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Bretton Woods Project

@brettonwoodsproject.org

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We scrutinise and influence the World Bank and the IMF, with a focus on the environment, gender equality, democratic governance and financialisation. Check our website: https://www.brettonwoodsproject.org

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Bretton Woods Project @brettonwoodsproject.org · Jul 15

Our new #ObserverSummer25 is out now🚀

This edition covers civil society demands of unconditional debt relief in #Jubilee2025, IMF's upcoming surveillance review, World Bank's billions to trillions 'fantasy', Sri Lanka, Argentina & the IMF, #FFD4, and more 🔥👇

tinyurl.com/ObserverSumm...

Summer 2025 - Bretton Woods Project

This edition covers the Jubilee Year 2025 and calls at FfD4 to break the cycle of debt, IMF's Surveillance review, IDA21 package, Argentina, Sri Lanka and the IMF, and more.

tinyurl.com

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Bretton Woods Project @brettonwoodsproject.org · 8h

And for more background on the issue, check our latest briefing 👇

Brace for impact: Social and gender inequality in IMF surveillance, based on research using our recently launched Article IV scanner

tinyurl.com/IMFSurveilla...

Brace for impact: Social and gender inequality in IMF surveillance

New BWP briefing on IMF Surveillance finds IMF’s core policy direction has remained consistent over a 14-year period and is identical to that previously described as “structural adjustment”.

tinyurl.com

Bretton Woods Project @brettonwoodsproject.org · 8h

Tomorrow at #IMFmeetings joins us for a CSPF on IMF's Comprehensive Surveillance Review and economic sustainability, with experts from civil society organisations and the IMF

@re-course.org @oxfamifis.bsky.social

📅 15 Oct, 11:00-12:30 DC
📍 IMF HQ2-03B-768B
📲 Tune-in imf.zoom.us/j/9308929040...

Civil Society Policy Forum 2025
IMF comprehensive surveillance review: looking back and forward
Wednesday 15th October, 11:00 - 12:30 EDT
IMF HQ2-03B-768B
Moderator:
FEDERICO SIBAJA, IMF Campaign Manager, Recourse
Speakers:
NABIL ABDO
Senior Policy Advisor Oxfam International
ZAIN MOULVI
Research Director
Alternative Law Collective
TARA POVEY
Macroeconomics Project Lead
Bretton Woods Project
ROUGUI DALLO
Economic Research Officer
International Trade Union Confederation
ALEKSANDRA ZDZIENICKA
Deputy Division Chief
IMF Strategy Policy and Review
Department (SPR)
SARAH SANYA
Deputy Division Chief
IM Strategy Policy and Review
Department (SPR)

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Bretton Woods Project @brettonwoodsproject.org · 13h

UnitedNations Special Rapporteur on the right to development Prof Surya Deva argues UN at 80 reform must deliver strategic transformation, including of the governance structures of the IMF and WorldBank #UNGA80

tinyurl.com/UN80Reform

UN80: A missed opportunity for transformation?

Member states must deliver on strategic transformation that enables UN to respond to growing crises.

tinyurl.com

Bretton Woods Project @brettonwoodsproject.org · 15h

70 civil society groups are calling on the IMF to create an SDRs Playbook. SDRs provided $650B in COVID relief without fueling inflation. Now we need reforms to unlock their full potential during crises

🔍 tinyurl.com/SDRsLetter2025

@ceprdc.bsky.social @aausa.bsky.social @eurodadnews.bsky.social

Bretton Woods Project @brettonwoodsproject.org · 1d

IMF and World Bank continue to support policies that contribute to democratic backsliding and rise of populism and authoritarianism amid crisis of multilateralism #UNGA80

See the cover piece of our #BWObserver Autumn25 🔍

tinyurl.com/AusterityPop...

Fuelling authoritarianism: The role of the Fund and Bank in eroding the social contract

BWIs’ policies continue to contribute to the rise of populism, authoritarianism and backlash against multilateralism despite the institutions’ long-standing concerns and rhetorical support for reform.

tinyurl.com

Bretton Woods Project @brettonwoodsproject.org · 4d

New in #BWObserver Autumn 25 👉Civil society calls on the IFC & the Asian Development Bank not to finance Balochistan copper mine, warning the project “risks exacerbating social tensions, attacks against peaceful activists, and environmental and social destruction.”

🔗 tinyurl.com/BalochistanM...

Civil society urges the IFC and ADB to cancel financing for Pakistan copper mine

Located in a militarised region, the project risks exacerbating social disruption and environmental destruction.

tinyurl.com

Bretton Woods Project @brettonwoodsproject.org · 4d

The IFC review of its Sustainability Framework risks rhetoric over reform: remedy gaps, weak oversight, and opacity persist as IFIs lean on private finance despite evidence of harm.

