The World Bank-Netherlands Water Partnership has launched the “handwashing initiative”, a public-private partnership to promote the use of soap to reduce the incidence of diarrhoeal diseases in poor communities.
Health
Land
News
IFI role in Southern Africa famine condemned
A new study from Oxfam questions why, after years of World Bank and IMF-designed agricultural sector reforms, Malawi, Zambia, and Mozambique face chronic food insecurity.
Social services
News
Opposing PVC, opposing IFC
The IFC is considering a US$20 million funding proposal for a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plant in an industrial estate in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu.
IFI governance
News
IMF boss grilled by British MPs
On 4 July, IMF chief Horst K
Rights
News
Malawi Economic Justice Network Civil Society Briefing Issue 16
Malawi Economic Justice Network Civil Society Briefing Issue 16
Social services
News
Bank support for private healthcare questioned
Two new studies by the ICFTU and EURODAD add to concerns about the impact of the Bank’s Private Sector Development strategy on access to health services by the poor. Leaked IFC documents reveal the Corporation’s intention to invest in private health care in situations where other investors are reluctant.
Infrastructure
News
Bank plans private sector shake-up
In February the World Bank’s Board will consider a new Private Sector Development Strategy.
Social services
News
Tanzanian user-fees concern
In 2000 the US Congress passed a law requiring the government to oppose loans that includes user fees for basic health or education services.
Social services
News
Global health fund debated
A new global fund to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria will be administered by the World Bank in collaboration with WHO and UNAIDS.
Rights
News
Financial crises and global slowdown capture IMF-World Bank spring meetings agenda
The global economic slowdown and donor countries’ differing views on what to do about it, pushed issues related to the world’s poorest nations to the sidelines of public debate on this year’s spring meetings of the IMF and World Bank.
Featured briefings
6 April 2023
World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings 2023
5 April 2023
The IMF at the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: The need for governance reform
As the world celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it is time the IMF’s shareholders use the opportunities provided by the anniversary and growing calls for reforms to the international financial architecture to redesign the IMF’s governance structures and programmes to ensure they are consistent with the commitments outlined in 1948 and with international human rights law.
5 April 2023
The global financial architecture and the international debt crisis: An urgent call for reform
Influence of unreformed international financial institutions and creditor interests in debt solutions in low- and middle-income countries plagued by delay and ineffective when undertaken.