View all articles

East Asia & Pacific

illustration of the Bretton Woods Observer winter 2024, presenting the World Bank globe sitting on a hidden pile of gold looking at the Wall Street Bull (which represents the financial sector)

Environment

Analysis

COP29 sees MDBs climate finance take centre stage, as civil society brands new climate finance goal a ‘betrayal’

Rich countries agree to provide a paltry $300 billion in public finance by 2035 including funds channelled through MDBs, as Small Island States and Least Developed Countries stage walkout.

12 December 2024
Said Iqbal, President of the Confederation of Indonesian Labor Union, on a press conference celebrating the International Labor Day, 1 May 2023, Jakarta, Indonesia. Credit: Almarams/Shutterstock

Private Sector

Commentary

The B-Ready index: the World Bank’s bluewashing of labour rights

World Bank’s new Business-Ready (B-Ready) index offers new measures but reductionist approach, ultimately rewarding countries driving down labour rights in favour of business.

12 December 2024 | Guest comment

IFI governance

Analysis

G20 communiqué analysis Annual Meetings 2024: progress on tax and inequality obscures Group's wider failures

At the 25th anniversary of the Group’s Finance Track, the G20 communiqué’s robust language on the taxation of billionaires, including encouraging “constructive discussions” about the UN Tax Conference was contrasted by much more cautious language on MDB reform, climate finance, debt and Special Drawing Rights.

29 October 2024

IFI governance

Analysis

V20 communiqué analysis Annual Meetings 2024: climate vulnerable countries once again demand key changes to IMF’s approach, as world risks breaching climate tipping points

V20 members offered a searing indictment of rich countries’ failure to act on BWIs governance, debt relief, climate finance and SDRs.

29 October 2024

Finance

News

Project 2025 takes on the World Bank and IMF – harbinger of an uncertain new era of geopolitics?

US conservative blueprint for second Trump term calls for US to withdraw from World Bank and IMF, amid continued geopolitical tensions and unresolved debt crisis in Global South.

16 October 2024

Private Sector

Background

What is the International Finance Corporation (IFC)?

This Inside the Institutions explores the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank Group’s private sector arm. It examines the function of the IFC as a development institution focused solely on private sector solutions to development and considers civil society critiques.

3 July 2024 | Inside the institutions

IFI governance

Analysis

V20 communiqué analysis Spring Meetings 2024: Climate vulnerable countries issue call to action, as net-negative flows result in ‘millions in, billions out’ amid growing debt burdens

V20 members are expected to pay $904.7 billion in debt service between 2022-2030, as debt, lack of financing and low projected growth hampers prospects for green economic transformation.

24 April 2024

IFI governance

Analysis

Spring Meetings 2024 Wrap Up: Despite mounting crises, persistent lack of political will to match rhetoric with action remains

Urgent BWIs reforms remain hostage to lack of political will in Global North as the G20 failed to deliver on important issues within a fragmented geopolitical situation.

24 April 2024
View all articles

Other news

IFI governance

Background

When exits and accountability collide: What happens when IFC exits projects mid-accountability process?

Notes from Civil Society Policy Forum on Thursday, 18 April titled, "When exits & accountability collide: What happens when IFC exits projects mid-accountability process?"

18 April 2024 | Minutes

IFI governance

Background

Greening whole economies? Unpacking World Bank plans for Paris alignment by July 2023

Notes from a Civil Society Policy Forum event on 14 October titled "Greening whole economies? Unpacking World Bank plans for Paris alignment by July 2023."

14 October 2022 | Minutes

Private Sector

News

B-Ready for more ill-founded private-sector solutions

The World Bank released a concept note of Doing Business report replacement, B-Ready project, ignoring civil society demands of an independent evaluation.

19 July 2023

Rights

News

Report implicates IFC investments in human rights abuses of Uyghur and other minorities in China

New CSO research alleges that IFC investments have contributed to forced displacement and labour, detention, and other human rights violations of Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang, China.

6 April 2022

Social services

News

Global Day of Action against the IMF and World Bank rejects corporate recovery agenda

Civil society day of action rejects corporate agenda and greenwashing in World Bank and IMF Covid-19 recovery.

9 December 2021

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.

4 October 2021 | Minutes

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.

30 March 2021 | Minutes

IFI governance

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.

25 March 2021 | Minutes
View all articles