Bretton Woods Observer
World Bank support for Covid-19 vaccination fails to ensure equitable access
World Bank’s Covid-19 vaccination programme contributes to global response but fails to ensure free access to vaccines and healthcare during the pandemic.
Tip of the iceberg: How the call for SDRs reveals the urgency for deeper reforms of the global reserve system to address systemic inequalities
Renewed calls for a substantial SDR allocation raise urgency of reforming the inequitable global reserve ‘non-system’.
India’s new farm laws mirror international financial institutions’ vision of agriculture
Thousands of Indian farmers protest damaging World Bank and IMF-supported reforms to agriculture laws.
The World Bank’s investments in the Great Green Wall: A desert mirage?
World Bank commits to invest additional $5 billion in the Great Green Wall over the next five years, despite shortcomings…
Latin American Indigenous Peoples call on World Bank to safeguard their rights
Latin American Indigenous Peoples call on the World Bank to safeguard their rights and ensure its programmes are based on their own proposals.
World Bank-backed water bill sparks anti-privatisation movement in Nigeria
Bill withdrawn after allegations of misconduct, as Nigerian civil society mobilises against water privatisation.
World Bank technical assistance and policy lending lead to Jamaica gas lock-in
Bank support facilitated $1 billion in private investment in LNG on the island, despite the green credentials of natural gas being widely debunked.
IMF debt sustainability review lacking in ambition and transparency
New methodology fails to meet long-standing civil society calls to put needs of people before debt service.
Evaluation finds IMF advice on capital controls lacking empirical support
IMF’s Independent Evaluation Office suggests that Fund guidelines are too restrictive and recommends a refresh in light of recent experience and research.
New Bolivian government returns “irregular and onerous” IMF loan
Government states that $346 million loan jeopardised “the country’s sovereignty and economic interests.”
Myanmar civil society calls for solidarity from international financial institutions
Civil society letter condemns World Bank statements as ‘weak’.
Civil society research finds World Bank over-reported adaptation finance
New report raises uncomfortable questions for World Bank leadership about the credibility of the Bank’s climate finance accounting methods.
Doing Business Report to be published after temporary suspension over data irregularities
World Bank plans to publish latest DBR in March and undertake an external review of the report’s methodology.
New IFC managing director appointed amidst concerns over World Bank’s private sector-led approach to Covid recovery
New IFC head will lead implementation of IFC 3.0.
World Bank in talks over early IDA replenishment this year
Civil society calls for policy package to meet Covid-19 ‘just recovery’ needs.
