Activists call for suspension of IMF disbursements, raising alarm about lack of accountability for several African loans.
Kenya
Social services
Background
World Bank Group’s ‘Maximizing Finance for Development’ in times of Covid-19
Notes from the virtual Civil Society Policy Forum at the 2020 World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings 5 October session on the World Bank's 'Maximizing Finance for Development' and the Covid-19 response.

Finance
Background
A People’s Recovery: Ensuring progressive fiscal measures for a feminist and just pandemic recovery
Notes from the Civil Society Policy Forum session on 24 March.

Finance
Analysis
The IMF and World Bank-led Covid-19 recovery: ‘Building back better’ or locking in broken policies?
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.
Accountability
News
IFC accountability mechanism investigates World Bank-funded for-profit schools
CAO initiates investigation following complaint related to IFC-funded Bridge International Academies in Kenya.
Rights
News
World Bank-funded Kenya company targets complainants
Community representatives involved in a World Bank Inspection Panel complaint have been targeted with a court injunction by a Bank-funded company.

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.

Infrastructure
News
Warming of Ethiopia-Eritrea relations puts proposed LAPSSET mega-project under microscope
Significant concerns also remain about environmental and social impacts of mega-infrastructure project partially financed by World Bank.

Social services
News
CSOs urge IFC to divest from for-profit school chain
CSOs urge investors to divest from private school provider Bridge International Academies; IFC remains investor, despite WDR’s concerns with private education.

Social services
News
World Bank’s cascade into education: Liberia’s public-private partnership
Report by global union found privatisation and corporate capture are obstacles to progress on 2030 agenda. Independent research of education PPP trial in Liberia finds unsustainable costs.

Infrastructure
Background
Getting energy access right - Trends and lessons learned in public finance
Notes from a meeting at the IMF/World Bank 2017 spring meetings on energy access.

Conditionality
Analysis
The IMF, Gender Equality and VAT
BWP briefing explores gender dimensions of IMF’s key fiscal policy advice on resource mobilisation in developing countries, in particular on Value-Added Tax.