Economic turmoil and geopolitical fragmentation will provide the backdrop to the first in-person World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings since 2019.
International
Finance
Analysis
G20 review calls for increased MDB lending as World Bank ignores urgent need for policy changes
G20 independent review calls for increased lending by multilateral development banks to address multiple crises, but lack of reform in World Bank crises response framework raises concerns about how it would use additional resources.
Finance
Analysis
Monetary power and sovereign debt crises: The renewed case for a sovereign debt restructuring mechanism
The sovereign debt crises threatening states in the Global South are less about fiscal mismanagement and more about monetary power in the global currency hierarchy.
Finance
Analysis
IMF debt sustainability analysis in times of compounding crises: Still unfit for purpose
New IMF debt sustainability framework fails to alleviate concerns over transparency and overoptimism in midst of large-scale debt crisis, as countries face severe austerity and private lenders wait for bailouts.
Finance
Commentary
Quota reform needed at IMF in order to address 21st century challenges
As economic conditions worsen and the Fund's legitimacy comes under increasing pressure, IMF leaders gathering for the Annual Meetings must make progress on ongoing review of IMF quotas and agree a more equitable formula and distribution of voting power.
Environment
Analysis
World Bank’s failure to disclose details of climate finance accounting opens its claim to be leading green financier to scrutiny
Newly released study by Oxfam finds that the Bank’s claims of climate finance for FY2020 could be off by as much as 40 per cent, or $7 billion, highlighting the urgent need for greater public disclosure.
Environment
News
IMF seeks to ‘unleash’ private climate finance, as experts question ‘de-risking state’ model
In the face of growing calls to ‘de-risk’ green investments for the private sector, academic experts call for developmental allocative green credit regimes, rather than market-led approaches.
Environment
News
Pakistan calls for climate reparations, as CSOs push for fresh SDR allocation to ease multiple crises
Non-debt forms of financing essential, as many countries on front line of climate change face ‘polycrisis’ that threatens macroeconomic stability.
Social services
News
World Bank issues new guidance on PPPs legal frameworks, ignoring long-standing concerns with the model
New World Bank guidance on PPP legal frameworks evidence of institution’s continued reliance on PPPs as key to addressing SDG financing gap despite well-documented failures. Previous World Bank PPP contracts template criticised for incompatibility with human rights norms.
Accountability
News
World Bank’s accountability mechanisms - still a long way to go
57 CSOs highlight need for operational changes in the World Bank’s new accountability scheme to ensure its effectiveness.
IFI governance
Background
What are the World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings?
This Inside the Institutions looks at the World Bank and International Monetary Fund Annual Meetings, one of two official yearly events bringing together BWI governors, officials, civil society, academics and journalists to discuss major economic developments and global governance.
Rights
News
'Uber Files' and 'Back off BlackRock' campaign expose 'pink washing' as the heart of corporate women's economic empowerment agenda
Uber Leaks and cancelled BlackRock and UN Women partnership highlight contradiction of corporate ‘pink washing’ interests with IFI gender commitments.
Featured briefings
19 July 2023
The Bretton Woods Observer: Summer 2023
3 July 2023
Civil Society calls for rethink of World Bank’s ‘evolution roadmap’ as part of wider reforms to highly unequal global financial architecture
Joint civil society briefing paper highlights concerns with the World Bank’s Evolution Roadmap, and provides a series of recommendations for a Roadmap that prioritises people, participation and the planet over profit and economic growth.
6 April 2023