A new Basic Capabilities Index (BCI), published by civil society network Social Watch, is “closer to reality than the one-dollar-a-day line of the World Bank”, according to Social Watch director Roberto Bissio.
Poverty analysis
Accountability
Background
Notes of meeting between UK Executive Director to World Bank and Civil Society Groups
Civil society organisations met UK Executive Director to the World Bank and staff from the Department for International Development to discuss water, the Bank's private sector approach, health and nutrition, safeguards review and energy strategy.
Finance
News
Bank upgrade of Zambia fails to impress
The World Bank's reclassification of Zambia from low-income country to lower middle-income country has been hailed as an economic achievement by Zambia's president Rupiah Banda, but is less celebrated in other quarters.
Finance
News
UK announces priorities for World Bank
In August the UK released its priorities for reform of the World Bank.
Knowledge
News
IFC hotel investment: "corporate welfare"
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank's private sector arm, has come under fire for approving a $26 million loan to Saudi Arabian prince Al-Waleed bin Talal to build a luxury hotel in Ghana.
Knowledge
News
Outcry over World Bank role in Indian policy review
A June public statement by more than 70 NGOs, social movements and universities from across India opposes the Indian government's decision to commission the Bank to review anti-poverty schemes in the country, including the Public Distribution System (PDS), a subsidised national food security scheme.
Finance
News
World Bank admits failures in East Timor
In April the Independent Evaluation Group (IEG), the Bank's arms-length evaluation body, released a critical report assessing Bank operations in East Timor from 2000 to 2010.
IFI governance
News
IEG faults IFC poverty focus
An April report by the Bank’s arms-length evaluation unit faults the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Bank’s private sector arm, for failing to pay attention to how its promotion of private sector growth impacts the poor.
Accountability
News
World Bank launches new Africa strategy
In March, the World Bank launched its new Africa strategy, outlining three main areas in which it will focus its operations: competitiveness and employment, vulnerability and resilience of citizens, and governance and public sector capacity.
Knowledge
Background
Post MDG Summit
Notes of the seminar of annual meetings 2010
Featured briefings
12 December 2024
The Bretton Woods Observer: Winter 2024
16 October 2024
The Bretton Woods Observer: Autumn 2024
16 October 2024
The lost call for international financial architecture reform in the G20
At the 80th anniversary of the World Bank and IMF, global civil society must maintain pressure on the Brazilian and South African G20 presidencies to ensure the forth Financing for Development Conference in 2025 results in urgently required international financial architecture reform.