In November Uruguay committed to clearing its balances with the IMF earlier than required, announcing its intention to repay its remaining balance of $1.1 billion sometime next year.
Debt
Accountability
News
World Bank corruption fight drags on
The World Bank's anti-corruption framework was the subject of one of the most bruising Development Committee debates in memory at the annual meetings. Further challenges for the Bank include the impact of a rapid rise in Chinese lending to developing countries on anti-corruption efforts, and debt campaigners use of the corruption issue to highlight creditor responsibility for 'illegitimate lending'.
Infrastructure
Background
Highlights of UK NGO meeting with Paul Wolfowitz
Highlights from a UK NGO meeting held with Paul Wolfowitz, head of the World Bank, in London on 13 November 2006. Issues covered include: the Bank's anti-corruption framework; financing 'fragile' states; conditionality; debt; and the extractive industry, energy infrastructure and climate change
IFI governance
Background
Highlights of Hilary Benn meeting with UK NGOs
Highlights of semi-annual meeting between UK Secretary of State for International Development and UK NGOs. Topics covered include CSO access to annual meetings, conditionality, anti-corruption, odious debt, clean energy, education in LICUS, bank internal governance, IFC safeguards
IFI governance
Background
Highlights of Tom Scholar meeting with UK NGOs
Highlights of quarterly meeting between UK executive director to the World Bank and IMF and UK NGOs. Topics covered include CSO access to annual meetings, IMF strategic review, conditionality, anti-corruption and education.
Finance
News
Mauritania, Malawi qualify for debt relief
Mauritania qualified for the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative in June, while Malawi completed the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries initiative in August.
Social services
News
Cape Verde becomes IMF’s third PSI country
On 1 August, the IMF board approved Cape Verde's application for the Policy Support Instrument (PSI)
Conditionality
News
IMF to relaunch Haitian programme
After years of political and economic disputes, the IMF has finally reinitiated negotiations with Haiti
Accountability
News
Independence of IMF’s evaluation arm questioned
In an evaluation of the IMF Independent Evaluation Office's first five years of work, an external committee concluded that the IMF board may have undue influence over the body. Additionally the IEO set itself an ambitious work plan for the next year, as it plans to delve into the Fund's internal organisation and trade policy
Accountability
News
Evaluation echoes civil society critique of World Bank-IMF debt relief efforts
An evaluation of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative by the Bank's Independent Evaluation Group released in April begs the question what next for debt relief efforts.