In mid April two UN special rapporteurs raised the alarm about the World Bank-led privatisation of Burundi's coffee industry and called for suspension of the policy pending a full human rights-based impact assessment.
Strategy/roles
IFI governance
Analysis
Memorandum to the International Development Committee
In written evidence submitted to the UK parliament's International Development Committee, we argue that further reform of the World Bank is needed.
IFI governance
Background
Leaked documents: World Bank strategy draft recommendations
Web links for the leaked documents about the World Bank's strategy.
IFI governance
Analysis
World Bank's new strategy: 'deliverology' for the private sector?
As the World Bank's attention moves from goal-setting to implementation of a new strategy, it is becoming clear that it intends to further prioritise the role of the private sector and adopt many practices of its private sector arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), as the main pillars for the whole group.
Accountability
Commentary
An accountability mechanism without teeth?
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank, is under internal scrutiny for two projects in Albania.
Rights
Analysis
IMF's labour pains
Two April IMF reports purport to present a new view on labour market policy, however, they have attracted heavy criticism from trade unions as inaccurate and flawed.
Accountability
Analysis
World Bank "short-sighted and cross-eyed" on fossil fuels
As the World Bank released a new report on the impacts of climate change and is due to discuss its energy focus, it defended its engagement in fossil fuels, including the Kosovo coal power plant.
Social services
News
A healthy step forward? World Bank outlines vision for healthcare
Bank president Jim Yong Kim has publicly prioritised universal health coverage and education however, critics worry about increased support for private companies to deliver these services.
Rights
News
Ethiopia refuses Inspection Panel investigation
Ethiopia has said that it will not cooperate in a proposed investigation by the World Bank's accountability mechanism, the Inspection Panel (IP), into a programme linked to the Bank that according to the indigenous peoples filing the complaint led to "forced villagisation".
Accountability
News
Early warning system for risky IFI projects
US NGOs International Accountability Project and Center for International Environmental Law have launched a new Early Warning System to alert communities to projects funded by multilateral development banks that may have a negative impact on human rights.
Featured briefings
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.
16 October 2024
Sustainable development requires sustainable finance: why local currency financing is part of the solution
Multilateral development banks can reduce their dependence on hard currency lending and make local currency financing a central element of their developmental mandate.