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Finance

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Pakistan’s debt crisis fuelled by more IMF loans

Pakistan on track to receive its 24th loan from the IMF after the lender disbursed the last tranche of the country’s latest $3 billion programme.

3 July 2024

Environment

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World Bank's $1 billion loan to South Africa risks undermining just transition by doubling down on 'de-risking' private capital

Despite the Just Energy Transition Partnership's failure to attract private investments in South Africa, the World Bank is doubling down on a private sector led approach to the green transition through $1 billion loan contingent on the separation of Eskom’s activities.

3 July 2024
Apollo Hospital, Dhaka, 2014

Accountability

News

Another day, another IFC scandal

A Telegraph exposé unveils how a private hospital group in India which received £120 million in IFC investment since 2005 was running an illegal organ trading scheme, adding to a growing number of IFC-funded scandals.

9 April 2024

Environment

News

Resilience and Sustainability Trust’s first loans promote climate PPPs, raising concerns they may create fiscal risks

Initial financing for Costa Rica, Barbados, Rwanda, Bangladesh and Jamaica tied to efforts to ‘green’ PPP frameworks.

5 April 2023

Social services

News

World Bank’s definition of ‘universal’ social protection - another buzzword?

World Bank’s newly released Social Protection and Jobs Compass guidance note creates confusion over the Bank’s definition of ‘universal’ social protection.

8 December 2022

Conditionality

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Unbalanced financial stimulus followed by fiscal austerity: When will the IMF learn from its mistakes?!

New reports by Financial Transparency Coalition and Eurodad highlight uneven distribution of Covid-19 stimulus spending followed by socially painful fiscal austerity.

8 December 2022

Rights

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A new SDR allocation: Combatting deepening fragility concerns

The links between high debt burdens, lack of climate finance, austerity and the rise in political instability and fragility, conflict and violence remain largely neglected as IMF shareholders consider calls for a new SDR allocation, as proposed by the Bridgetown Agenda.

8 December 2022

Social services

News

World Bank issues new guidance on PPPs legal frameworks, ignoring long-standing concerns with the model

New World Bank guidance on PPP legal frameworks evidence of institution’s continued reliance on PPPs as key to addressing SDG financing gap despite well-documented failures. Previous World Bank PPP contracts template criticised for incompatibility with human rights norms.

4 October 2022

Other news

Private Sector

News

9 April 2024

World Bank embarks on pilot phase of Business Ready Project, disregarding civil society concerns

B-READY pilot 1 covering 51 countries is released, ignoring CSO concerns about the project’s flawed “private-sector first” agenda.

Social services

News

9 April 2024

The World Bank's water privatisation agenda neglects fundamental human rights

World Bank's water privatisation agenda directly clashes with its poverty alleviation goals, disregarding water as a basic human right.

Social services

News

4 October 2023

Sri Lankan trade unions call out IMF and World Bank's dismantling of country’s social protection system in favour of ineffective targeting schemes

Sri Lankan trade unions call out IMF and World Bank's dismantling of country’s social protection system in favor of ineffective targeting schemes.

Conditionality

News

19 July 2023

Tunisian government resists proposed IMF austerity programme 

Tunisian government is attempting to renegotiate IMF loan to avoid subsidy cuts on food and fuel.

Social services

News

5 April 2023

Civil society calls to move away from PPPs grow, while World Bank doubles down on private finance-led approach

Civil society ramps up calls to move away from public-private partnerships (PPPs) with Santiago Declaration for Public Services. 

Infrastructure

News

5 April 2023

MIGA’s support for gas projects raises concerns about its climate credentials

World Bank’s commercial insurance arm provided nearly $850 million in guarantees for gas projects in Bangladesh and Mozambique in fiscal year 2022.

Conditionality

News

4 October 2022

Nigerians set for higher bills as Bank pushes for removal of ‘inefficient’ energy subsidies

Nigerians set for higher energy bills amidst deep economic crisis as Bank pushes for removal of ‘inefficient’ energy subsidies.

Conditionality

News

21 July 2022

The human face of the World Bank's private sector bias: The privatisation of Kenya's healthcare

A November 2021 report by the Center for Human Rights and Global Justice at New York University highlights the human rights consequences of the World Bank’s Maximising Finance for Development approach.