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Eurodad International Conference 2019

From 3-4 June, we met in Ljubljana, Slovenia, for our International Conference to build momentum to create change in development finance and achieve economic justice for all. Here are just a few highlights from two days of highly productive discussions!

You can view our Twitter moments which features the most engaging highlights and discussions.

Or you can head over to our photo album on Exposure, where we've selected some of our favourite images that capture the spirit of the conference.

You can also view a special video message from UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights Philip Alston on economic justice.

Top story

Delivering human rights and the SDGs: Does IMF Conditionality pass muster?

By Gino Brunswijck

Recently, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) published its Review of Program Design and Conditionality 2018, which provides an overview of the IMF’s lending programmes between 2011 and 2017. While the review includes some positive elements, such as the acknowledgement to improve debt sustainability analysis (DSA), it falls short of fully accounting for the impact of conditionality on:

• inequality
• public service provision
• labour rights
• gender equality.

It is, therefore, a missed opportunity to evaluate IMF-lending practices against international agreements, in particular the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and international human rights and labour standards.

Useful resources

What are the main criticisms of the World Bank and IMF?

Via the Bretton Woods Project

There is no question that the IMF and World Bank continue to be amongst the most relevant and significant powerful norm-setters, convenors, knowledge-holders and influencers of the international development and financial landscape. This Inside the Institutions sets-out some of the most common criticisms of the World Bank and IMF under three broad lenses: democratic governance, human rights and the environment.

Podcast: Fanwell Bokosi on Taming Africa’s Debt Beast

Debt is at record levels around the world. 40 percent of low-income countries are wrestling with debt distress or high-risk debt levels and for a few countries in sub-Saharan Africa the debt crisis has already materialised. Fanwell Kenala Bokosi is the Executive Director for the African Forum and Network for Debt and Development, or AFRODAD. In this podcast, Bokosi says the nature of Africa’s debt has changed in recent years, making it more difficult to find solutions for debt sustainability problems. Fanwell Bokosi joined a panel on Tackling Debt during the 2019 IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings.

This newsletter has been produced with co-funding from the European Union, Bread for the World and Norad. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Eurodad and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the funders.