More in our latest Inside the Institutions:
🔗 tinyurl.com/IFCSustainab...

@re-course.org @arc-au.bsky.social

IFC Sustainability Framework Review

This Inside the Institutions critically analyses the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) review of its Sustainability Framework, amidst intensifying scrutiny of its harmful investments.

tinyurl.com

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Bretton Woods Project @brettonwoodsproject.org · 5d

The #WBGMeetings #IMFMeetings Annual Meetings come as the IMF & World Bank struggle to find response to global backlash to neoliberalism, as ‘new Bretton Woods’ reforms sputter👇

🔍 Read our Preamble: tinyurl.com/PreambleAnnu...

Annual Meetings 2025 Preamble: Bank and Fund struggle to find response to global backlash to neoliberalism, as ‘new Bretton Woods’ reforms sputter

The mounting contradictions between rhetoric and practice at the IMF and World Bank grow as geopolitical tensions and poor economic prospects strain social and political stability.

tinyurl.com

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Bretton Woods Project @brettonwoodsproject.org · 5d

In our new At Issue briefing, Prof C. P. Chandrasekhar argues that the US’s tariff war risks worsening the macroeconomic outlook in the Global South – and creating a crisis of legitimacy for the IMF🔥

See more in #BWObserver Autumn25
👉 tinyurl.com/TrumpTariffs...

The Bretton Woods twins and the Trump tariffs: Implications for the Global South

The US’s decision to forsake core tenets of neoliberalism potentially deepens IMF’s crisis of legitimacy.

tinyurl.com

Reposted by Bretton Woods Project

Recourse @re-course.org · 6d

📰 Future of IMF’s climate work uncertain, as climate crisis intensifies

“The IMF has made extremely slow progress in supporting countries’ fulfilment of the Paris Agreement goals,” said Federico Sibaja from Recourse, in article 👉 www.brettonwoodsproject.org/2025/10/futu... @brettonwoodsproject.org

Future of IMF’s climate work uncertain, as climate crisis intensifies

US hostility to IMF’s climate work risks further exacerbating macroeconomic fallout from climate crisis.

www.brettonwoodsproject.org

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Bretton Woods Project @brettonwoodsproject.org · 6d

IMF conditionality review must acknowledge that macroeconomic stability cannot be built on the erosion of rights, care systems, and the environment - says Julia Gerlo (of FARN) in our #Observer Autumn 25

👉 tinyurl.com/RoCArgentina

People demonstrate against the government of Argentinian President Javier Milei in front of the National Congress, Buenos Aires. Photo: Luis Robayo/AFP

Bretton Woods Project @brettonwoodsproject.org · 6d

Our new Bretton Woods Observer – Autumn 2025 reviews key global trends, from IMF-backed reforms to IFC sustainability Framework review, climate and debt challenges shaping the current international development landscape. Explore the full issue → tinyurl.com/ObserverAutu...

Autumn 2025

This edition exposes how IMF and World Bank austerity and debt policies fuel inequality, repression, and democratic erosion. From Angola’s mass protests to Argentina’s debt crisis…

tinyurl.com

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Bretton Woods Project @brettonwoodsproject.org · 7d

Our new analysis on IMF surveillance finds IMF’s core policy direction has remained consistent over 14 years and is identical to that previously described as “structural adjustment”.

Read our findings an recommendations in our new briefing

👉 tinyurl.com/IMFSurveilla...

Brace for impact: Social and gender inequality in IMF surveillance

New BWP briefing on IMF Surveillance finds IMF’s core policy direction has remained consistent over a 14-year period and is identical to that previously described as “structural adjustment”.

tinyurl.com

Bretton Woods Project @brettonwoodsproject.org · 8d

As IMF News reviews its Surveillance Policy, new @re-course.org report finds that between 2022 and mid-2025 IMF advice pushed fiscal consolidation in nearly 2/3 of 60 countries assessed - without considering impacts on climate investments

re-course.org/newsupdates/...

IMF surveillance and climate action — Report by Recourse

Report: IMF surveillance falls short in addressing climate threats

re-course.org

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Bretton Woods Project @brettonwoodsproject.org · 11d

Third World Network book shows how Global North, IMF & World Bank, restrict developing countries' policy space through debt and austerity - laying out a proactive trade and climate agenda for the South to pursue development on its own terms

twn.my/title/climat...

Shaping a Proactive Trade, Climate Change and Sustainable Development Agenda for the Global South

twn.my

Bretton Woods Project @brettonwoodsproject.org · 13d

New @re-course.org & Trend Asia report exposes how an IFC-backed liquified natural gas project in Indonesia is violating community rights, destroying forests and driving up emissions #stopfundinggas

re-course.org/newsupdates/...

