The best books and papers on the World Bank and IMF from 2015.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Accountability
News
World Bank Uganda road project cancelled
The World Bank has suspended a loan to Uganda in response to multiple failures.
Rights
News
World Bank safeguards review: “human rights-free zone”
A UN special rapporteur, CSOs and donor countries have critiqued the lack of human rights in the World Bank's draft new environmental and social framework, as the consultation process has continued to be fraught with difficulty.
Conditionality
Analysis
Debt bubbles “popping” in emerging economies
IMF and World Bank face up to slowing global economy, but downplay risks of new debt crises for low income countries
Environment
Commentary
A critical juncture for forests: Will the World Bank rise to meet the global challenge?
World Bank is called to take a leadership role in reducing deforestation and promote community forest management, including through its new Forest Action Plan.
IFI governance
Analysis
IMF governance: one step forward, one step back
Reform to the IMF’s voting shares shifts some power to emerging countries, but the institution’s leadership selection process remains opaque and undemocratic.
Infrastructure
News
World Bank call for hydropower to combat climate change challenged
Calls by the World Bank for hydropower to play a major role in efforts to strengthen resilience to climate change have been challenged by civil society organisations and recent research.
Environment
Analysis
Clean Technology Fund (CTF)
An impending shortfall in available resources for the Clean Technology Fund continues to concern, leading to cancellation of projects. Questions were raised about development impacts and reliance on geothermal energy in India and Indonesia's revised investment plans, and on debt sustainability in a Caribbean project.
Environment
Analysis
Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR)
The Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR) has expanded with ten countries despite a lack of funds. The US questioned the approval of a Bolivia project and resettlement issues were raised on two Cambodia projects.
Environment
Analysis
Forest Investment Program (FIP)
Six new countries were invited to join the Forest Investment Program (FIP), with a further nine invited to develop investment plans, despite insufficient funds. Potential support for oil palm plantations in Democratic Republic of Congo and industrial logging in Indonesia and Peru were questioned.
Environment
Analysis
Scaling Up Renewable Energy Program (SREP)
Concerns have been raised about the slow progress with the Scaling up Renewable Energy Program in Low Income Countries (SREP). Ghana, Haiti and Nicaragua's investment plans were approved, with questions asked about the loan/grant ratio, promotion of PPPs, and reliance on funding from the Green Climate Fund.
Rights
News
CAO opens new Marikana case
CAO finds complaints from Marikana community eligible for further assessment.
