Both ENDS and the Bretton Woods Project co-organised a roundtable meeting in early March to discuss the World Bank and IMF’s core economic models.
International
Accountability
News
Last ditch attempt to save Inspection Panel
On March 24 the World Bank Board will hold a special consultation session about likely changes to the Bank’s Independent Inspection Panel.
Knowledge
News
Major new Bank report on aid
A major new Policy Research Report by the Bank argues that it is pointless to provide aid money to countries unless they have certain economic policies and a good institutional environment.
IFI governance
News
IMF looks to hire PR firm
The IMF has decided to hire a new public relations firm to bolster its battered image.
Knowledge
News
Poverty WDR virtual consultations
In September the World Bank organised an electronic consultation on its planned poverty World Development Report, due out October 2000.
News
IMF forecasts in doubt again
Just two weeks after it published its “World Economic Outlook” in September the Fund admitted some of its figures were out of date and would have to be revised downward.
Knowledge
News
Globalization and institutions: the Bank aims to set agenda
The World Bank’s World Development Report for next year will tackle the thorny questions of which institutions can direct economic, social and environmental policies in an age of globalization.
Accountability
News
IFC new ombudsman, consultation document
The IFC is appointing an environmental and social compliance ombudsman to monitor implementation of environmental and social policies.
Social services
News
Social policy limitations
Bob Deacon, Director of the Globalization and Social Policy Programme (based in Sheffield and Helsinki) criticised the World Bank’s stand on social policy at a recent Overseas Development Institute discussion meeting in London.
Conditionality
News
ESAF reviews latest
NGOs’ comments on the findings and recommendations of the ESAF reviews will be published and discussed by the Board soon.
Accountability
News
New Bank fraud hotline
The World Bank Group has set up a telephone hotline to provide a central point for reporting allegations of fraud and corruption.
WB/IMF roles
News
Bank is “not the IMF”
Bank President James Wolfensohn spent much of the Bank Annual Meeting distancing his institution from its sibling, insisting that it is not a “second level IMF” and does not provide bail-out funds.
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.