Bretton Woods Observer
The rise of the infrastructure giants
World Bank faces increased competition over large scale infrastructure in Asia, with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the BRICS Bank.
Conditionally yours
New analysis reveals the IMF’s increasing use of controversial conditions attached to loans.
Tata Mundra: making a mockery of accountability
IFC criticised over Tata Mundra coal power plant in India, for ignoring recommendations from its accountability mechanism.
World Bank’s $1 billion loan to South Africa risks undermining just transition by doubling down on ‘de-risking’ private capital
Despite the Just Energy Transition Partnership’s failure to attract private investments in South Africa, the World Bank is doubling down…
World Bank forests projects under fire
World Bank continues to strongly back REDD+ forest projects, which have been criticised for not consulting indigenous peoples or respecting land rights.
World Bank funded mines threatening livelihoods
Civil society groups criticise IFC investments worth hundreds of millions of dollars in mining projects in Guinea, Mongolia and Armenia for potential negative social and environment impact.
Reproductive health: What’s the Bank’s score?
The Bank has produced mixed results on reproductive health; it is imperative that as the post 2015 agenda is set, it maintains the funding and political profile of this hugely impactful public health issue.
IMF: Ukraine’s “tough programme”; Egypt next?
The IMF’s provision of an exceptional access loan to Ukraine was presented as vital economic support, but many commentators fear that this loan is driven as much by political as economic necessity. Despite emphasising increased sensitivity to country circumstances, Fund policy recommendations in Egypt are very similar to its prescriptions for Ukraine.
Business as usual: World Bank rejects Doing Business reforms
World Bank publishes minor changes to its Doing Business report, addressing only one of the criticisms of an independent panel review while activists continue to highlight the damage done by the rankings.
Ghana under pressure: IMF loan feared
Fierce debate in Ghana over whether to turn to the IMF for support, as its economic growth and debt profile come under pressure. IMF warns on risks to Ghana’s “transformation agenda” and whole region’s debt levels and growth
IFC: Learning lessons or institutional amnesia?
In response to the IFC’s shaming over its involvement with Dinant corporation in Honduras, the institution produced a “lessons learned” document. However, it has been rejected by campaigners, who are demanding more fundamental reform.
Big banks & IMF: No structural reform
The IMF rings more warnings about the costs of having an oversized financial sector, but fails to recommend stronger controls on the banking sector.
IMF publications
Every year the IMF produces numerous publications, however, there is ambiguity concerning the extent Fund documents are representative of the IMF’s institutional views or dictate how the IMF is supposed to execute policy.
IFC criticised for bad smell of Ukraine loan
An IFC loan to Danish pig farming company in Ukraine has resulted in a complaint to the Compliance Advisor Ombudsdman because of the air pollution and harm to local people’s health.
ILO paper questions IMF research on labour market reforms
A recent ILO publication finds major methodological flaws in reserach papers that the IMF used to justify the weakening of labour regulation.
CAO investigation: IFC-linked rubber firm project paused
An IFC-linked Vietnamese rubber plantation company agreed to temporarily suspend activities in three Cambodian plantations, but activists urged the company to cease its activities in all communities.
ICSID problems in the spotlight
Civil society challenges ICSID role in El Salvador mining dispute as international lawyer accuses the arbitration forum of being “seriously flawed”
Argentina’s creditors accused of “vulture-like behaviour”
Argentina has agreed a deal with its Paris Club creditors, which have been accused of aggressive behaviour in demanding repayment of double the original debt.
Further delays for World Bank safeguards review
The World Bank’s safeguards review is facing more delays in the face of internal wrangling, while civil society has ramped up demands for stronger rules.
