As the Bank's energy strategy approaches finalisation in mid 2011 pressure is growing on the institution to incorporate criticism by civil society groups of its current lending practices.
Western Europe
Conditionality
Commentary
Repaying bondholders while immiserating people: Ireland’s EU-IMF programme
Partly as a result of the failures of successive Irish governments, Irish people are now confronted with the same anti-democratic and immiserising consequences the IMF has imposed around the rest of the world. Opposition to the EU-IMF intervention, and to the Irish government's cutbacks (including cuts in the minimum wage and social welfare), must demand a default on bank debt and not just a reorganisation of which sectors of Irish society should bear the cost of debt repayments.
Infrastructure
Background
Private sector investment in energy lending and climate finance
Meeting notes of 'Private sector investment in energy lending and climate finance'
IFI governance
News
Ana Paula Canestrelli joins the project
We are delighted to welcome Ana Paula Canestrelli as our new research and communications officer.
Land
Background
Notes of meeting between Minster Alan Duncan, the UK Department for International Development and Ci
Meeting notes
IFI governance
News
IMF names hedge fund advocate as Europe director
In late October, hedge fund advocate Antonio Borges was appointed the director of the IMF's European department.
Accountability
Analysis
Submission to the International Development Committee of the UK parliament: inquiry into the World B
The UK should not increase its contribution to IDA in the current replenishment. Instead, it should focus on achieving substantial reforms of the World Bank and IFC in key areas, including health, gender, climate and energy, and the private sector, and in radically improving the legitimacy, transparency and accountability of the institution.
Accountability
Background
Meeting on the World Bank between DFID and UK NGOs
Notes of a meeting between UK civil society and DFID staff.
IFI governance
News
IMF boardroom crisis: Europeans stubbornly cling to chairs
IMF governance reform was thrown into disarray in August by a fight between the US and Europe over reducing European board seats. Other promised reforms, including to voting shares and leadership selection appear to be going backwards.
Conditionality
Analysis
Saying one thing but meaning another: IMF advises protecting jobs and cutting spending
While Hungary has booted out the IMF, Greece is still toeing the line of IMF austerity demands. The IMF has softened its rhetoric in some places, notably on unemployment, but critics worry that many staff are still pushing fiscal retrenchment that may damage growth prospects.
Land
News
UK reviews World Bank, multilateral aid
In June the new UK coalition government announced a hasty review of its funding to multilaterals, including the World Bank Group.
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.
