Languages
Saturday, August 15, 2026
News and Views from the Global South
Eye on the IFIs
G20 to See Showdown on IMF Reforms
The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Christine Lagarde, on Wednesday urged countries to act on a suite of reform measures that would significantly increase the voices of developing countries within the agency.New World Bank Environment Strategy Boosts Private Sector Role
The World Bank this week released its new environment strategy for the next decade, 2012 through 2022, saying the policy framework was crafted in response to "calls from governments and the private sector for new approaches to development in light of unprecedented environmental challenges".World Bank Lauded for Publishing Sanctions Decisions
This week, for the first time, the World Bank began publishing decisions by the institution's sanctions board on cases involving fraud or corruption.Billions of Development Dollars in Private Hands
With governments and international institutions focusing increasingly on a stronger role for the private sector in development aid, a new report by the European Network on Debt and Development (Eurodad) released yesterday suggests there is good reason to doubt this approach.
After War, Economic Crisis Hits South Sudan
The United Nations has warned that despite the austerity measures put in place by South Sudan to deal with its economic woes, humanitarian agencies will have to increase relief efforts in order to keep the country’s poor alive as the financial situation worsens.
Grim News for Caribbean Economies
For yet another occasion, it was not the good news Caribbean leaders wanted to hear.
“Africa – a Place Where You Will Make Money, Not Lose Money”
Africa needs to reduce its dependency on foreign aid and get to the point of financing its own development, some of the continent’s key development experts say. Timing is optimal now that Africa is experiencing an economic boom with annual growth rates of up to eight percent.Caribbean Courts Mexico as Ally in the G20
The Caribbean Community bloc (Caricom) is lobbying Mexico to use its influence as chair of the G20, which controls 90 percent of world trade, to promote the interests of the Caribbean and other small island developing states when it meets in June.
Hopes To Heal Economy Through Devaluation, Which Has Hit Poor Hard
As Malawi’s poor struggle to afford food and other staple items since the 48 percent devaluation of the local currency against the dollar, economic commentators are optimistic that the move will provide an opportunity to boost the country’s export market.
World Bank Accused of Ignoring Lessons on Mega Infrastructure
In a renewed funding focus on large-scale infrastructure, the World Bank, Group of 20 (G20) countries and other multilateral groups are wilfully overlooking lessons learned decades ago, a new report by International Rivers warns.Round One to Radical Left, Round Two to Europe?
Kosmas Bitros (29) didn’t "believe in politics and in elections as a way of changing society". Still, he showed up at the ballot boxes for the first time last Sunday to cast a vote against austerity in the Greek national elections.
Struggles over Land Rights Fall Under the Rio+20 Radar
Land is the missing element at next month's big U.N. sustainable development summit known as Rio+20, where nations of the world will meet Jun. 20-22 with the goal of setting a new course to ensure the survival and flourishing of humanity.OP-ED: Waiting for Copernicus
It's happening in Buenos Aires. It's happening in Paris and in Athens. It's even happening at the World Bank headquarters.IMF Policies Crippling Jamaican Economy
Jamaica's fragile economic recovery would be dangerously hampered by demands by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other donors, according to a new report released here by the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR).
Unions Urge Development Bank To “Walk the Talk” on Labour Rights
The exclusion of certified labour union delegates from the official opening ceremony of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) meeting here on May 4 revealed a wide gap between the Manila-based development bank’s promises and practices on labour rights.
Greek, French Elections Sound Death Knell for Austerity
The voting out of conservative governments in France and Greece this weekend heralds the end of harsh European austerity programmes and ushers in an era of new economic, investment, and social policies aimed at restoring growth and employment across the continent.Greeks Gear Up to Cast ‘Protest Votes’ Against Austerity
Aggeliki Anagnostopoulou (30) sits in a corner of the huge room that volunteers from the new party, Independent Greeks, are using as a headquarters for their pre-election campaign in the lead up to polling day on May 6.Laos’ Herculean Effort to Join the WTO
After almost a decade of major economic transformation, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic is on the brink of World Trade Organisation (WTO) membership.India Serves Up Costly Cocktail of Vaccines
Ignoring widespread concern over the safety, efficacy and cost of pentavalent vaccines, India’s central health ministry has, this month, approved inclusion of the prophylactic cocktail in the universal immunisation programme in seven of its provinces.
World Bank Overseeing Global Land Grab
The World Bank continues to facilitate land-grabbing in poor and developing countries around the world, according to new research released here on Monday.
Cloning – Lifeline for Cashmere Shawl Industry
After scientists in Kashmir successfully cloned the pashmina goat, that produces the famous ‘cashmere’ wool, hopes are running high for the revival of the traditional shawl-making industry in this Indian state.« Previous Page — Next Page »
They underpin the world's financial architecture, with the power to revamp whole economies and channel billions of development dollars each year. But the so-called International Financial Institutions -- the World Bank Group, International Monetary Fund and regional investment banks -- face a new era of public scrutiny and challenges to their relevancy. How are the IFIs responding to growing demands from the South and civil society groups for greater democracy and accountability? And are they living up to their stated mission of promoting economic prosperity for all? IPS reports.
The Week with IPS
NEXT STOP - SDGs
Tracking global progress towards a sustainable world
Tracking global progress towards a sustainable world
