Bretton Woods Observer
Civil society calls for World Bank to reroute ‘Evolution Roadmap’ away from Cascade
Civil society questions the proposed expansion of the Cascade approach, which has failed to deliver the ‘trillions’ promised.
Financial liberalisation, capital controls and development in Africa: The case of Uganda
Financial liberation has had a significant effect on Uganda’s economy opening the door for significant foreign ownership while facilitating the…
UN Financing for Development: The best chance to democratise global economic governance?
As Bretton Woods Institutions fail to deliver transformative, systematic reform of deeply unequal global architecture, countries should embrace a more…
World Bank Group Evolution: Technical fixes or urgently needed reform?
World Bank Evolution Roadmap’s proposed superficial technical patches favouring the ‘logic’ of the market will likely fail to deliver the…
Honduras threatens ICSID withdrawal over $11 billion ‘neo-colonial’ special economic zone claim
Compensation claim before WorldBank’s ICSID raises questions about the value of special economic zones and fairness of ISDS mechanisms for Global South states.
UDHR and IPN anniversaries underscore urgent need for Human Rights policy at all IFIs
World Bank and IMF shareholders must use the anniversaries of the Inspection Panel and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights respectively to demand both establish human rights policies and meet their international obligation to provide remedy
As World Bank launches Paris alignment approach, unclear guidelines raise greenwashing concerns
Bank’s approach relies on countries’ national climate plans, which are not currently collectively aligned with 1.5°C temperature goal.
IFC continues extractive investments under cover of biodiversity offsets
World Bank and IFC continue promoting false solutions to climate and environmental emergency, helping extractive companies greenwash their environmental impacts.
Gender progress at risk as new World Bank president enters pushing private-sector focus
New report by ActionAid UK highlights critical importance of public services that are gender responsive, while new Bank President Ajay Banaga’s private sector push signals concern for gender equality.
Banga’s arrival raises concerns about deepening of World Bank’s private sector bias
Banga takes office as civil society urges him to invert the Cascade and ensure the Bank’s development model is fit for purpose.
The World Bank’s approach to human rights
This Inside the Institutions explores how the World Bank approaches human rights in the context of the international human rights obligations of international financial and development institutions.
African finance ministers join growing calls for more equitable SDR allocations
New calls for SDR reform reveal acute need of financing for low- and middle-income countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Tunisian government resists proposed IMF austerity programme
Tunisian government is attempting to renegotiate IMF loan to avoid subsidy cuts on food and fuel.
Word Bank promotes agricultural corporations at cost of food security in Africa
New CAFOD report exposes World Bank’s harmful approach to agriculture increases food insecurity in Africa.
Marrakech CSO working group launches statement ahead of 2023 Annual Meetings
Marrakech working group calls on the BWIs to cancel the debt, stop imposing austerity and ensure a just energy transition.
B-Ready for more ill-founded private-sector solutions
The World Bank released a concept note of Doing Business report replacement, B-Ready project, ignoring civil society demands of an independent evaluation.
