Independent Evaluation Group report highlighted private sector education provision can exacerbate inequality and undermine the public sector school system.
Education
Social services
News
Civil society hails IFC’s divestment from for-profit education provider Bridge International Academies
The divestment follows a 2020 freeze in new IFC direct and indirect investments in for-profit education providers.
Conditionality
News
Will IMF policy advice align with new UNESCO Declaration on education finance?
IMF advice makes it challenging for countries to achieve education finance goals agreed at UN declaration.
Social services
Analysis
IMF rhetoric and practice on public sector wage constraints: Advice to slash spending continues despite Covid-19 pandemic
Forthcoming research from ActionAid International shows IMF’s dogmatic support for public sector wage bill cuts continues.
Social services
Background
Education financing to reach the most marginalised: Challenges and solutions during COVID-19 response and recovery
Notes from the virtual Civil Society Policy Forum session on 31 March 2021.
Social services
News
World Bank loan to India promotes private sector in education as millions of children out of school
World Bank Indian education loan causes controversy over private sector provisions.
Conditionality
Background
Fiscal space for universal health and social protection post Covid-19 pandemic: How to prevent austerity
Notes from the Civil Society Policy Forum Session on 2 October.
Social services
News
The World Bank, Covid-19 and public education: two steps forward one step back
World Bank’s new report on education and Covid-19 contrasts with IFC announcement on freezing private school investments.
Social services
News
CSOs urge IFC to divest from for-profit school chain
CSOs urge investors to divest from private school provider Bridge International Academies; IFC remains investor, despite WDR’s concerns with private education.
Social services
Analysis
A critical analysis of the World Bank's World Development Report on education
While the World Development Report (WDR) 2018 on education has some redeeming features, it is part of the Bank's longstanding very narrow view of education, and is silent on education financing.
Featured briefings
9 June 2025
New data reveal World Bank DPF ‘climate finance’ carries strong private sector bias, undermining a just transition
New BWP briefing finds the World Bank counted 70 per cent of energy-sector reforms in Development Policy Financing as having 'climate co-benefits' between 2018-2023 - but most of these promoted a private-led energy transition.
15 April 2025
The Bretton Woods Observer: Spring 2025
2 April 2025