Focusing on the 2025 Shareholding Review, this Inside the Institutions explores power asymmetries within the World Bank and growing calls for equitable, transparent and accountable governance reform.
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International
Finance
Analysis
Civil society demands unconditional debt relief in Jubilee year
In critical Jubilee year, civil society and Global South nations called for debt relief and UN-led debt workout mechanism at FfD4
Finance
Commentary
IMF and Milei - partners in Argentina's neoliberal autocracy
After successive programme failures, new Argentina IMF programme is complicit in Milei government’s contravention of national and human rights laws through its pursuit of autocratic and neoliberal policies.
Finance
Analysis
Sri Lanka and the IMF: Another stark example of the need for urgent debt restructure reform
After defaulting in 2022, Sri Lanka has entered its 17th IMF programme, resulting in severe socially and economically damaging austerity, as IMF’s inadequate debt sustainability analysis and approach continue to fail to address the root causes of the country’s cyclical debt problems.
Infrastructure
Analysis
Will the World Bank be a partner for a just energy transition in developing countries?
As renewable energy finance shifts from China to the World Bank, whether the Bank can be a partner for a just energy transition depends on three areas: strong environmental and social oversight, avoiding a new resource curse in minerals and debt relief during crises.
Finance
Analysis
The IMF’s upcoming surveillance review: In an ever more urgent global context, the Fund must learn lessons from its past failures to reform
The IMF’s Comprehensive Surveillance Review takes place this year in a global context in which it is more pressing than ever to ensure that countries have the ability to take real action on climate change and rising social inequality.
Private Sector
News
From billions to nowhere: Ajay Banga’s development mirage
With scant data, high investor protections and little benefit to low-income countries, the Bank’s 'new' private sector development approach risks entrenching inequality under the guise of development.
Finance
News
As Global North blocks progressive reforms at FfD4, World Bank’s failed private sector approach gains traction
As Global North obstructs global finance and debt architecture reforms proposed at FfD4, the World Bank’s failed “billions to trillions” approach continues to gain prominence.
Other news
Rights
News
World Bank due to renew Fragility, Conflict and Violence Strategy in 2025
As the World Bank's current Fragility, Conflict and Violence (FCV) Strategy (2020-2025) expires this year, a consultation on the new strategy is expected to take place soon.
Infrastructure
News
World Bank energy strategy review considers reversing phaseout of support for gas production
As World Bank pushes to provide electricity to 300 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030 under Mission 300, it considers lifting ban on support for gas production.
Finance
News
IMF surveillance scanner to be launched this summer
The scanner is designed to enable civil society groups to find key themes in IMF policy and better track the political implications of its recommendations in the areas of fiscal policy, austerity, gender, tax, climate, social protection and financialisaton.
IFI governance
Background
Mission 300: The high-stakes pursuit of energy transition in Africa
Notes from the Civil Society Policy Forum session on 25 April 2025, titled "Mission 300: The high-stakes pursuit of energy transition in Africa"
IFI governance
Background
Missing labour: Fixing the Fund’s approach to the gendered division of labour
Notes from the Civil Society Policy Forum on Thursday the 24th of April titled 'Missing labour: Fixing the Fund’s approach to the gendered division of labour'
IFI governance
Background
IFC Sustainability Framework Review: a pivotal opportunity to protect human rights and the environment
Notes from the 24 April Civil Society Policy Forum session, titled IFC Sustainability Framework Review: a pivotal opportunity to protect human rights and the environment.
IFI governance
Background
Hidden debt: Tackling grand corruption in debt management to safeguard financing for development
Notes from the Civil Society Policy Forum on 23 April 2025 titled 'Hidden debt: tackling grand corruption in debt management to safeguard financing for development'.
IFI governance
Background
Catalyzing climate finance in fragile contexts - What’s being done and what still needs doing?
Notes from the 23 April Civil Society Policy Forum session titled “Catalyzing climate finance in fragile contexts - What’s being done and what still needs doing?”
Featured briefings
15 July 2025
The Bretton Woods Observer: Summer 2025
15 July 2025
Will the World Bank be a partner for a just energy transition in developing countries?
As renewable energy finance shifts from China to the World Bank, whether the Bank can be a partner for a just energy transition depends on three areas: strong environmental and social oversight, avoiding a new resource curse in minerals and debt relief during crises.
9 June 2025
New data reveal World Bank DPF ‘climate finance’ carries strong private sector bias, undermining a just transition
New BWP briefing finds the World Bank counted 70 per cent of energy-sector reforms in Development Policy Financing as having 'climate co-benefits' between 2018-2023 - but most of these promoted a private-led energy transition.