French socialist Dominique Strauss-Kahn has been selected to take over as the managing director of the IMF, but he comes in on a wave of displeasure with both the undemocratic system that selected him and the strategic direction of the Fund.
United Kingdom
Accountability
Background
London consultation on the implementation plan of the World Bank's Governance and Anti-Corruption (G
Highlights of a consultation on the implementation plan of the World Bank's Governance and Anti-Corruption strategy, held in London 19 September 2007.
IFI governance
News
UK support for the Foundation for the Future
A freedom of information request submitted by the Bretton Woods Project has confirmed UK support for the mysterious foundation in the middle of the Paul Wolfowitz resignation scandal.
IFI governance
News
'That position is ours': Another European to head the IMF
Just 12 days after IMF managing director Rodrigo de Rato made a surprise announcement that he would resign in October, European countries have put forward a leading member of the French socialist party and former finance minister Dominique Strauss-Kahn to replace him. It is the second lost opportunity in as many months for reform of the anachronistic governance of the international financial institutions.
Accountability
News
UK Treasury to focus on IMF surveillance
In its annual report to parliament about the UK and the IMF, the UK Treasury's most ambitious goal for 2007 is a revision of the IMF's surveillance framework.
IFI governance
Commentary
UK government urged to open IMF selection process after Rato
UK NGOs - including Oxfam, ActionAid, Christian Aid, the new economics foundation and the Bretton Woods Project - have called on the new UK government and its European partners to end the 63-year-old "gentlemen's agreement" that allows European governments to appoint the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund and the United States government to appoint the President of the World Bank.
Accountability
Background
Highlights of UK NGO meeting with UK Executive Director to the WB/IMF Tom Scholar
Highlights of a 22 June 2007 meeting between UK NGOs and UK executive director to the World Bank and IMF, Tom Scholar. Issues covered included review of the Bank's transport strategy, avoided deforestation, conditionality, debt, social protection and IFI governance.
IFI governance
News
UK Treasury to focus on IMF surveillance reform in 2007
In its annual report to parliament about the UK and the IMF, this year subtitled "Reform to delivery prosperity for all", the UK Treasury's most ambitious goal for 2007 is to revise the IMF's surveillance framework. While also setting out to build on the proposals for governance reform of the IMF, the report does not prioritise creating an open and merit-based process for selecting the managing director of the IMF, overhauling the transparency policy at the Fund, or grappling with the issue of w
Accountability
News
Wolfowitz affair approaches day of reckoning
Week five of the scandal at the World Bank over president Paul Wolfowitz's promotion of partner Shaha Riza started with the resignation of one of Wolfowitz's inner circle, advisor Kevin Kellems. It was not a good omen, as things have gone from bad to worse for the embattled president.
IFI governance
Background
Highlights of BWI-UK / UKAN Workshop: The roles of the IFIs in low-income countries
Highlights/summary of outcomes for the 1 May 2007 BWI-UK / UKAN Workshop: The roles of the IFIs in low-income countries
Conditionality
Background
Workshop on aid and the roles of the World Bank and IMF in low-income countries
To date there have been gaps in the thinking and policy lines of UK NGOs on several key questions in relation to low-income countries, multilateral institutions and development. The 1 May 2007 workshop will bring the BWI-UK and UKAN networks together to address the following four questions, with a view to coordinating policy and advocacy positions: 1. What role do/should the IMF and World Bank be playing in the evolving international aid architecture? 2. Should the IMF be providing dev
IFI governance
Background
Highlights of UK NGO meeting with HM Treasury on IMF governance
Minutes of a consultation between UK NGOs and HM Treasury on IMF governance, 4 April 2007
