Gender

Analysis

IMF on gender and income inequality: from research to implementation

New IMF staff discussion note links gender and economic equality, but will this research influence IMF policy?

9 February 2016 | At Issue

Environment

Commentary

A critical juncture for forests: Will the World Bank rise to meet the global challenge?

World Bank is called to take a leadership role in reducing deforestation and promote community forest management, including through its new Forest Action Plan.

9 February 2016 | Guest comment

Rights

News

World Bank safeguards review: “human rights-free zone”

A UN special rapporteur, CSOs and donor countries have critiqued the lack of human rights in the World Bank's draft new environmental and social framework, as the consultation process has continued to be fraught with difficulty.

10 February 2016

Accountability

Analysis

Where’s the remedy? Development banks must do more to remedy harm caused by the activities they finance

A report assessing the effectiveness of 11 development bank’s accountability systems found that they are not effective at consistently providing remedy to those harmed.

10 February 2016 | Guest analysis

Rights

News

World Bank releases new gender strategy

The World Bank Group released its new Gender Strategy for 2016-2023 in December.

9 February 2016

IFI governance

Analysis

IMF governance: one step forward, one step back

Reform to the IMF’s voting shares shifts some power to emerging countries, but the institution’s leadership selection process remains opaque and undemocratic.

8 February 2016

Infrastructure

News

World Bank call for hydropower to combat climate change challenged

Calls by the World Bank for hydropower to play a major role in efforts to strengthen resilience to climate change have been challenged by civil society organisations and recent research.

8 February 2016

Finance

News

IMF to add China’s currency to SDR basket

The IMF has confirmed that China’s currency, the remnimbi or yuan, will be included in the IMF’s calculation of its international reserve asset from October 2016.

8 February 2016

Finance

News

IMF contemplates returning to Greece ... again

The IMF has confirmed its participation in negotiations for the third Greek loan programme since 2010, seeking debt relief, privatisation and pension reform. The IFC has invested €150 million in Greece's four main banks.

8 February 2016

Conditionality

News

IMF rule-change sustains lending to Ukraine

The IMF has changed its long-standing rule on lending to countries in arrears to official creditors, thereby avoiding having to cancel its $17.5 billion loan programme to Ukraine.

1 February 2016

IFI governance

Background

World Bank’s country engagement approach

This Inside the Institutions looks at the World Bank's new country engagement model, including the systematic country diagnostic and country partnership framework.

7 February 2016 | Inside the institutions