Social services

Analysis

The IMF’s role in the Ebola outbreak

2 February 2015

IMF conditionalities attached to loans to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea drained health services, damaging countries’ ability to handle the recent Ebola crisis.

Finance

Analysis

The World Bank: In the vanguard of an infrastructure boom

This briefing analyses the "biggest investment boom in human history", examining elements of a new public-private partnership focused infrastructure investment model, including the role of the World Bank Group.

2 February 2015 | At Issue

Conditionality

Commentary

The Arab world’s subsidy nightmare: pondering alternatives

For decades, the Arab region has embarked on a series of IMF-prescribed energy subsidy reforms, which have contributed to increased poverty levels.

2 February 2015 | Guest comment

Conditionality

News

IMF moved on from structural adjustment?

Concerns in existing and prospective borrower states about the appropriateness and efficacy of IMF-sanctioned reforms under lending and precautionary agreements.

3 February 2015

Social services

Analysis

Health care for the few: the IFC’s Health in Africa initiative

New research reveals that Bank’s private sector arm, the IFC's Heath in Africa initiative is benefitting wealthy elites not the poorest.

3 February 2015 | Guest analysis

Environment

Analysis

World Bank pricing carbon: real solution to climate change?

World Bank continues to promote putting a price on carbon as a key policy to tackle climate change while critics say it is just a new way of promoting failed carbon markets.

2 February 2015

Private Sector

News

IFC ignores concerns about investments in financial intermediaries

IFC disagrees with concerns raised by CAO about its capacity to assess whether its investments through financial intermediaries have a positive development impact.

2 February 2015

IFI governance

News

Out with the new, in with the old? World Bank restructure reveals “colonial mindset"

Criticism of the latest elements of World Bank's restructure mounts from staff and the media, undermining president Kim’s leadership.

2 February 2015

Rights

News

UN experts critique World Bank draft safeguards

UN experts have questioned the World Bank’s draft safeguards’ lack of references to human rights, meanwhile the consultation process continues to raise concerns by NGOs.

2 February 2015

Finance

News

Eye on the prize - the Greek debt sustainability question

Despite heated debates about the consequences of Syriza’s win in Greece and the IMF's stance on debt reduction, the question of debt sustainability remains central to the country’s economic future.

2 February 2015

IFI governance

Recommended resources 2014

The best papers and books on the World Bank and IMF from 2014.

2 February 2015

Finance

News

Debt relief for Ebola-affected states delayed

IMF debt relief plan to Ebola-affected states overdue after G20, US, Guinean president, as well as CSOs, call for urgent support and debt forgiveness.

2 February 2015

IFI governance

Background

Guide to the IMF's Independent Evaluation Office

Understanding the Independent Evaluation Office of the IMF, including how it works and how civil society can input into its evaluations.

2 February 2015 | Inside the institutions