South Africa

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.

10 December 2020 | Guest analysis

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.

12 August 2020 | At Issue

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.

4 April 2019

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.

8 December 2017 | At Issue
Non-formal primary school in Mathare, Nairobi, Kenya. Credit: TonyBaker

Social services

Analysis

IFC investments in basic education: marginalising the poorest

As the IFC increases investments in for-profit, commercial education, CSO RESULTS finds this marginalises the poor and calls on the IFC to enhance free public education instead.

6 April 2017 | Guest analysis

Environment

Analysis

Clean Technology Fund (CTF)

A revised Clean Technology Fund (CTF) pipeline management and cancellation policy has been approved. A document outlining further details on the proposed “CTF 2.0” will be discussed. Approval for reallocation of funds for a Morocco project was challenged by Germany and the decision postponed.

30 November 2016

Environment

Analysis

Climate Investment Funds Monitor 14

New edition of the Bretton Woods Project's biannual Climate Investment Funds (CIFs) Monitor, including an update on the Green Climate Fund, published to coincide with the World Bank-hosted CIFs trust fund committee meetings.

30 November 2016

Environment

Analysis

Climate Investment Funds Monitor 13

New edition of the Bretton Woods Project's biannual Climate Investment Fund (CIFs) Monitor, published to coincide with the World Bank-hosted CIFs trust fund committee meetings.

13 June 2016

Environment

Analysis

Clean Technology Fund (CTF)

The upcoming Clean Technology Fund (CTF) resource shortfall continues to raise concerns. A proposal for “CTF 2.0” will be discussed, including two proposed modalities: CTF Green Markets and the Risk Mitigation Facility. Concerns were raised over safeguards for a geothermal energy project in Indonesia.

13 June 2016

Finance

Analysis

China goes global with development banks

This briefing examines the trajectory of China's evolving leadership in international development finance, including the impact of it's massive increase in development finance for developing countries.

5 April 2016 | At Issue

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.

8 February 2016

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.

4 November 2015