In an evaluation of the IMF Independent Evaluation Office's first five years of work, an external committee concluded that the IMF board may have undue influence over the body. Additionally the IEO set itself an ambitious work plan for the next year, as it plans to delve into the Fund's internal organisation and trade policy
Finance
Finance
News
Fund inflexibility in Nicaragua disputed
The IMF has defended itself in response to a civil society campaign in Nicaragua
Conditionality
News
IMF to relaunch Haitian programme
After years of political and economic disputes, the IMF has finally reinitiated negotiations with Haiti
Social services
News
Cape Verde becomes IMF’s third PSI country
On 1 August, the IMF board approved Cape Verde's application for the Policy Support Instrument (PSI)
Finance
News
Mauritania, Malawi qualify for debt relief
Mauritania qualified for the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative in June, while Malawi completed the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries initiative in August.
Finance
Analysis
Too much, too soon: IMF conditionality and inflation targeting
Gerald Epstein, professor of economics at the University of Massachusetts, finds that despite little evidence of the success of inflation targeting in promoting economic growth, employment creation or poverty reduction, the IMF is increasingly using loan conditions and technical assistance to push its use. There is an urgent need for viable alternatives that focus on employment generation, poverty reduction, export promotion and investment enhancement to be given more attention.
Conditionality
News
IMF strategic review: too little, too late?
The managing director's report on the medium-term strategic review released at the spring meetings was short on specific proposals for reform implementation and lacked commitments for improved democratic functioning or strengthened surveillance of large industrial countries.
Accountability
News
Evaluation echoes civil society critique of World Bank-IMF debt relief efforts
An evaluation of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative by the Bank's Independent Evaluation Group released in April begs the question what next for debt relief efforts.
Finance
Commentary
One hand gives while the other takes: Nicaragua under IMF conditions
IMF conditionality undermines achievement of MDGs in Nicaragua
Accountability
News
Beware the big, bland wolf: The first year of Paul Wolfowitz at the World Bank
What has most surprised World Bank watchers is how little Paul Wolfowitz has changed the institution he took over one year ago. On Africa, infrastructure, and debt relief, he has stayed the course - for better or worse - set by his predecessor James Wolfensohn.
