Disagreements between donors about how much grant money the Bank should give to the poorest countries has held up replenishment of the International Development Association (IDA), Bank’s soft-lending arm.
Debt
Conditionality
News
Divergent views on PRSP progress
A new report compiled from workshops organised by Jubilee South, Focus on the Global South and other southern civil society groups claims structural adjustment logic and policies essentially remain unchanged in PRSPs.
Finance
News
Tax investors to finance bailouts
An alternative proposal to debt standstill is to create larger bailout funds.
Finance
News
IMF shares blame for Argentina’s collapse
Many eyes are now looking to see how Argentina will manage its financial and political crises.
Finance
News
O’Neill supports bankruptcy mechanism
In September US Treasury Secretary, Paul O’Neill, told the Senate Banking Committee that he would favour establishment of an international bankruptcy law as an alternative to IMF bailouts.
Finance
News
HIPC not delivering debt relief
The Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) Initiative is failing to deliver debt relief, reports the Financial Times (9/10/01).
Rights
News
IFIs must respect human rights
The World Bank and the IMF are bound by obligations enshrined in international human rights covenants, and must incorporate human rights considerations in the formulation and review of their Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs).
Finance
News
Will grants kill IDA?
Heated debate is brewing between the US government which proposes that the Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) should provide up to 50 per cent of its resources as grants and some European governments (supported by the Bank) who argue that to do so would deplete IDA’s resources.
Conditionality
News
Argentina to be sacrificed on free-market altar?
In August, Argentinian teachers, doctors and public workers went on strike and unemployed workers and students blocked roads to protest against rising unemployment and cuts in pensions and salaries.
Finance
News
African leaders speak out against donors
At a forum in Lagos Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo accused the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and creditor nations of being unfair to developing countries trying to repay crippling external debts, reports Reuters (17/5/01).
