US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicates US will stay in the Bank and Fund, claiming “America First does not mean America alone,” as tariffs and rising debt vulnerabilities prompt gloomy forecast.
IFI governance
IFI governance
Analysis
G20 press conference and media statement analysis Spring Meetings 2025: lack of Chair's statement yet more evidence of challenges to global consensus
The South African G20 Presidency failed to issue a communiqué and opted not to issue a Chair’s statement at the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings as the US administration’s explicit hostility to multilateralism significantly decreases the potential for consensus across all multilateral fora.
IFI governance
Analysis
G24 communiqué analysis Spring Meetings 2025: failure to tackle structural injustices amid geopolitical turmoil
At this year’s Spring Meetings, the G24 communiqué failed to present strategic solutions for multilateralism’s future, offering no real path to address the multiple crises facing the world.
IFI governance
Analysis
V20 communiqué analysis Spring Meetings 2025: amid attacks on climate action, climate vulnerable countries once again highlight urgent need to step back from the brink
Faced with deafening silence from Bank and Fund leadership on climate issues at the Spring Meetings, climate vulnerable countries demand urgent changes to global financial architecture.
IFI governance
Analysis
Development Committee chair’s statement analysis Spring Meetings 2025: holding out on climate, but not without private finance
The Development Committee met on 24 April, with the chair issuing a statement, instead of a communiqué, reflecting the views of the majority of the group and providing clarity on priorities and moments of consensus within the chaos.
IFI governance
Analysis
IMFC chair statement analysis Spring Meetings 2025: IMFC statement reflects IMF’s scramble to reshape the international order in new US administration’s image
IMFC chair’s statement promises private sector-led growth, productivity, and job creation, while ignoring climate action, in an almost word for word copy of US Treasury Secretary’s speech at Spring Meetings.
IFI governance
Analysis
Spring Meetings 2025 Preamble: geopolitical turmoil further muddies path of BWI reform and multilateral cooperation
As the World Bank and IMF prepare for the 2025 Spring Meetings, the US executive order reviewing its participation in global institutions has heightened long-standing concerns about the direction of the Bretton Woods system – with civil society turning to FfD4 to reimagine the future of multilateralism.
Finance
Analysis
Civil society calls for FfD4 to revive 'spirit of Monterrey' and reassert UN's role in global economic governance
The role of Bretton Woods Institutions remains a key point of contention, amidst their stark governance deficits.
IFI governance
Background
A closer look at the World Bank’s revised Country Partnership Framework
This Inside the Institutions explores the World Bank’s revised Country Partnership Framework, which aims to boost the impact of its country programmes through focus and efficiency.
IFI governance
News
New Independent Evaluation Office findings expose political pressures and over-optimism in IMF’s Exceptional Access Policy
Evaluation finds Exceptional Access Policy has been applied inconsistently, influenced by political pressures, and used as a substitute for debt restructuring while failing to attract private capital.
