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.
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Philippines
Rights
News
Landmark report finds attacks on human rights defenders in name of 'development' on the rise
World Bank and IFC identified as key funders of projects that endanger human rights defenders.
IFI governance
Commentary
The IMF and World Bank: Aiding and abetting inequality in Asia
As inequality in Asia continues to deepen, civil society renews calls for IMF and World Bank to be held accountable for exacerbating inequality.
IFI governance
Background
Financing development through financial intermediaries: Exploring best practices in transparency
Notes from the 19 April Civil Society Policy Forum session on financing development through financial intermediaries at the World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings.
Social services
Analysis
Pro-poor or anti-poor? The World Bank and IMF’s approach to social protection
Stephen Kidd critiques Bretton Woods Institutions' approach to targeted social protection systems, arguing the poor lose out the most.
Rights
Analysis
The IMF, Gender Equality and Labour
BWP briefing explores IMF's labour market policies in the context of women in the informal economy and suggests they will not contribute to decreasing inequalities.
Environment
News
Flirting with disaster? World Bank's push for climate insurance questioned
The World Bank continues to push climate and disaster insurance programmes, despite concerns that such schemes are being ‘oversold’ and do not address the root challenges of making countries more resilient to climate change.
Conditionality
Analysis
The IMF, Gender Equality and VAT
BWP briefing explores gender dimensions of IMF’s key fiscal policy advice on resource mobilisation in developing countries, in particular on Value-Added Tax.
Other news
Rights
News
Communities demand justice as IFC fails to address coal financing fallout
IFC faces backlash for failing to address social and environmental harms from its financing of coal plants in the Philippines, despite proven health and environmental violations.
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.
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?"
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.
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.
Environment
Background
World Bank Group Paris Alignment: Governance & private sector participation in the energy sector
Notes from a Civil Society Policy Forum event on 16 October.
Environment
News
Landmark climate-change complaint against IFC lodged in Philippines
The Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) makes history by filing first ever climate-related complaint against the IFC with the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO).
Social services
News
US Congresswoman criticises World Bank investments in water privatisation
A US Congresswoman has called for an end to the World Bank’s investments in water privatisation until a robust evaluation has taken place.
