Infrastructure

Analysis

The World Bank and industrial policy: Hands off or hands on?

6 December 2012

Former deputy secretary general of UNCTAD Carlos Fortin, of the Institute of Development Studies, examines the Bank's record on industrial policy over the last 20 years and shows that the Bank's position is more nuanced.

Environment

News

World Bank and climate change

A new Bank report warns about the impacts of climate change, but concerns have been raised about its own track record. While the Bank has increased its renewable energy share, its continued funding of fossil fuels and focus on large scale dams remain controversial.

6 December 2012

Infrastructure

Commentary

The IMF in Egypt: revolution or coming full circle?

The Egyptian government has finally concluded an initial loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) following two years of continual negotiations.

26 November 2012 | Guest comment

Trade

News

World Bank on jobs: "a race to the bottom"?

Two October World Bank reports reveal a contradictory message for developing countries' labour markets.

6 December 2012

Accountability

News

Call for freeze on World Bank 'land grabs'

As Oxfam called on the World Bank to freeze large scale land acquisitions, the Bank's new agriculture strategy remained under wrap. Concerns have also been raised about ongoing initiatives on 'climate-smart agriculture' and the development of Doing Business in Agriculture.

6 December 2012

Social services

Analysis

IFIs' new "house of cards" in Central and Eastern Europe

IFIs are renewing their focus on Central and Eastern European states. This comes amidst fears that growth in the region needs to be rekindled. The World Bank has promised more funding for countries at risk of instability. However, IMF loans being negotiated with Romania and Hungary have met with controversy.

6 December 2012

Conditionality

News

IMF controversy: is austerity backfiring?

The IMF's shift in stance regarding easing Greece's debt burden reflects a deepening controversy about whether austerity policies are counter-productive.

6 December 2012

Rights

News

Safe in Bank hands? World Bank safeguards review launched

The World Bank finally launched the two-year review of its environmental and social safeguard policies in October.

6 December 2012

Finance

News

IMF and the Troika: three's a crowd?

The Troika has announced another Greek debt agreement, but disputes between the Fund and its Troika partners over debt reduction remain unresolved.

6 December 2012

Finance

News

IMF new view on capital flows: "landmark" but still only a "baby-step forward"

The IMF's new "institutional view" on capital flows, despite being more flexible than its previous stances, has nonetheless angered developing countries who blame rich country policy for volatility in financial movements.

6 December 2012

IFI governance

News

"Cosmetic" changes to IMF governance

The IMF is about to embark on a new round of negotiations over governance reform, but acrimony persists and already-agreed changes remain unimplemented.

6 December 2012

Accountability

Background

World Bank corporate scorecard

Every six months the World Bank issues a corporate scorecard, which is submitted each Autumn to the Bank's annual meetings. The scorecard is supposed to "provide a snapshot of the Bank's overall performance, including its business modernisation, in the context of development results." It is compiled by Bank staff to "facilitat[e] strategic dialogue between management and the board on progress made and areas that need attention."

6 December 2012 | Inside the institutions

Accountability

News

Kim's World Bank strategy: real change or "PR exercise"?

The World Bank's new president Jim Yong Kim set out his vision for the institution at the Bank's annual meetings in mid October, but his desire to build a 'solutions' bank and end absolute poverty comes with few details or big changes at the Bank. Next year's replenishment of the International Development Association (IDA) will put Kim's vision to the test.

6 December 2012