Doing Business scandal once again highlights that geopolitical wrangling is key driving force behind Bretton Woods Institutions’ governance structure and policy prescriptions.
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East Asia & Pacific
IFI governance
Analysis
Annual Meetings 2021 Preamble: IMF and World Bank face existential questions in midst of global health and climate crises
Doing Business scandal, likely conditions attached to SDR rechannelling and lack of Bank and Fund support for an intellectual property waiver for vaccines highlight links between undemocratic governance structures at Bank and Fund and the uneven recovery from the pandemic.
Environment
Analysis
World Bank’s plans for Indonesia: Delayed action on climate and continued coal and gas support
Indonesian civil society have raised concerns that the World Bank is promoting gas and supporting further coal expansion in its new Country Partnership Framework.
Gender
Analysis
Latest IMF gender research: Making the economy work for women, or women work for the economy?
IMF gender research direction shifts away from macroeconomic drivers of gender inequality.
IFI governance
Analysis
IMFC communiqué analysis – Spring Meetings 2021
Analysis of the IMFC communiqué published on 8 April from the 2021 World Bank and IMF virtual Spring Meetings.
Finance
Analysis
G20 debt proposal continues to favour creditors
New common framework for debt relief announced at G20 Leaders’ Summit maintains prominent role of IMF and fails to include World Bank debt relief.
IFI governance
Analysis
Annual Meetings 2020 Wrap Up: Bank and Fund struggle to implement sustainable recovery as private sector dashes hopes of debt relief progress
The rising power of the private sector has undermined debt justice and much-needed pandemic response capacity, while IFIs' calls for sustainable recovery at the Annual Meetings fall flat.
IFI governance
Analysis
G20 communiqué analysis – Annual Meetings 2020
Analysis of the G20 communiqué published on 14 October from the 2020 World Bank and IMF virtual Annual Meetings.
Other news
IFI governance
Background
Making the Most of Special Drawing Rights: Approaches to maximise impact and create a sustainable and just recovery
Notes from the Civil Society Policy Forum session on 4 October on the ways to maximise the impacts of the recent allocation of $650 billion Special Drawing Rights.
Environment
Background
Why climate transition risks are macro-critical: The IMF and enabling a green recovery
Notes from the virtual Civil Society Policy Forum event on 30 March.
Private Sector
Background
An economic future for whom? The Cascade/MFD and recovery
Notes from the virtual Spring 2021 Civil Society Policy Forum on 25 March 2021.
Rights
News
Myanmar civil society calls for solidarity from international financial institutions
Civil society letter condemns World Bank statements as ‘weak’.
Knowledge
News
Doing Business Report to be published after temporary suspension over data irregularities
World Bank plans to publish latest DBR in March and undertake an external review of the report’s methodology.
Finance
News
World Bank in talks over early IDA replenishment this year
Civil society calls for policy package to meet Covid-19 ‘just recovery’ needs.
Environment
News
IFC’s first Green Equity Approach client backs Indonesian coal plant expansion
CSOs call for IFC to close remaining loopholes in Green Equity Approach, after equity client chosen to pilot the initiative makes investment in coal plant expansion in Indonesia.
Social services
Background
World Bank Group’s ‘Maximizing Finance for Development’ in times of Covid-19
Notes from the virtual Civil Society Policy Forum at the 2020 World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings 5 October session on the World Bank's 'Maximizing Finance for Development' and the Covid-19 response.
Featured briefings
7 October 2021
World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings 2021
30 September 2021
The Bretton Woods Observer: Autumn 2021
29 September 2021
World Bank’s plans for Indonesia: Delayed action on climate and continued coal and gas support
Indonesian civil society have raised concerns that the World Bank is promoting gas and supporting further coal expansion in its new Country Partnership Framework.