Via e-mail To: World Bank executive directors Cc: World Bank President, David Malpass; Managing Director…
International
IFI governance
Commentary
BWP's reaction to the resignation of World Bank's President David Malpass
The new World Bank's president should be appointed through a merit-based, transparent process with criteria publicly available and candidates being able to present their platform.
IFI governance
News
A new Bretton Woods? Critical perspectives on the World Bank’s proposed ‘evolution roadmap’ - A public debate
On 6th March 2023, members of civil society, academics and IFI officials joined BWP and the Centre for Sustainable Finance at SOAS for a public debate on the World Bank Group Evolution Roadmap.
Knowledge
Background
Recommended resources on the World Bank and IMF 2022
Bretton Woods Project publishes its selection of the best books, reports and other resources on the World Bank and IMF from 2022.
Gender
News
Open civil society letter on WBG gender strategy update
53 civil society organisations call on the World Bank to open and robust public consultation on the World Bank’s forthcoming Gender Strategy update as the current FY16-23 strategy comes to an end.
Finance
News
UN letter of allegation outlines concerns about the impact of IMF surcharge policy on human rights
Civil society urges IMF to reply to UN letter and finally take action to review its surcharge policy.
IFI governance
Analysis
IMF quota review: Putting climate at the core of IMF governance reform
Addition of cumulative carbon emissions indicator in IMF quota formula would give climate-vulnerable countries greater voice in IMF.
Environment
Commentary
Bridgetown Initiative calls for new Global Climate Mitigation Trust financed via Special Drawing Rights
IMF’s lending instruments fail to provide swift and large-scale funding for climate transition. The Bridgeton Initiative proposes a new trust backed by $500 billion in SDRs for climate and development.
Gender
Analysis
New IMF gender strategy's potential to catalyse change undermined by austerity and problematic mission creep
IMF’s new gender mainstreaming strategy makes effort to include civil society demands but falls short of transformative vision as austerity remains Fund’s raison-d’état.
Environment
News
World Bank’s update on Paris alignment fizzles at COP27 as countries demand MDBs evolve to face climate emergency
Despite continued public rhetoric about importance of civil society engagement, Bank is yet to commit to holding a public consultation period on its Paris alignment approach.
Rights
News
World Bank’s definition of ‘universal’ social protection - another buzzword?
World Bank’s newly released Social Protection and Jobs Compass guidance note creates confusion over the Bank’s definition of ‘universal’ social protection.
Conditionality
News
Unbalanced financial stimulus followed by fiscal austerity: When will the IMF learn from its mistakes?!
New reports by Financial Transparency Coalition and Eurodad highlight uneven distribution of Covid-19 stimulus spending followed by socially painful fiscal austerity.
Featured briefings
6 April 2023
World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings 2023
5 April 2023
The IMF at the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: The need for governance reform
As the world celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it is time the IMF’s shareholders use the opportunities provided by the anniversary and growing calls for reforms to the international financial architecture to redesign the IMF’s governance structures and programmes to ensure they are consistent with the commitments outlined in 1948 and with international human rights law.
5 April 2023
The global financial architecture and the international debt crisis: An urgent call for reform
Influence of unreformed international financial institutions and creditor interests in debt solutions in low- and middle-income countries plagued by delay and ineffective when undertaken.