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
Debt
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.
Accountability
News
Beware the big, bland wolf: The first year of Paul Wolfowitz at the World Bank
What has most surprised World Bank watchers is how little Paul Wolfowitz has changed the institution he took over one year ago. On Africa, infrastructure, and debt relief, he has stayed the course - for better or worse - set by his predecessor James Wolfensohn.
Accountability
Background
Debt, conditionality and corruption: Civil society strategy session
Highlights of a 20 April civil society strategy session in Washington on debt, conditionality and corruption.
Conditionality
News
World Bank approves $37 billion in debt relief
World Bank member nations approved $37 billion in debt relief for 17 countries at the end of March.
Finance
News
Latin America sends IMF packing
The IMF's role and financial health have been brought into further question as a result of the early repayment of two of its largest debtors.
Conditionality
News
IMF debt deal 'a victory'
In December, the IMF board approved 100 per cent debt relief to 19 countries under the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative amounting to $3.3 billion.
Environment
Background
Highlights of UK NGO meeting with executive director to the World Bank and IMF, Tom Scholar
Brief minutes of UK NGO meeting with Tom Scholar
Environment
News
UK parliament hearings on World Bank, IMF
The UK all-party committee on international development held its evidence session on the annual meetings of the World Bank and IMF in October, with evidence heard from the Bretton Woods Project and the Rainforest Foundation, secretary of state for international development Hilary Benn, and representatives of the Treasury.
Social services
News
IMF accused of exacerbating famine in Niger
The IMF's external relations department has spent the last two months furiously rebuffing charges that the Fund has exacerbated famine in Niger. The debate centres around the impact of structural adjustment measures and accusations that donors initially refused to allow the government to distribute free food to affected areas.
Featured briefings
27 September 2023
Financialisation and human rights in the Middle East and North Africa
This briefing explains how the IMF and World Bank have driven the financialisation of MENA states, and the pervasive negative effects this has had on the region’s societies and economies.
19 July 2023
The Bretton Woods Observer: Summer 2023
3 July 2023
Civil Society calls for rethink of World Bank’s ‘evolution roadmap’ as part of wider reforms to highly unequal global financial architecture
Joint civil society briefing paper highlights concerns with the World Bank’s Evolution Roadmap, and provides a series of recommendations for a Roadmap that prioritises people, participation and the planet over profit and economic growth.