Bretton Woods Observer
Summer 2025
Civil society demands unconditional debt relief in Jubilee year
In critical Jubilee year, civil society and Global South nations called for debt relief and UN-led debt workout mechanism at FfD4.
Will the World Bank be a partner for a just energy transition in developing countries?
As renewable energy finance shifts from China to the World Bank, whether the Bank can be a partner for a…
Sri Lanka and the IMF: Another stark example of the need for urgent debt restructure reform
After defaulting in 2022, Sri Lanka has entered its 17th IMF programme, resulting in severe socially and economically damaging austerity,…
IMF and Milei – partners in Argentina’s neoliberal autocracy
After successive programme failures, new Argentina IMF programme is complicit in Milei government’s contravention of national and human rights laws…
The IMF’s upcoming surveillance review: In an ever more urgent global context, the Fund must learn lessons from its past failures to reform
The IMF’s Comprehensive Surveillance Review takes place this year in a global context in which it is more pressing than ever to ensure that countries have the ability to take real action on climate change and rising social inequality.
IDA21 policy package disappoints as prospects for IDA countries continue to darken
After difficult negotiations due to American pressure on climate and gender, World Bank governors approve IDA21 document, embedding the Bank’s problematic private sector-led development approach and failing to integrate economic transformation or binding human rights obligations.
As Global North blocks progressive reforms at FfD4, World Bank’s failed private sector approach gains traction
As Global North obstructs global finance and debt architecture reforms proposed at FfD4, the World Bank’s failed “billions to trillions” approach continues to gain prominence.
From billions to nowhere: Ajay Banga’s development mirage
With scant data, high investor protections and little benefit to low-income countries, the Bank’s ‘new’ private sector development approach risks entrenching inequality under the guise of development.
Ghana’s gas debt provides cautionary tale as World Bank reconsiders support for upstream gas projects
After following World Bank energy reform model, government faced with crippling debts and high energy costs.
World Bank’s controversial support for Inga 3 dam signals return to big hydropower projects
Despite serious concerns from communities and civil society organisations (CSOs), the World Bank’s executive board…
ActionAid International’s new report highlights human costs of austerity on health and education
Report calls on the IMF, among other actors, to take immediate actions to address the dire situation of public services under austerity.
World Bank due to renew Fragility, Conflict and Violence Strategy in 2025
As the World Bank’s current Fragility, Conflict and Violence (FCV) Strategy (2020-2025) expires this year, a consultation on the new strategy is expected to take place soon.
World Bank energy strategy review considers reversing phaseout of support for gas production
As World Bank pushes to provide electricity to 300 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030 under Mission 300, it considers lifting ban on support for gas production.
IMF surveillance scanner to be launched this summer
The scanner is designed to enable civil society groups to find key themes in IMF policy and better track the political implications of its recommendations in the areas of fiscal policy, austerity, gender, tax, climate, social protection and financialisaton.
