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Sub-Saharan Africa

illustration of the Bretton Woods Observer winter 2024, presenting the World Bank globe sitting on a hidden pile of gold looking at the Wall Street Bull (which represents the financial sector)

Environment

Analysis

COP29 sees MDBs climate finance take centre stage, as civil society brands new climate finance goal a ‘betrayal’

Rich countries agree to provide a paltry $300 billion in public finance by 2035 including funds channelled through MDBs, as Small Island States and Least Developed Countries stage walkout.

12 December 2024
Low angle view of electricity pylon against sky. Credit: Uva Rova / pexels.com

Infrastructure

News

World Bank’s Mission 300: a path to power, for whom?

Bank's focus on attracting private investment through energy privatisation raises concerns, as it puts private profits over sustainable energy systems, burdening governments with debt and making electricity less affordable for citizens.

12 December 2024

IFI governance

Analysis

G20 communiqué analysis Annual Meetings 2024: progress on tax and inequality obscures Group's wider failures

At the 25th anniversary of the Group’s Finance Track, the G20 communiqué’s robust language on the taxation of billionaires, including encouraging “constructive discussions” about the UN Tax Conference was contrasted by much more cautious language on MDB reform, climate finance, debt and Special Drawing Rights.

29 October 2024

IFI governance

Analysis

V20 communiqué analysis Annual Meetings 2024: climate vulnerable countries once again demand key changes to IMF’s approach, as world risks breaching climate tipping points

V20 members offered a searing indictment of rich countries’ failure to act on BWIs governance, debt relief, climate finance and SDRs.

29 October 2024
World Bank cartoon lost in the middle of a forest

IFI governance

Analysis

New World Bank Corporate Scorecard: overlooking client priorities and ignoring development impact

The World Bank’s new Corporate Scorecard misses the forest for the trees as it lacks an indicator to measure the Bank’s contribution to economic transformation, a cornerstone of its development mandate.

16 October 2024

Conditionality

Analysis

Kenya's growing youth movement for fiscal justice rejects IMF-mandated austerity

Youth-led led protests lead to withdrawal of controversial finance bill by President William Ruto.

16 October 2024 | Guest analysis
cover illustration of the Observer Summer 2024

Finance

Analysis

IMF board’s reluctance leaves Special Drawing Rights as an underused tool in Fund's toolbox

IMF board's lukewarm endorsement of SDR rechanneling through MDBs stands in stark contrast to continued calls from Global South governments for additional SDR allocations, amid growing debt crisis.

3 July 2024

Finance

News

'Worst ever’ debt crisis puts IDA’s financial model at risk, underscoring need for ambitious donor contributions to IDA21 replenishment

The unfolding debt crisis threatens IDA’s support for 75 low-income countries, without replenishment of grant resources.

3 July 2024
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Other news

Environment

News

Trump election may add pressure to reverse World Bank’s prohibition on support for nuclear power

Donald Trump’s election may result in a revision of World Bank’s long-standing prohibition of support to nuclear power.

12 December 2024

Infrastructure

News

Banga calls energy access a ‘human right’ as he announces World Bank will provide access for 250 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030

Explicit mention of human rights obligations has long been a taboo subject at the World Bank.

3 July 2024

IFI governance

Background

Beyond size in IDA21 replenishment: What about socio-economic transformation?

Notes from Civil Society Policy Forum panel 19 April titled, "Beyond size in IDA21 replenishment: What about socio-economic transformation?"

19 April 2024 | Minutes

IFI governance

Background

Agriculture, financialization, and gender: Exploring the World Bank’s response to interlinked phenomena

Notes from the Civil Society Policy Forum on 17 April 2024 titled "Agriculture, financialization, and gender: Exploring the World Bank’s response to interlinked phenomena"

17 April 2024 | Minutes

IFI governance

Background

The future of Special Drawing Rights as a development finance tool: What's next?

Notes from the Civil Society Policy Forum session on 17 April 2024, titled "The Future of Special Drawing Rights as a Development Finance Tool: What's Next?"

17 April 2024 | Minutes
TRANSFORMATIVE POL ICY PATHWAYS: LESSONS FROM FEMINIST ECONOMICS PROGRAMMING FOR THE IMF.

IFI governance

Background

Transformative policy pathways: Lessons from feminist economics programming for the IMF

Notes from the Civil Society Policy Forum on 10 October 2023 titled "Transformative policy pathways: Lessons from feminist economics programming for the IMF."

10 October 2023 | Minutes

Rights

News

World Bank project fails to protect Tanzanian pastoralists from serious human rights abuses

New report by Oakland Institute shows World Bank failing to uphold human rights standards resulting in violent assaults and evictions of Tanzanian pastoralists.

9 April 2024

Environment

News

Civil society raises concerns about Resilience and Sustainability Trust’s green conditionality as Fund conducts interim review

CSOs and experts question the suitability of ‘green' policy conditions attached to RST loans.

9 April 2024
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