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For over 20 years the two institutions have been heavily criticised for the way they undermine democratic process in developing countries by imposing policies in return for aid, loans and debt relief. Called "Building Scrutiny of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund: A toolkit for legislators and those who work with them", it provides advice aimed at helping legislators in developing countries wrest back some influence over their own economic policies.

Press Release

World Bank and IMF democratic deficit challenged by new toolkit for parliamentarians

Anti-poverty campaigners the World Development Movement published a new resource aimed at helping legislators/parliamentarians address the gaping democratic deficit at the World Bank and IMF. For over 20 years the two institutions have been heavily criticised for the way they undermine democratic process in developing countries by imposing policies in return for aid, loans and debt relief.

The publication coincides with a meeting of the Commonwealth Parliamentarians Association in Westminster this week. Called "Building Scrutiny of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund: A toolkit for legislators and those who work with them", it provides advice aimed at helping legislators in developing countries wrest back some influence over their own economic policies. The toolkit also shows how legislators in donor countries can work in solidarity with their colleagues in the developing world.

World Development Movement Director Benedict Southworth said:

"For many years, the World Development Movement has been documenting and publicising how the World Bank and IMF undermine democracy in developing countries. Now we have produced a toolkit for legislators to share good practice and provide some basic advice to anyone working to improve democratic scrutiny of these global institutions".

He continued, "Whatever your views on the rights and wrongs of free market policies like privatisation, there is no contesting the need for developing world legislators to fulfil their legitimate role in deciding their countries’ future".

Ann McKechin MP, chair of the All-Party Group on Aid, Trade and Debt in the UK parliament said:

"Without proper scrutiny by parliamentarians budget processes are unlikely to meet the aspirations of their citizens and in turn are more likely to fail. This toolkit provides a very useful guide through the maze of technical data that needs to be examined if scrutiny is to be really effective".

The toolkit is split into five main chapters:

->Know your system
->Understand the issues
->Exercise your rights
->Access the information
->Make links and build alliances

Taking case studies from across the world, the toolkit shows how:

->Mexican legislators joined with civil society to create informed public debate on the impacts of World Bank and IMF policies.

->The formation of a cross-party parliamentary Debt Caucus meant that alternative strategies to reduce Indonesia’s debt burden resulted in a new draft law on external loans and grants.

->Parliamentarians in Malawi, Indonesia and Ghana, have worked with the World Development Movement to breach the cloak of confidentiality that surrounds the conditions imposed by the UK government in return for aid.

*** See full text (pdf format) ***

About WDM

WDM was the only UK organisation to be included in the list of those banned by the Singapore authorities from attending the World Bank and IMF annual meetings in 2006. The WDM report, "Out of Time: the Case for Replacing the World Bank and IMF" was published to coincide with the annual meetings.

Contact: Peter Hardstaff, Head of Policy, WDM: 0207 820 4900 or 07740 867295

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