Bretton Woods Observer
World Bank president selection: ‘Gentleman’s agreement’ alive and well
World Bank’s board fails to live up to commitments to open, transparent and merit-based selection process for Bank president.
The highest bidder takes it all: The World Bank’s new scheme to privatise land in the Global South
World Bank Enabling the Business of Agriculture rankings prescribe land privatisation at the expense of family farmers, pastoralists, and Indigenous…
Debt and gender equality: How debt-servicing conditions harm women in Africa
As debt crises across the African continent continue to soar, concerns are raised about the gendered impact of debt-servicing conditions…
Unsustainable? The IMF’s approach to the Sustainable Development Goals
As the IMF publishes new SDG site, meaningful policy realignment remains lacking while business-as-usual continues at IMF.
The IMF and PPPs: A master class in double-speak
As IMF warns of fiscal risks to PPPs, it continues to back them through policy advice and fiscal consolidation.
Strikes overturn wage cuts, but IMF blindness risks ruining Tunisia
General Secretary of Tunisia’s largest trade union calls for an overhaul of the IMF’s approach to bring about socially just expansionary policies, after strikes overturn IMF-backed wage bill
Despite new 2025 climate targets, World Bank’s Paris Agreement alignment remains work in progress
Bank releases new targets for ‘climate-related investments’ between 2021-2025, but fails to introduce new restrictions on fossil fuel finance.
US Supreme Court rules against World Bank’s claim of absolute immunity
US Supreme Court rejects IFC’s immunity from suits in the US in landmark case
Will IMF stick its head in the sand on human rights Guiding Principles?
UN releases Guiding Principles on human rights impact assessments of economic reforms, begging the question of how the IMF will respond.
Inequality crisis worsens as World Bank and IMF persist with failed policies
Two new CSO reports document inadequate response by states, the IMF and World Bank.
Pakistan requests 13th IMF loan, amid US-China tensions
As Pakistan requests an IMF loan amid concerns about its debt sustainability, the IMF response is caught up in China-US tensions.
World Bank’s toxic Medupi loan leaves South Africans in the dark
Bank’s $3.75 billion loan in 2010 has failed to deliver reliable energy to South African users, despite eye-watering cost overruns.
Lagos water rights summit rejects World Bank privatisation
World Bank water privatisation push in Africa criticised by civil society that are calling for a rights-based approach.
As Green Climate Fund and World Bank sign framework agreement, concerns about Bank’s role linger
Bank and GCF finalise framework agreement, meaning nine co-financed projects can go forward.
World Bank appoints Independent Evaluation Group Director and Inspection Panel member
World Bank appoints Alison Evans as new IEG Director General and Ramanie Kunanayagam as Inspection Panel member
Follow BWP’s World Bank and IMF 2019 Spring Meetings Dispatch
BWP will provide analysis of the ministerial meetings’ communiqués, notes from CSPF seminars and more on BWP’s Dispatch page.
