Bretton Woods Observer
As World Bank signals end of extraction finance, CSOs call for end to its other fossil fuel funding
Despite World Bank’s One Planet Summit announcement that it will stop funding oil and gas extraction after 2019, it still has much to do to fully decarbonise its lending portfolio.
Pro-poor or anti-poor? The World Bank and IMF’s approach to social protection
Stephen Kidd critiques Bretton Woods Institutions’ approach to targeted social protection systems, arguing the poor lose out the most.
World Bank report on fiscal adjustment in Brazil: questionable analysis; unfair policies
The World Bank’s report on public spending in Brazil raises serious questions about the methodology used and relevance of the…
The IMF in insecure fragile states: why being absent should no longer be an option
While there is scope to improve IMF operations in all fragile states, ahead of the forthcoming publication of the IMF…
The wrongdoings of the Doing Business Rankings and the corporate take-over of agriculture
Civil society urges the World Bank to scrap DBR and EBA, claiming the latter harms small-scale farmers by putting corporate interests first.
The IMF in Mozambique: How the poor are punished for mistakes of the rich
In Mozambique, the IMF is saying that when the rich are guilty, the poor should…
The impacts of IMF-backed austerity on women’s rights in Brazil
The IMF and World Bank-endorsed 20 year spending freeze in Brazil disproportionately impacts women and other marginalised groups, despite less harmful alternatives being available
Tax Platform hosts tax and SDGs conference – hold the SDGs
Civil society finds lack of progressivity at first tax and development conference hosted by Tax Platform, as governments are left out of political negotiations and hopes of G77 for global tax body appear to fizzle out.
#MeToo arrives at World Bank as it publishes Gender-Based Violence Action Plan
World Bank publishes GBV Action Plan for developing-country projects, while internal sexual harassment cases from 1980s are brought to World Bank Ombudsman.
AIMM: Will IFC hit rights-based development target?
CSOs call on IFC to ensure new AIMM development impact framework includes human rights-based methodology and applies to entire portfolio.
CSOs urge IFC to divest from for-profit school chain
CSOs urge investors to divest from private school provider Bridge International Academies; IFC remains investor, despite WDR’s concerns with private education.
IEG critical of World Bank’s progress on shared prosperity goal
IEG report casts doubt on Bank’s progress on its own shared prosperity goal as civil society raises concerns about Bank’s approach to inclusive growth
Tunisians take to the streets over IMF-imposed austerity
Despite claiming to no longer support austerity, the IMF has imposed damaging cutbacks on the people of Tunisia as part of its loan conditionality, leading to widespread discontent on Tunisian streets.
Indian fishing communities petition US Supreme Court to hear case against IFC
Indian fishing communities that claim to have been harmed by IFC investments seek to challenge its ‘absolute immunity’
World Bank remains GCF interim trustee amid questions over long-term status
GCF’s permanent trustee will chosen through open bidding process with final decision expected to be taken in October
CAO accepts complaint related to MIGA guarantee for TANAP
Complaint is latest in a series of environmental & social concerns raised about Southern Gas Corridor
Follow BWP’s World Bank and IMF 2018 Spring Meetings Dispatch
The World Bank and IMF’s Spring Meetings will be held 20-22 April 2018 in Washington DC, the Civil Society Policy Forum will take place from 17-20 April; follow BWP’s coverage on our Dispatch page
CSOs continue to push for review of Bank’s ESF guidance notes
World Bank ESF draft Guidance Notes for Borrowers continue to concern civil society
