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Middle East & North Africa

Environment

News

Morocco and IMF Resilience and Sustainability Trust: Balancing debt, privatisation and neocolonial dynamics

Morocco's $1.32 billion Resilience and Sustainability Trust loan comes with 'green conditions' which may facilitate neocolonial resource-grabbing and a European-led rush for ‘green’ hydrogen.

13 December 2023

IFI governance

Analysis

Marrakech Annual Meetings Wrap-up 2023: Bretton Woods Institutions wilt in the desert, as ‘pragmatism’ fails to resolve urgent crises

Incremental changes paper over deficiencies of status quo, as civil society calls for the radical change required to meet the moment.

18 October 2023

IFI governance

Analysis

G20 communiqué analysis Annual Meetings 2023: Nothing new under the sun

The Group of 20 (G20) communiqué was published on 13 October. It focused on the consequences of the evolving debt situation, reaffirmed support for the much-criticised Common Framework and was silent on debt relief. The section on MDB reform meanwhile stressed ‘bigger’ rather than ‘better’ banks.

18 October 2023

IFI governance

Analysis

IMFC chair’s statement analysis Annual Meetings 2023: Fine words but little of substance as critical decisions kicked down the road

Divisions once again prevented the IMFC from issuing a communiqué. The chair issued a statement that promised much but delivered little, supporting a third Sub-Saharan African chair on the IMF’s executive board, but kicking key reforms like quota realignment and a discussion on surcharges down the road.

18 October 2023
World Bank Group President Ajay Banga enters headquarters on his first day, Washington DC, 2 June 2023.

IFI governance

Analysis

Annual Meetings 2023 Preamble: Lack of governance reform and economic transformation front and centre as World Bank and IMF meet in Africa for first time in 50 years

As the World Bank moves toward finalising its ‘Evolution Roadmap’, and IMF shareholders struggle to agree on an outcome to the 16th Review of Quotas, the stakes in Morocco are high.

5 October 2023
Protest at COP27, celebrated in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt in November 2022. Credit: Oliver Kornblihtt / Mídia NINJA

Finance

Analysis

Assessing the Bretton Woods Institutions’ legacy

New collection of critical essays by authors from MENA and Sub-Saharan Africa do a retrospective of the BWIs involvement in the region, and the legacy of BWIs-supported unjust and extractionist world economic order.

3 October 2023 | Briefings
Anti IMF loan protest in downtown, Cairo, 2012. Credit: Gigi Ibrahim / Flickr

Private Sector

Analysis

Financialisation and human rights in the Middle East and North Africa

This briefing explains how the IMF and World Bank have driven the financialisation of MENA states, and the pervasive negative effects this has had on the region’s societies and economies.

27 September 2023 | Briefings

Rights

Commentary

Civil society calls on World Bank and IMF to safeguard civic space and prevent retaliation around Marrakesh Annual Meetings

To prevent repression and retaliation at their Annual Meetings in Marrakesh, World Bank and IMF must work proactively with MENA civil society and Moroccan authorities on safeguarding civic space and upholding free speech.

5 April 2023 | Guest comment
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Other news

Conditionality

News

Tunisian government resists proposed IMF austerity programme 

Tunisian government is attempting to renegotiate IMF loan to avoid subsidy cuts on food and fuel.

19 July 2023

IFI governance

News

Marrakech CSO working group launches statement ahead of 2023 Annual Meetings

Marrakech working group calls on the BWIs to cancel the debt, stop imposing austerity and ensure a just energy transition.

19 July 2023

Finance

News

Egypt reaches agreement for IMF programme, but proposals for debt relief are still lacking

Egypt’s new EFF program will likely deepen the country’s debt crisis, instead of helping improve its socioeconomic conditions.

8 December 2022

Knowledge

News

Doing Business Report to be published after temporary suspension over data irregularities

World Bank plans to publish latest DBR in March and undertake an external review of the report’s methodology.

23 March 2021

IFI governance

Background

Coup d'états and political instability: The roles of national, regional, and international actors

Notes from a Civil Society Policy Forum on 12 October titled: "Coup d'états and political instability: The roles of national, regional, and international actors."

12 October 2022 | Minutes

IFI governance

Background

Are we heading towards an austerity-based recovery?

Notes from Civil Society Policy Forum event on April 13, 2022 on "Are We Heading Towards and Austerity-Based Recovery?"

13 April 2022 | Minutes

IFI governance

Background

Covid-19 recovery: from government response to private sector-led sustainable growth

Notes from the Civil Society Policy Forum session on 29 September on fiscal measures to promote sustainable growth during the longer-term recovery phase.

29 September 2021 | Minutes

Private Sector

Background

Private sector accountability in times of crisis

Notes from the virtual Civil Society Policy Forum session on 29 March.

29 March 2021 | Minutes
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