World Bank’s Covid-19 vaccination programme contributes to global response but fails to ensure free access to vaccines and healthcare during the pandemic.
Multinationals
Rights
Analysis
World Bank reparations demanded for murder of frontline South African anti-coal activist
Community demands reparations from World Bank for murder of South African environmental activist Fikile Ntshangase for opposing the Tendele coal mine initially financed by IFC.
Rights
News
Unions raise alarm over alleged retaliatory firing at IFC-financed Guinea hotel
IFC accused of violation of performance standards after alleged retaliatory action against workers.
Rights
Analysis
Fears of lawsuits at World Bank’s tribunal constrain efforts to fight pandemic
Covid-19 pandemic highlights the urgent need for ICSID and wider ISDS reforms as cases threaten to undermine state efforts to protect public health.
Private Sector
News
“Affordable hotels”: IFC’s luxury development projects
IFC investments in Burma hotels have been criticised for weak poverty reduction impact. IFC claims that investment in luxury hotels in India will provide “affordable hotels”.
Private Sector
Analysis
Follow the money
New Bretton Woods Project report reveals World Bank Group channelling crucial development resources to banks instead of directly investing in pro-poor projects.
Private Sector
Analysis
IFC: Learning lessons or institutional amnesia?
In response to the IFC’s shaming over its involvement with Dinant corporation in Honduras, the institution produced a “lessons learned” document. However, it has been rejected by campaigners, who are demanding more fundamental reform.
Private Sector
News
Civil society letter re: the IFC and lessons learned
A letter from civil society in response to the IFC's lesson learned briefing
Private Sector
Background
Summary of a meeting between civil society organisations and the IFC on financial intermediary lending
IFC staff and NGO representatives discussed financial intermediaries lending in a closed door meeting on Sunday 13 April.
Private Sector
Analysis
IFC funding to financial intermediaries: unfit for purpose
An IFC investment in ANZ Royal Bank has been criticised after the bank was implicated in a “massive land grab” in Cambodia. Further cases from Guatemala and Honduras reinforce calls for IFC to rethink its investments in financial intermediaries.
Featured briefings
27 September 2023
Financialisation and human rights in the Middle East and North Africa
This briefing explains how the IMF and World Bank have driven the financialisation of MENA states, and the pervasive negative effects this has had on the region’s societies and economies.
19 July 2023
The Bretton Woods Observer: Summer 2023
3 July 2023
Civil Society calls for rethink of World Bank’s ‘evolution roadmap’ as part of wider reforms to highly unequal global financial architecture
Joint civil society briefing paper highlights concerns with the World Bank’s Evolution Roadmap, and provides a series of recommendations for a Roadmap that prioritises people, participation and the planet over profit and economic growth.