The new century started with streamlining initiatives from the IMF and the World Bank to their conditionality, but these have not managed to deliver real change. The arguments have not changed over the last years, and opponents have become firmly entrenched in their positions. The machinery, however, seem to be coming slowly to life after the impasse. New realities and challenges, such as climate change and rising prices, together with more traditional claims are reactivating the debate, Javier Pereira observes.
The latest set of Eurodad publications on the Bretton Woods Institutions’ structural conditionality (see references) show little progress in reducing the number of conditions. Yet politicians seem to have started reacting after reiterated calls from civil society organisations (CSOs) ... ... this article comes up in WDEV 4/Jul-Aug 2008 and is for subscribers only. For direct log in >>> click here.If you have no subscription >>> pick your option or >>>
The G20's unfinished business: The potential of SDRs + Compensating poor food importers + EU strategy on aquaculture + World Bank suspends labour indicator
A green recovery is possible + Stiglitz presents interim report + IFM funding and reforms + The wrong side of the global water divide + BRICs call for more say in IFIs
On the road to London and beyond: New opportunities for global governance + Aid under pressure + South-South cooperation in global crisis + Global unemployment
Race to a New Bretton Woods + Time for UN to Act + Stiglitz' New Economic Compact + China's Agrarian Reforms + Transparency Deficit of IMF and World Bank
Dambisa Moyo's book "Dead Aid" (see reference) has created quite a storm within the development community, which struggles with an appropriate response. However, the reactions have been too defensive, according to Eveline Herfkens.
The United Nations has downgraded its economic forecast for 2009. The world economy is expected to shrink by 2.6% in 2009. Approaching the end of May 2009, the economic landscape remains very winterly with no visible green shoots to be seen which could signal beginnings of a new spring.
The G20 recently endorsed the issuance of $250bn of Special Drawing Rights (SDR) by the IMF, but it made no arrangements for rich countries to transfer their allocations to poor ones. The idea was not even mentioned. Yet that is where the real benefits of an SDR issue would come from. A memorandum by George Soros
Globally, fish is by far the most traded agricultural commodity, and aquaculture is the fastest growing food production activity. Asia is the leader, with 80% of global production. However, with its Aquaculture Strategy of April 2009, the European Commission provides a red carpet to European industry.
High food prices are putting the health and lives of the world's poorest at severe risk. A mechanism to compensate for the effects of higher import prices on the poor is needed and can be implemented immediately. It must be without conditions. A proposal by Kunibert Raffer.