Bond's 'parametric criteria' were not triggered by powerful storm, despite the entire island being declared a disaster zone.
Financial sector
Private Sector
Background
What is the International Finance Corporation (IFC)?
This Inside the Institutions explores the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank Group’s private sector arm. It examines the function of the IFC as a development institution focused solely on private sector solutions to development and considers civil society critiques.
Private Sector
News
World Bank embarks on pilot phase of Business Ready Project, disregarding civil society concerns
B-READY pilot 1 covering 51 countries is released, ignoring CSO concerns about the project’s flawed “private-sector first” agenda.
Social services
Background
World Bank Group’s ‘Maximizing Finance for Development’ in times of Covid-19
Notes from the virtual Civil Society Policy Forum at the 2020 World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings 5 October session on the World Bank's 'Maximizing Finance for Development' and the Covid-19 response.
Private Sector
Background
Private sector accountability in times of crisis
Notes from the virtual Civil Society Policy Forum session on 29 March.
IFI governance
Analysis
Biden, the Bank and IMF: A break with ‘America first’ or its continued pursuit through multilateral means?
The world awaits to see whether Trump’s defeat will result in the end of the 'America First' approach and a democratisation of the IMF and World Bank and the multilateral system.
Private Sector
Analysis
Recipe for disaster: The IMF and World Bank’s role in the financialisation of food and agriculture
World Bank and IMF contribute to financialisation and coorperatisation of agriculture contributing to food insecurity, concentration of power and climate emergency.
Private Sector
Analysis
How the Bank’s push for microcredit failed the poor
Originally created to help the poor escape poverty and deprivation, the World Bank became the most important advocate for the commercialised microcredit model. Yet, critics argued it undermined the chances of sustainable and equitable development to create a poverty trap of historic proportions.
Private Sector
News
IFC launches consultation on draft Operating Principles for Impact Management
As IFC launches consultation on draft Principles, its declining development outcome performance as 'first impact investor' provides useful point of departure.
Private Sector
News
CSOs call on World Bank to halt its aggressive support of PPPs
152 CSOs call demand World Bank halt its aggressive support of PPPs, publicaly recognise their significant risks.
Featured briefings
15 July 2025
The Bretton Woods Observer: Summer 2025
15 July 2025
Will the World Bank be a partner for a just energy transition in developing countries?
As renewable energy finance shifts from China to the World Bank, whether the Bank can be a partner for a just energy transition depends on three areas: strong environmental and social oversight, avoiding a new resource curse in minerals and debt relief during crises.
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.