Finance

Analysis

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 of new crises persist.

6 December 2017 | Guest analysis

Private Sector

Analysis

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 commercialised microcredit model. Yet, critics argued it undermined the chances of sustainable and equitable development to create a poverty trap of historic proportions.

8 December 2017 | At Issue

Knowledge

Analysis

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.

7 December 2017

IFI governance

Commentary

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.

7 December 2017 | Humour

Rights

News

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.

7 December 2017

Knowledge

Analysis

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.

6 December 2017

Environment

News

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.

6 December 2017

Environment

News

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.

6 December 2017

Finance

News

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.

6 December 2017

Social services

Analysis

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 very narrow view of education, and is silent on education financing.

30 November 2017 | At Issue