Report on Tangguh LNG: Big project, huge risks

Read the report by Recourse and Trend Asia, examining the role of multilateral development banks and other financiers for the Tangguh LNG project in Indonesia.

re-course.org

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Bretton Woods Project @brettonwoodsproject.org · 19d

New research shared exclusively with the Independent finds World Bank and IFC among MDBs still financing polluting industrial livestock programmes in developing countries despite promises to align financing with #ParisAgreement

www.independent.co.uk/climate-chan...

Development banks ‘still funding industrial livestock despite climate promises’

Three development banks, including the World Bank, have collectively invested $1 billion in 55 highly-polluting livestock projects between 2018 and 2024, new research claims

www.independent.co.uk

Bretton Woods Project @brettonwoodsproject.org · 21d

‪#ICYMI: over 2000 participants registered to the 2025 Gender IFI network's Summer School in Aug-Sept.

Did you miss any of the sessions? Access the recordings via our website:
www.brettonwoodsproject.org/update/2025-...

2025 Gender IFI Summer School

The 2025 Summer School brought together experienced speakers teaching about how international financial institutions (IFIs) impact women’s rights, and sharing advocacy and mobilising tactics to rise…

www.brettonwoodsproject.org

Bretton Woods Project @brettonwoodsproject.org · 28d

New op-ed by Patricia Miranda & @jonsward.bsky.social: Backing #SDRs reform is one way for Britain and the EU to demonstrate commitment to building stronger and fairer global financial system and limiting the possibility of global financial chaos #SDRsPlaybook

www.telegraph.co.uk/global-healt....

Access Restricted

www.telegraph.co.uk

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Bretton Woods Project @brettonwoodsproject.org · 29d

Happy to announce the launch of our new website & visual identity🎉

We hope our visitors find the new features useful and the materials much easier to find and consume. If you have feedback please get in touch!

www.brettonwoodsproject.org

BWP new website homepage

Monitoring the negative impacts of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund

Bretton Woods Project @brettonwoodsproject.org · Aug 5

New in #ObserverSummer25: Civil society raises alarm as the @WorldBank’s ongoing energy review lifts WBG ban on nuclear and considers return to financing ‘upstream’ gas projects

@re-course.org

tinyurl.com/EnergyReview...

INFRASTRUCTUREnews
World Bank energy strategy review considers reversing phaseout of support for gas production
15 JULY 2025 | ID: 52982 | PROOF
SUMMARY

As World Bank pushes to provide electricity to 300 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030 under Mission 300, it considers lifting ban on support for gas production.

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Bretton Woods Project @brettonwoodsproject.org · Aug 1

#New in #ObserverSummer25: Banga’s 'new' World Bank vision recycles old myths. The private sector won’t fix development if it deepens debt, weakens states & fails to deliver jobs #BillionsToTrillions #DevelopmentFinance

tinyurl.com/BangaCascade...

Event at the World Bank Group & IMF Spring Meetings 2025, titled: Jobs - The Path to Prosperity. Photo: Tolani Alli / World Bank.

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Bretton Woods Project @brettonwoodsproject.org · Jul 30

In the aftermath of #FfD4, Maria Jose Romero and Jean Saldana, of @eurodadnews.bsky.social argue that the FfD process has always been and should continue to be the space for civil society to call for decisive action to democratise the global economic governance

👉 tinyurl.com/FfD4Wrap-up

A view of a protest during the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4). Photo: UN Photo/Mariscal

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Bretton Woods Project @brettonwoodsproject.org · Jul 28

Can the World Bank be a partner for a just energy transition? In #ObserverSummer25, @becky-ray.bsky.social of @gdp-center.bsky.social argues it depends on strong environmental and social oversight, avoiding a new resource curse in minerals & debt relief during crises.

tinyurl.com/ChinaJustEne...

Installation of solar photovoltaic panels on the roofs of the Hongqiao Passenger Rail Terminal in Shanghai, China. Photo: Jiri Rezac

Bretton Woods Project @brettonwoodsproject.org · Jul 24

As Comprehensive Surveillance Review begins, world cannot afford IMF to miss another opportunity to reform its surveillance and policy advice to countries in the context of rising inequality and the impact of climate crisis @oxfamifis.bsky.social

#ObserverSummer25
tinyurl.com/Surveillance...

The IMF’s upcoming surveillance review

The Review takes place in a global context in which it is more pressing than ever to ensure that countries have the ability to take real action on climate change and rising social inequality.

tinyurl.com