Bretton Woods Observer
IMF and World Bank at 70: many happy returns?
As the IMF and World Bank mark their 70th anniversary their leadership is being challenged as rival institutions have emerged, but reports of their demise appear premature.
Dangers of dilution: World Bank’s new weak environmental and social framework
World Bank’s new draft environmental and social framework is criticised as a step backwards that could lower the standards for…
Where is the public in PPPs? Analysing the World Bank’s support for public-private partnerships
A review of the World Bank’s support for public-private partnerships by the Independent Evaluation Group reveals a lack of proven…
Is Inspection Panel’s new pilot weakening World Bank accountability?
World Bank’s Inspection Panel’s new pilot process has left some 9,000 evicted people in Nigeria without adequate remedy, allowing the…
A poor diagnosis: the World Bank’s health record
World Bank health financing benefits wealthy elites not poorest according to new IEG evaluation and Oxfam analysis
Ghana and the IMF – a window into Africa’s future?
Ghana’s recent turn to the IMF raises questions about the ‘Africa rising’ narrative and may signal a stronger role for the Fund in the region.
Conflict-affected states, IFC’s final frontier
The IFC is set to expand operations in fragile and conflict-affected states such as Burma, despite indications that systemic problems identified in Honduras persist.
“Affordable hotels”: IFC’s luxury development projects
IFC investments in Burma hotels have been criticised for weak poverty reduction impact. IFC claims that investment in luxury hotels in India will provide “affordable hotels”.
Risking the bottom line? World Bank infrastructure initiatives criticised
The Global Infrastructure Facility is expected to be launched as a World Bank-hosted programme in October. Concerns remain about the Bank’s continued support for fossil fuel infrastructure.
World Bank green bonds
The World Bank group supports the growth of the green bond market through the IBRD and the IFC to “catalyse the market through strategic issuances of green bonds based on their triple-A ratings.”
World Bank: education is a “private good”
A World Bank blog about the benefits of private schooling has been contravened by a UN committee and heavily criticised by civil society
IMF augments new lending facilities after earlier reviews
An IMF review of three new lending facilities has resulted in only “cosmetic” changes critics say.
World Bank appoints remaining global practice directors
The remaining vacancies in the World Bank’s new global practices and cross cutting solutions areas, which emerged as part of the Bank’s 2013 strategy, have been filled.
UN backs sovereign debt mechanism
UN votes to adopt developing countries’ resolution on a legal framework for debt resolution, independent of creditors, including the IMF.
IFC criticised over Peruvian mine investment
IFC’s accountability mechanism has criticised a series of errors in IFC’s social and environmental risk management of its Peruvian Quellaveco mine investment.
Call on World Bank to stop Uzbekistan loans
The World Bank has been called on to postpone two proposed loans to the agricultural sector in Uzbekistan, given the risks of forced and child labour.
New briefing: Multilateral Development Banks’ unburnable carbon
Bretton Woods Project has published a briefing examining five MDBs’ fossil fuel investments and exposure to the carbon bubble.
CAO to assess two new Dinant complaints
The Compliance Advisor Ombudsman will assess two new complaints related to the IFC’s controversial investment in Honduran palm oil company Dinant.
Draft World Bank safeguards “a step backwards”
Further concerns have been raised on the new draft World Bank safeguards framework, as the second phase of the consultation reaches mid-point.
