The World Bank has drawn criticism from developing countries, trade economists and NGOs over a paper on the poverty impacts of the use of 'special products' measures.
Trade-finance coherence
IFI governance
News
Knowledge Bank-rupted: Evaluation says key World Bank research ‘not remotely reliable’
An evaluation by a panel of self-described ‘academic superstars’ has cast doubt over the independence and reliability of World Bank research.
Environment
Background
Highlights of meeting with Tom Scholar and UK NGOs
Highlights of meeting between Tom Scholar and UK NGOs, December 2006
Accountability
News
Independence of IMF’s evaluation arm questioned
In an evaluation of the IMF Independent Evaluation Office's first five years of work, an external committee concluded that the IMF board may have undue influence over the body. Additionally the IEO set itself an ambitious work plan for the next year, as it plans to delve into the Fund's internal organisation and trade policy
Trade
Background
Trade finance linkages in Latin America
Highlights of a civil society meeting on trade-finance linkages in Latin America, 20 April 2006, Washington. Hosted by the Center of Concern.
Accountability
Background
Dialogue on the Doha trade round
Dialogue on the Doha trade round at the World Bank-IMF spring meetings in Washington, 20 April 2006.
IFI governance
News
“Over-optimistic about trade liberalisation”: World Bank trade evaluation
In the most comprehensive evaluation ever conducted of the World Bank's work in trade, the Bank's evaluation unit has found that the Bank neither fully understood the implications of its "narrow focus on trade liberalisation", nor did enough to strengthen trade capacity on the ground.
Trade
News
IMF shocks facility - will anybody use it?
In November, the IMF's board approved the establishment of the Exogenous Shocks Facility (ESF) to…
Accountability
News
Aid for trade: “distraction” from a bad deal
The consensus among civil society observers was that the agreement struck at the December Hong Kong WTOtrade ministerial was a bad deal for developing countries, with IFI-backed 'aid for trade' used as a "major distraction".
Trade
News
Policy support instrument: Helping hand or more thumb screws?
In October, the IMF board approved the establishment of a Policy Support Instrument (PSI), a non-lending programme which will provide policy advice to poor countries and send a signal to donors and markets about the quality of a country's economic policies. Critics suspect the instrument is little more than a new way "to extend Fund domination".
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The Bretton Woods Observer: Winter 2024
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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.