability.
Social services
Analysis
The IMF's approach to social protection and the crisis of multilateralism
UN Special Rapporteur publishes report on IMF and social protection, calls on Fund to practice what it preaches.
Conditionality
Analysis
Bad news for Argentina: The cruel IMF is back
As Argentina agrees to a $50 billion IMF loan, the ghost of loans past lingers, as protests erupt and strikes begin.
Social services
Analysis
Pro-poor or anti-poor? The World Bank and IMF’s approach to social protection
Stephen Kidd critiques Bretton Woods Institutions' approach to targeted social protection systems, arguing the poor lose out the most.
Conditionality
Commentary
Tunisians take to the streets over IMF-imposed austerity
Despite claiming to no longer support austerity, the IMF has imposed damaging cutbacks on the people of Tunisia as part of its loan conditionality, leading to widespread discontent on Tunisian streets.
Rights
Analysis
Civil society still waiting for ‘IMF Spring’ to blossom
Civil society was out in full force during annual meetings challenging the IMF’s claims that it is reducing economic and gender inequality.
Conditionality
News
New IMF conditionality database launched
Team of UK academics launch new, freely available IMF conditionality database.
Conditionality
News
IMF Ukraine programme’s impact on women’s rights criticised at Human Rights Council
WILPF submitted a statement to Human Rights Council criticising the IMF's Ukraine programme. The statement argued that the programme's harsh conditionalities hurt women in particular and called for a human rights based approach to macroeconomic policy making.