The World Bank’s financial inclusion agenda in time of cost-of-living crisis, austerity and financialisation promotes indebtedness of the poor, especially women.
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South Africa
Infrastructure
Analysis
World Bank and IMF influence casts shadow over South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Partnership
World Bank’s support for fossil fuel projects, including problem-riddled Medupi coal power station, leaves its reputation in tatters with South African civil society.
IFI governance
Analysis
IMFC communiqué analysis – Spring Meetings 2021
Analysis of the IMFC communiqué published on 8 April from the 2021 World Bank and IMF virtual Spring Meetings.
Finance
Analysis
G20 communiqué analysis – Spring Meetings 2021
Analysis of the G20 communiqué published on 7 April from the 2021 World Bank and IMF virtual Spring Meetings.
IFI governance
Analysis
G24 communiqué analysis – Spring Meetings 2021
Analysis of the G24 communiqué released on 5 April from the 2021 virtual World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings.
Rights
Analysis
World Bank reparations demanded for murder of frontline South African anti-coal activist
Community demands reparations from World Bank for murder of South African environmental activist Fikile Ntshangase for opposing the Tendele coal mine initially financed by IFC.
Finance
Analysis
World Bank’s rating obsession will negate debt justice
The international financial system’s reliance upon credit ratings – usually based on dubious premises – needs urgent rethinking.
Private Sector
Analysis
How the Bank’s push for microcredit failed the poor
Originally created to help the poor escape poverty and deprivation, the World Bank became the most important advocate for the commercialised microcredit model. Yet, critics argued it undermined the chances of sustainable and equitable development to create a poverty trap of historic proportions.
Other news
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."
IFI governance
Background
Greening whole economies? Unpacking World Bank plans for Paris alignment by July 2023
Notes from a Civil Society Policy Forum event on 14 October titled "Greening whole economies? Unpacking World Bank plans for Paris alignment by July 2023."
Social services
News
Malpass makes World Bank a pariah with opposition to TRIPS waiver
World Bank President comes out against temporarily waiving intellectual property rights on Covid-19 vaccines
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.
Infrastructure
News
World Bank’s toxic Medupi loan leaves South Africans in the dark
Bank’s $3.75 billion loan in 2010 has failed to deliver reliable energy to South African users, despite eye-watering cost overruns.
Rights
News
CAO opens new Marikana case
CAO finds complaints from Marikana community eligible for further assessment.
IFI governance
Background
Gender and development: What is happening now?
Notes from a meeting on gender and development during the World Bank spring meetings.
IFI governance
Background
Emerging markets in transition: growth prospects and challenges
Notes of a meeting on emerging markets in transition at the World Bank-IMF annual meetings 2014
