As experts in the United Nations Advisory Group on Finance (AGF) start to scope innovative sources of climate finance, the IMF issued its own proposal, while questions loom over the governance of climate funds. Meanwhile, the Climate Investment Funds' (CIFs) Partnership Forum exposed the limitations of the Bank's engagement with civil society in developing the funds thus far.
Global architecture
Finance
News
Rewriting the rules on exchange rates
The financial crisis has prompted renewed interest in reform of the international monetary system, with the role of the IMF squarely up for debate. As countries are starting to take sides for or against a comprehensive overhaul, regional initiatives may offer greater hope of change.
IFI governance
News
Bank voting remains unbalanced
Small shifts in voting power at the World Bank are expected to be formally agreed at April's spring meetings, leaving high-income countries holding almost 60 per cent of the vote, with further reform put off until 2015. Meanwhile the Bank is expected to receive a smaller capital increase than it sought, which could push lending back to pre-crisis levels.
Finance
News
IMF changing its mantra?
After four decades of promoting policies of targeting very low inflation rates and unfettered capital flows, the global financial crisis has prompted new debate over IMF ideology.
Finance
News
Rethinking the IMF again
The IMF's mandate review - with a particular focus on how it can better serve large emerging markets in the areas of surveillance, crisis prevention and the international monetary system - is ignoring most developing countries and may potentially be fruitless.
Accountability
Background
Meeting between UK civil society and Susanna Moorehead, UK Executive Director to the World Bank
Minutes of a meeting between UK civil society, UK World Bank Executive Director Susanna Moorehead, and DFID staff
Accountability
Background
Meeting between UK civil society and Alex Gibbs, UK IMF Executive Director
Minutes of a meeting between UK civil society, UK IMF Executive Director Alex Gibbs, and UK Treasury staff
Finance
Background
IDA replenishment
This year, donor countries will decide on their financial contributions to the World Bank's International Development Association (IDA) for 2011-2014.
Rights
News
Bangladesh conference speaks out against IFIs
Civil society representatives from Bangladesh, India and Pakistan met at a December workshop in Dhaka on international financial institutions and debt, and said that it was time to free the region from the IFIs.
Accountability
Analysis
Don't bank on it! Challenging the World Bank's role in future climate finance
Despite a superficial 'climate makeover', UK civil society organisations conclude that the World Bank is still a long way from operating in transparent, participatory and accountable ways, or lending upon a truly green portfolio, and therefore should not be trusted with the world's climate funds. Furthermore, the form and functions of a climate finance institution should first be defined and criteria should be established for United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) partie
Featured briefings
6 April 2022
The Bretton Woods Observer: Spring 2022
8 December 2021
The Bretton Woods Observer: Winter 2021
8 November 2021
IMF surveillance and climate change transition risks
New briefing by ActionAid USA and the Bretton Woods Project highlights research showing that IMF policy advice has undermined a just energy transition since the Paris Agreement was signed.