World Bank’s IFC $200 loan for large-scale agricultural production in Brazil disregards serious human rights and environmental concerns, despite calls by 200 civil society organisations globally
International
Trade
Background
What is the World Bank’s International Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)?
New Inside the Institutions looks at the World Bank’s International Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), the main forum for Investor-to-State Dispute Settlements.
Finance
News
To support the global economy, G7 should call for IMF to remove harmful surcharges
CSOs urge the G7 to take action to support debt-distressed economies by calling for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to immediately end its harmful surcharge policy.
Knowledge
News
It’s just the tip of the iceberg: civil society organisations call for an overhaul of the World Bank following the Doing Business Report scandal
More than 140 CSO groups and individuals call on the World Bank to focus on grappling with the harms caused by its undemocratic governance structure and biased publications like the Doing Business Report, and to take measures to decolonise the institution.
Accountability
Background
Strengthening Accountability in the Global Economy Project Lead (closed)
BWP seeks a project lead to manage its Strengthening Accountability in the Global Economy Project, which will seek to promote improved governance and equity at the World Bank and IMF.
IFI governance
Analysis
Spring Meetings 2022 Wrap-Up: Progress on key issues side-tracked by Ukraine invasion and BWIs’ own sense of drift
Spring Meetings conclude with frantic calls for stronger multilateralism, but few advances in key issues such as Covid-19 unequal recovery, debt, inequality and climate crises, while Russia participation prevents G20, G24 and Development Committee from releasing a communique.
IFI governance
Analysis
G20 press briefing analysis – Spring Meetings 2022
The G20 released a press briefing focused on the effects of Russia's war in Ukraine and the increasing need for multilateralism amidst walkouts, rising debt levels around the world, a new World Bank pandemic preparedness model, and the approval of RST and other sustainable finance models.
IFI governance
Analysis
IMFC chair statement analysis – Spring Meetings 2022
The IMFC issued a chair statement in place of a communiqué. It discussed a long list of challenges with focus on fallout from Ukraine invasion and climate change.
IFI governance
Analysis
V20 calls for more equitable international financial system to tackle risks posed to climate vulnerable developing countries
The communiqué for the V20 highlighted multitude of crises facing climate-vulnerable developing countries, with continuing challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and unequally felt climate change impacts now being exacerbated by the spillover effects from the Ukraine war.
IFI governance
Analysis
G24 communiqué analysis – Spring Meetings 2022
G24 finance ministers called for urgent global action to mitigate the effects of rising debt levels in emerging economies, and rising global food, energy and commodity prices.
IFI governance
Background
The IMF’s Resilience and Sustainability Trust: Can an IMF-managed SDRs trust deliver inclusive & sustainable recoveries?
Notes from the 11 April Civil Society Policy Forum - The IMF’s Resilience and Sustainability Trust: Can an IMF-managed SDRs trust deliver inclusive & sustainable recoveries?
IFI governance
Analysis
Spring Meetings 2022 Preamble: War in Ukraine risks deepening divergent recovery as World Bank and IMF prepare for Spring Meetings
War in Ukraine will have significant spillover effects as Global South continues to carry the burden of vaccine inequity. Debt, austerity and evolving food crisis key talking points of Meetings while unequal recovery, gender, RST and surcharges key issues at CSPF.
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