Bretton Woods Observer
Civil society still waiting for ‘IMF Spring’ to blossom
Civil society was out in full force during annual meetings challenging the IMF’s claims that it is reducing economic and gender inequality.
Debt sustainability review: Tinkering around the edges while crises loom
Despite making some positive changes, the IMF and World Bank Debt Sustainability Framework review has ignored fundamental issues, as risk…
A critical analysis of the World Bank’s World Development Report on education
While the World Development Report (WDR) 2018 on education has some redeeming features, it is part of the Bank’s longstanding…
How the Bank’s push for microcredit failed the poor
Originally created to help the poor escape poverty and deprivation, the World Bank became the most important advocate for the…
After 15 years, World Bank’s Doing Business Report still missing the mark
CSOs argue DBR’s deregulation policies do not lower income inequality or promote inclusive economic growth, instead incentivising tax competition and undermining inclusive development.
Bank and Fun(d)speak of the year 2017
Every year the Bretton Woods Project highlights some of the most farcical remarks of Fund and World Bank staff.
CAO released damning audit of IFC hydro project in Guatemala
CAO audit finds IFC failed to identify gaps in project’s social and environmental assessment, while communities impacted by the project face impacts on water source, livelihoods and levels of violence.
Chinese growth’s contribution to poverty reduction challenges World Bank and IMF neoliberal policies
CEPR report found that two-thirds of extreme poverty during past 25 years took place in China, which did not follow World Bank and IMF neoliberal policies.
CSOs call on World Bank to prioritise forests in climate action
Civil society organisations call on World Bank Group to do more to prioritise forests and forest peoples’ rights.
Shared prosperity? WBG fails to progress on energy access for poor
A new civil society report criticises the World Bank for not doing enough to help meet Sustainable Energy for All (SEforAll) objective of achieving universal energy access by 2030.
IMF and Bank “intensifying” tax work: Possible progress or consolidating control?
The World Bank and IMF are intensifying their work on tax under the Platform for Collaboration on Tax, yet civil society is cautious about embracing tax policy advice coming from the Bretton Woods Institutions.
New IMF conditionality database launched
Team of UK academics launch new, freely available IMF conditionality database.
CSOs express concern about IMF’s “strongly divergent” social protection approach
Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors submits letter to the IMF expressing concerns about impacts of Fund’s policies on social protection.
COP 23 puts Bank-backed climate insurance in spotlight
Lack of progress on Loss & Damage finance at global climate talks means climate insurance remains default option to mitigate losses from climate change.
Landmark climate-change complaint against IFC lodged in Philippines
The Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) makes history by filing first ever climate-related complaint against the IFC with the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO).
Long-awaited ESF Guidance Notes fail to meet CSO expectations
Civil society groups write to World Bank calling for substantial revision of the draft Notes.
CSOs call on World Bank to halt its aggressive support of PPPs
152 CSOs call demand World Bank halt its aggressive support of PPPs, publicaly recognise their significant risks.
IFC to revisit its development outcomes framework
Civil society seeks to input into IFC’s new development outcomes framework.
Call for critical resources on World Bank and IMF for 2017
Request for critical IMF and World Bank resources of 2017.
World Bank and IMF civil society working group election results announced
The members of the new permanent working group for the Civil Society Policy Forum have been announced.
