Bretton Woods Observer
The IMF and World Bank: Aiding and abetting inequality in Asia
As inequality in Asia continues to deepen, civil society renews calls for IMF and World Bank to be held accountable for exacerbating inequality.
The World Bank’s role in crafting a neoliberal hegemony with a feminist face
The World Bank’s recent gender equality approach constitutes an attempt at establishing a consensus over the regulation of the economy.
Great Expectations a year on: IMF moving the needle on inequality but not yet the gear
One year after Oxfam study, IMF making progress on inequality agenda but still needs a fundamental shift
Fragile, handle with care: The World Bank’s approach to FCS questioned
IEG critiques of Bank operations in FCS gain relevance as stakeholders push Bank to increase lending.
Banking on human capital: Beware unspecified returns
As World Bank prepares to launch its Human Capital Index at the upcoming Annual Meetings in Indonesia, long-standing critiques of Human Capital Theory remain.
Civil society fights Jakarta water privatisation during Annual Meetings in Bali
The Coalition of Jakarta Residents Opposing Water Privatisation (KMMSAJ) calls for civil society groups globally to join them during Annual Meetings in Bali in protest against water privatisation
World Bank investment in Paraguayan cattle industry linked to human rights violations and environmental harm
Report links IFC to environmental harm and human rights violations resulting from cattle industry expansion in Paraguay.
Ukraine: Between a rock and IMF conditionality
Alarm bells ringing as Ukraine struggles to meet IMF conditionality on fuel prices and anti-corruption approach criticised
Warming of Ethiopia-Eritrea relations puts proposed LAPSSET mega-project under microscope
Significant concerns also remain about environmental and social impacts of mega-infrastructure project partially financed by World Bank.
Independent evaluations continue to lack traction at IMF
Expert panel publishes third external evaluation of IMF’s accountability mechanism, finding impact of independent evaluations lacking
Carbon finance: The role of the World Bank in carbon trading markets
This Inside the Institutions looks at the role of the World Bank in carbon finance initiatives
Greece exits loan programme as impacts of Troika-led austerity are revealed
As Greece exits eight-year loan programme from the Troika, new study shines light on damaging impact of Troika-imposed austerity on country’s health outcomes.
Annual Meetings in Bali: BWP’s Dispatch, and alternative events
BWP publishes Dispatch as civil society organise alternative events during IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings in Bali
Potential Inspection Panel probe of Amaravati ‘land grab’ allegations deferred again
Panel received request to investigate allegations related to proposed World Bank loan in 2017.
World Bank reconsiders support for coal in Kosovo
Bank commissions energy options study, which will explore alternate electricity sources.
We-Fi’s roll-out continues to ignore long-standing feminist concerns
Civil society remains concerned that World Bank’s We-Fi fund excludes most marginalised women.
Civil society calls on IFC and other MDBs to stop financing damaging Balkan dams
A June petition signed by more than 120,000 people called on IFIs, “to immediately stop funding for projects that are located in protected areas.”
