Bretton Woods Observer
Debt bubbles “popping” in emerging economies
IMF and World Bank face up to slowing global economy, but downplay risks of new debt crises for low income countries
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…
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?
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…
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.
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.
World Bank releases new gender strategy
The World Bank Group released its new Gender Strategy for 2016-2023 in December.
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.
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.
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.
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.
New CAO Kamalanga report: five years of IFC non-compliance
CAO has released another report critical of IFC’s compliance with its own performance standards, highlighting lack of action and continued harm to affected communities.
World Bank’s risk rating record for policy lending slammed by internal evaluator
A report by the World Bank’s Independent Evaluation Group has criticised the Bank’s track record in rating the risks of development policy loans.
New BWP report on the IMF in MENA region
BWP report finds few signs of IMF policy-change in the MENA region post 2011.
World Bank Uganda road project cancelled
The World Bank has suspended a loan to Uganda in response to multiple failures.
Report calls on the World Bank not to invest in Kosovo power plant
A report has cast further doubts on the viability and efficiency of the proposed lignite coal power plant in Kosovo which the World Bank is considering supporting.
Bankspeak of the year 2015
Every year the Bretton Woods Project highlights some of the most farcical remarks of Fund and Bank staff.
Renewed calls for World Bank to suspend funding for Uzbekistan
Civil society organisations have renewed their calls for the World Bank to suspend funding to Uzbekistan, due to continued concerns about forced and child labour in the cotton harvest.
