An IMF loan to Haiti in response to the devastating earthquake in early January has been criticised for exacerbating the country's debt burden and endangering recovery.
Latin America & Caribbean
Finance
News
Banco del Sur capitalised
South American member states pledged $7 billion for the newly created Banco del Sur to finance development projects and trade, providing a regional alternative to the World Bank.
Environment
News
IFC lends a hand in great "land grab"
As the International Finance Corporation, the private sector arm of the World Bank, announces plans to increase investment in agribusiness by up to 30 per cent in the next three years, NGO reports shed light on the IFC's role in 'land grabs' and flaws in its approach to the food crisis.
Conditionality
News
IMF's absurd demands on Nicaragua
Nicaragua complained in July that the IMF made "absurd demands" when it asked the government to eliminate all tax exemptions on non-profit entities.
Conditionality
News
Bank's conditions still problematic in Latin America
World Bank lending has increased dramatically in Latin America, but an analysis of the conditionalities attached show that the Bank is still pushing its traditional harsh macro-economic framework, despite the changes in policy that the crisis has brought to the rest of the world.
Rights
News
Good cop, bad cop?
There has been significant concern about IMF programmes in Honduras, where the IMF has not made clear whether it will deal with coup leaders who seized power from the elected president, and in Sri Lanka due to concern over allegations that the government is abusing the human rights of hundreds of thousands of Tamils.
Environment
News
ICSID in crisis
The International Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) is facing an explosion of cases and increasingly vocal criticism from Latin American countries. Questions remain over whether it helps channel productive investment to developing countries or serves as a tool for multinational corporations to get their way.
Land
News
World Bank backs away from Bertin
A chorus of voices are celebrating the news that the International Finance Corporation (IFC) the private sector arm of the World Bank, has withdrawn a $90 million loan to the Brazilian cattle farming company Bertin
Finance
News
International monetary reform: IMF not in the game
The financial crisis has reinvigorated discussion of exchange rate management and reform of the monetary system, but lack of progress at international forums like the IMF means change is only happening at the regional and bilateral level.
Finance
Commentary
Without IFIs, There are no tax havens
Two main agreements reached by the G20 in its recent meeting held in London that should be welcomed: The reliance on a renewed leadership of the IMF and Multilateral Development Banks to support the countries that will be affected by the world recession within a new regulatory framework of international finance; and the final elimination of tax havens all over the world, aiming at protecting fiscal income.
Finance
Commentary
After cannibalised globalisation
Eduardo Gudynas argues that the financial crisis reveals a profound crisis of the multilateral governing system.
Finance
News
Financial crisis leads to a resurgence of the IFIs in Latin America
After years of playing an ever diminishing role in Latin America, the IMF and the World Bank are in pursuit of a resurgence in the region.
