News

WTO protests grow

The Second Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva was marked by protests in many countries.

IFI governance

News

Bank builds muscle to deal with crises

The Bank will spend $50m over the next two years recruiting financial sector experts for a new Special Financial Operations unit.

Rights

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NGO approach debated

In March the Bank Board discussed the Bank’s approach to NGOs.

Conditionality

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ESAF review: new IMF strategy urged

More flexibility and a new approach was suggested in the external review of the Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility (IMF loans to poorer countries) published in March.

Knowledge

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Faith meets finance

In February World Bank President James Wolfensohn met the leaders of nine religious faiths to discuss views on development.

IFI governance

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Policing the policemen

The IMF has been urged to be more transparent and accountable by a US Study Group convened by the Centre of Concern, and by the UK Chancellor.

IFI governance

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Bank reform: what’s new?

In April the Bank’s Board discussed a progress report on the Strategic Compact: Wolfensohn’s reform package agreed one year ago.

Finance

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Preventing private sector debt crises

In addition to extending the IMF’s role, its governors have been examining measures to prevent future financial sector crises.

Finance

News

IMF criticism grows as S. E. Asia Crisis Worsens

Doubts about the IMF’s capacity to deal with international currency problems are mounting as the South East Asian crisis worsens despite the IMF’s bail-out efforts.

Knowledge

News

“Include poor in poverty solutions”: new Bank Report

In an annually repeated ritual the World Bank has "reaffirmed the central importance of poverty…

Finance

News

Aiding banks or people?

The IMF’s interventions have again raised discussions of who bears the burden of financial crises.

Conditionality

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Trigger conditions explained

A country assistance strategy (CAS) identifies “high”, “base” and “low” case lending scenarios - which one a country initially receives depends on its economic prospects.