V20 called for substantive debt relief and increased concessional financing to help break vicious cycle of debt and Loss and Damage, and spur ‘climate-positive development’.
Ghana
IFI governance
Background
Navigating Africa’s debt conundrum amid multiple crisis: Looking beyond the G20 Common Framework
Notes from the Civil Society Policy From on 13 April titled "Navigating Africa’s debt conundrum amid multiple crisis: Looking beyond the G20 Common Framework."
Finance
Analysis
The global financial architecture and the international debt crisis: An urgent call for reform
Influence of unreformed international financial institutions and creditor interests in debt solutions in low- and middle-income countries plagued by delay and ineffective when undertaken.
Finance
News
Between a rock and a hard place: How can IMF provide support amidst debt restructure deadlock?
IMF’s lending into arrears policy can be a way to break out of the debt restructure deadlock and provide the much-needed financing for countries in debt distress.
Infrastructure
News
Former Ghana national oil company head links World Bank’s Sankofa guarantee to gas power plant deals
Alex Mould says guarantee included commitment to sign four ‘take or pay’ contracts with independent power producers.
Finance
News
Ghana: political costs of structural adjustment
Ghana elected a new president who has pledged to review the country's IMF programme, which was criticised by civil society for its harsh impacts on the poorest.
Infrastructure
Analysis
Ghana’s Sankofa gas project - backed by World Bank - brings fiscal pain
Ghana left with $250 million bill for unused gas in 2019 primarily due to ‘take or pay’ clause in Bank-supported PPP contract.
Gender
Analysis
IMF’s recognition of unpaid care work undermined by its own harmful policy advice
New IMF working paper establishes macro-criticality of unpaid care work but remains blind to Fund’s negative policy impacts on women and girls.
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.
Finance
Analysis
IMF and debt restructuring: just talk?
An IMF staff blog has acknowledged weaknesses in IMF’s approach to debt sustainability, meanwhile civil society continues to demand human rights-based approach considering who bears burden of debt repayment.
Environment
Analysis
Forest Investment Program (FIP)
Challenges in measuring progress were noted for the Forest Investment Program (FIP), in particular greenhouse gas accounting. Investment plans for Mozambique and Ivory Coast have been approved. Questions were raised over the reasoning for a commercial teak plantation project in Ghana.
Environment
Analysis
Scaling Up Renewable Energy Program (SREP)
A new a new Enhanced Private Sector Program for the Scaling up Renewable Energy Program in Low Income Countries (SREP) is due to discussed. Cambodia’s investment plan has been approved. Social, environmental and financial risks related to a Nicaragua geothermal project were raised.
