A discussion and critique of the main points in a prominent World Bank report on aid policy and conditionality - “Assessing Aid, What Works, What Doesn’t and Why”. The Bank’s report is very frank about the many failures of aid financing, but its proposals of targeting finance to good performing countries are controversial (1999).
Conditionality impacts
Conditionality
News
Brazil stabilisation means cuts for key donor projects
The IMF with multilateral banks and other donors has agreed a $41bn package to help Brazil fend off international currency speculators.
Conditionality
News
WB/IMF collaboration plans
In response to the external ESAF Review, the World Bank is to collaborate with the IMF in pilot projects in Nicaragua, Vietnam, Tajikistan, Ethiopia, Cameroon and Zimbabwe over the next 12-18 months.
Conditionality
News
ESAF review: new IMF strategy urged
More flexibility and a new approach was suggested in the external review of the Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility (IMF loans to poorer countries) published in March.
Conditionality
News
Trigger conditions explained
A country assistance strategy (CAS) identifies “high”, “base” and “low” case lending scenarios - which one a country initially receives depends on its economic prospects.
Featured briefings
14 December 2020
Gambling with our lives: Global emergencies expose consequences of decades of IMF and World Bank policies
Market-led policy approaches increasingly used to deal with both climate and health emergencies are failing to protect those most vulnerable.
10 December 2020
The Bretton Woods Observer: Winter 2020
12 October 2020