As the IMF refused to sign off on Uganda's first review of the Policy Support Instrument in mid February, fears amounted of declining donor support.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Finance
News
South Sudan: saddled with IFI debt?
With South Sudan set to become the world's newest - and potentially poorest - country in July, a big question remains about what should be done with Khartoum's $37.8 billion foreign debt, including around $1.6 billion owed to the IMF and $600 million to the World Bank.
IFI governance
News
South Africa gains the extra seat on World Bank board
Renosi Mokate, former deputy governor of the South African Reserve Bank, has been elected to the World Bank's board of executive directors.
IFI governance
News
Sachs argues for transparency
As the International Finance Corporation, the World Bank's private sector lending arm, continues the review of its sustainability policy, performance standards and disclosure policy, Jeffrey Sachs of Columbia University has warned of the importance of transparency and public accountability in the extractive industries.
Rights
News
World Bank programmes linked to political repression
A mid October report by international NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW), documents how World Bank projects in Ethiopia are being used by the government to repress dissent and weaken political opposition, reinforcing criticisms of Bank funding to countries with widespread reports of human rights abuses.
Land
News
World Bank pushes carbon markets in agriculture and climate talks
In the lead up to Cancun climate negotiations, the Bank has used a conference on agriculture and climate as a platform to expand its agricultural activities and link them to its interests in carbon markets, despite new evidence of problems with investment in the sector.
Conditionality
News
Swazi unions tell IFIs to "go hang"
The IMF, World Bank, and African Development Bank criticised the 4.5 per cent pay rise of Swazi public servants in August, because of the country's tight fiscal situation.
Social services
News
IFC finances China investment in Africa
In April, the International Financial Corporation (IFC), the World Bank’s private sector arm, agreed to finance Chinese investment in a Tanzanian commercial complex in Dar es Salaam.
Accountability
News
World Bank fails to focus on results in health
A newly published report adds to mounting criticism of the World Bank’s approach to health projects.
Finance
News
Zimbabwe turns to the IMF
In March the Zimbabwean cabinet agreed to a new debt relief strategy that includes recourse to the IMF and World Bank's Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative.
Accountability
News
New World Bank Africa strategy in the works
The World Bank's 2005 Africa Action Plan (AAP) is up for review and the Bank is rolling out consultations.
Infrastructure
News
World Bank engaged in controversial Ethiopian dam?
In May, over 30 NGOs worldwide issued a letter telling IFIs, bilateral development agencies, and export credit agencies to stop investing in the Ethiopian hydropower project Gilgel Gibe III.
Featured briefings
9 June 2025
New data reveal World Bank DPF ‘climate finance’ carries strong private sector bias, undermining a just transition
New BWP briefing finds the World Bank counted 70 per cent of energy-sector reforms in Development Policy Financing as having 'climate co-benefits' between 2018-2023 - but most of these promoted a private-led energy transition.
15 April 2025
The Bretton Woods Observer: Spring 2025
2 April 2025