An in-depth analysis of the latest round of World Bank reforms shows they delivered significantly less than proclaimed, while IMF governance reforms, slated to conclude in January 2011, are proceeding slowly and promising only minor changes.
Voting rights
IFI governance
Analysis
IMF mandate needs fundamental rethink
The IMF needs to fundamentally rethink its role, and return closer to its original purpose, focussing on three key areas: reform of the international monetary system; surveillance over the policies of systemically important countries; and providing rapid access, conditionality-free finance to countries facing crisis.
IFI governance
Analysis
Analysis of World Bank voting reforms
The World Bank will continue to be overwhelmingly dominated by rich countries, which stunts its legitimacy and limits its capacity to serve the interests of developing countries.
IFI governance
News
Spring meetings 2010: communiqués coverage
Coverage of the communiqu
Infrastructure
Background
Roundtable on post-crisis economic recovery
World Bank event at the World Bank spring meetings 2010, 22 April
IFI governance
News
DFID annual report on World Bank spots weaknesses
In March, the UK Department for International Development (DFID) released its second annual report reviewing its work with the Bank and setting priorities for 2010.
IFI governance
News
IMF appoints Chinese senior advisor
In February, Zhu Min, former vice president of the People's Bank of China, was appointed as a special advisor to IMF managing director, Dominique Strauss-Kahn. Speculation that Strauss-Kahn is to leave in order to stand for the French presidency is rife.
IFI governance
News
Bank voting remains unbalanced
Small shifts in voting power at the World Bank are expected to be formally agreed at April's spring meetings, leaving high-income countries holding almost 60 per cent of the vote, with further reform put off until 2015. Meanwhile the Bank is expected to receive a smaller capital increase than it sought, which could push lending back to pre-crisis levels.
Accountability
Background
Meeting between UK civil society and Alex Gibbs, UK IMF Executive Director
Minutes of a meeting between UK civil society, UK IMF Executive Director Alex Gibbs, and UK Treasury staff
IFI governance
Commentary
Bankspeak of the year 2009
Annual Bretton Woods Project award for the most incomprehensible or absurd use of language in a Bank or Fund document or speech.
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.