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.
Health
Finance
News
World Bank pandemic bond instrument fails in COVID-19 response
World Bank's ‘innovative’ health financing instrument proved to be slow and late.
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.
Finance
Analysis
The IMF and World Bank-led Covid-19 recovery: ‘Building back better’ or locking in broken policies?
Early evidence suggests IMF programmes are maintaining long-term fiscal consolidation targets, while World Bank further continues Maximizing Finance for Development narrative amidst Covid-19 crisis.
Conditionality
Analysis
The IMF’s role in the devastating impacts of Covid-19 – the case of Ecuador
IMF-backed austerity measures starved health sector prior to pandemic, yet Fund continues to prescribe devastating long-term fiscal consolidation.
Social services
Analysis
World Bank undermines right to universal healthcare
The IFC’s push for the PPP model, as well as its preference for healthcare ‘provision’ and the results-based payment approach, collectively undermine the human right to universal healthcare and the achievement of the SDGs.
Social services
Background
Leveraging Private Sector Engagement in Health: Maximizing or Obstructing Progress towards Universal Health Coverage?
Notes from CSPF on 18 October on the growing trend of directing public finance to support business in healthcare.
Social services
Analysis
GFF falls short on family planning
Investments by the World Bank-hosted Global Financing Facility (GFF) do not reflect the family planning priorities identified by developing countries and local communities. The GFF also continues to suffer from a lack of transparency and meaningful civil society participation, raising doubts about the new mechanism’s effectiveness.
Social services
News
World Bank’s “wakeup call” on universal health
New World Bank report shows lack of access to basic health services has pushed six per cent of the global population into poverty, as the IFC continues to support private health providers.
IFI governance
Background
Ebola debt relief – Implications and next steps
Notes from a meeting on Ebola during the World Bank spring meetings.
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The IMF and World Bank talk good governance, but walk with state- capturers
From South Africa to Tunisia, Libya and Egypt, the Bank and Fund have demonstrated they are not appropriate allies to address the scale of the crisis the world is facing, especially, given their record.