Early evidence suggests IMF programmes are maintaining long-term fiscal consolidation targets, while World Bank further continues Maximizing Finance for Development narrative amidst Covid-19 crisis.
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Middle East & North Africa
Conditionality
News
Uprising and discontent: Global protests erupt against IMF-backed policies
From Latin America to North Africa and the Middle East, governments experience backlash against IMF loan programmes and policy recommendations.
Rights
News
Tunisia Commission seeks reparations for human rights violations from IMF and World Bank
Bretton Woods Institutions found to share responsibility for social unrest leading to serious human rights violations.
Conditionality
Commentary
Strikes overturn wage cuts, but IMF blindness risks ruining Tunisia
General Secretary of Tunisia's largest trade union calls for an overhaul of the IMF's approach to bring about socially just expansionary policies, after strikes overturn IMF-backed wage bill
Rights
News
Will IMF stick its head in the sand on human rights Guiding Principles?
UN releases Guiding Principles on human rights impact assessments of economic reforms, begging the question of how the IMF will respond.
Rights
Commentary
World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings marred by clampdown on People’s Global Conference
Clampdown on civil society leaves stain on this year’s Annual Meetings, as global civic space is increasingly under threat
IFI governance
Analysis
Great Expectations a year on: IMF moving the needle on inequality but not yet the gear
One year after Oxfam study, IMF making progress on inequality agenda but still needs a fundamental shift
Conditionality
Analysis
The political cost of IMF programmes
As Jordan is engulfed in social unrest and political upheaval, questions are raised around the relationship between IMF conditionality and trends in instability.
Other news
Finance
News
Failure to lend to Venezuela and Iran once again raises questions around IMF’s political neutrality
IMF fails to respond to loan requests from Iran and Venezula as they struggle to respond to increasing Covid-19 cases and deaths.
Conditionality
Background
The IMF and World Bank policies and the Arab world’s transition economies
Notes from the Civil Society Policy Forum Session at the 2017 World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings on IMF and World Bank programmes in the MENA Region.
Gender
Background
Cutting to the core: Rethinking the IMF’s way of doing business to tackle gender inequalities
Notes from the Civil Society Policy Forum panel event on 17 October on the IMF’s approach to gender.
Finance
Background
Taxes, Taxes, Taxes: Shifting the IFI Narrative to Progressive Gender-just Taxation
Notes from the Civil Society Policy Forum session on 12 April on the changing international tax landscape from a feminist perspective and challenging IFIs’ role in shaping it at the World Bank and IMF's 2019 Spring Meetings.
Conditionality
News
IMF approves new Jordan loan
New IMF loan programme to Jordan agreed with gendered conditions, while civil society express concerns about human rights and impacts on the lives of women.
Accountability
Background
The Syrian migration crisis
Notes from a meeting at the IMF/World Bank CSO Forum at the 2016 Spring meetings discussion the socio-economic impacts of the Syrian crisis, the outgoing flow of migration and the World Bank’s model on how to tackle these issues following its new report.
Conditionality
Background
IMF and World Bank’s Influence on Economic Policy Making in Developing Countries
Notes from a meeting at the IMF/World Bank CSO Forum at the 2016 Spring meetings, evaluating how well the World Bank and IMF have done on respecting the country ownership principle ten years after its international acceptance.
Conditionality
News
World Bank and IMF prepare Tunisia loan programmes
As the IMF initiates negotiations with Tunisia, concerns have been expressed that renewed reforms will not be inclusive or target deep-seated economic and social issues.
