Bretton Woods Observer
Winter 2025
As Jubilee year draws to a close, debt crisis remains unresolved
The current debt architecture continues to prioritise creditors over people as Jubilee-inspired movements push for genuine cancellation, fair restructuring and enforceable rules to rebalance global economic power.
Legislative pathways to sovereign debt relief: What the IMF gets wrong – and how to fix it
New report from IMF on resolving debt restructuring linked to private creditors may lead to flawed analysis.
World Bank Shareholding Review must deliver a better deal for African governments
2025 review needs to deliver reforms that strengthen borrower influence and improve global development governance.
Critical minerals and the new development dilemma: What the WBG’s new strategy must get right
World Bank’s new mining strategy requires a new approach informed by critical review of what has worked.
Call for just transition becomes COP30 rallying cry, as doubts remain over MDBs’ growing climate finance role
Global South unions call for ‘clean break’ with World Bank’s ‘billions to trillions’ approach in the energy sector.
Indigenous communities lead protests in Ecuador over IMF-prescribed austerity and fuel extraction
Mass protests erupt in Ecuador after right-wing President Daniel Noboa implements harsh austerity measures in line with IMF demands.
Securing a role for the private sector: IFC’s first securitisation transaction aims to mobilise private capital, but at what cost?
The IFC has made its first ever securitisation transaction of $510 million, in a bid to mobilise private finance.
Senegal’s hidden debt sparks questions about IMF’s oversight
IMF misses Senegal’s debt levels despite the Fund’s involvement in the country since 2019.
IMF’s economic sustainability analyses fail to consider extreme wealth as macro-risk and address harms
New research by New Economics Foundation demonstrates extreme wealth is a macro-risk, yet this is excluded from IMF bilateral surveillance analyses.
World Bank establishes task force to evaluate merger of its independent accountability mechanisms
Task force is expected to hold public consultations and establish a ‘reference group’ early in 2026.
IMF launches review of its civil society engagement strategy amid increased protests against its policies
Public consultation on IMF’s review of its 2015 civil society engagement strategy opens amid increased protests to IMF policies in programme countries.
CAO closure of Tata Mundra case sends chilling message to project-affected communities in search of justice
Tata Mundra communities left without justice or remedy as CAO closes the case, exacerbating concerns about lack of accountability in IFC-financed projects.
Second World Summit for Social Development’s Doha declaration: Ambition must be backed by action
Declaration makes ambitious commitments but action on debt, international tax cooperation and ending IMF and World Bank mandated austerity policies are needed to renew the social contract.
IMF appoints Christian Mumssen as Director of Strategy, Policy and Review Department
Mumssen appointed midway through two major institutional reviews central to civil society’s calls for transformative change in IMF policy.
