The Bretton Woods Project works as a networker, information-provider, media informant and watchdog to scrutinise and influence the

World Bank The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of low- and middle-income countries for the purpose of pursuing capital projects. The World Bank is the collective name for the Interna ...

and

International Monetary Fund The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is a major financial agency of the United Nations, and an international financial institution, headquartered in Washington, D.C., consisting of 190 countries. Its stated mission is "working to foster globa ...

(IMF). Through briefings, reports and the bimonthly diges
''Bretton Woods Update''
it monitors projects, policy reforms and the overall management of the

Bretton Woods institutions The Bretton Woods system of monetary management established the rules for commercial and financial relations among the United States, Canada, Western European countries, Australia, and Japan after the 1944 Bretton Woods Agreement. The Bret ...

with special emphasis on environmental and social concerns. Created as an independent initiative by a group of British

non-governmental organisation A non-governmental organization (NGO) or non-governmental organisation (see American and British English spelling differences#-ise, -ize (-isation, -ization), spelling differences) is an organization that generally is formed independent from g ...

s (NGOs), it works with an extensive network to press for increased transparency and civil society participation in World Bank and IMF policies and interventions. This includes over, 7000

non-governmental organisations A non-governmental organization (NGO) or non-governmental organisation (see spelling differences) is an organization that generally is formed independent from government. They are typically nonprofit entities, and many of them are active in h ...

, policy-makers, journalists, researchers and parliamentarians worldwide. By encouraging information exchange and debate, it seeks to move the Bretton Woods institutions away from simplistic approaches to development. Priority areas include: * World Bank and IMF Roles * structural adjustment and poverty reduction strategies (PRS) * the environment * social issues * the World Bank as knowledge bank * governance and

accountability Accountability, in terms of ethics and governance, is equated with answerability, blameworthiness, liability, and the expectation of account-giving. As in an aspect of governance, it has been central to discussions related to problems in the publ ...

Publications and services

''Bretton Woods Update''
is a bimonthly digest of key World Bank and IMF initiatives, controversial policy trends, projects and debate. The Update is read by around 6000 key officials, journalists, NGOs and researchers and is respected as a reliable source of information on the Bretton Woods institutions. It is available on the web, in print or can be emailed as plain text. Th
results of the 2006 survey
of ''Update'' readers is also available.
Briefings and reports
are produced to clarify issues in-depth in non-technical language.

Networking

Networking and

information exchange Information exchange or information sharing means that people or other entities pass information from one to another. This could be done electronically or through certain systems. These are terms that can either refer to bidirectional ''informa ...

among the wide range of people and organisations interested in the World Bank and IMF is one of the key functions of the Bretton Woods Project. It is currently involved in discussions to improve the communication strategies of

international financial institution An international financial institution (IFI) is a financial institution that has been established (or chartered) by more than one country, and hence is subject to international law. Its owners or shareholders are generally national governments, al ...

(IFI) watchers, including through networking critical video on the IFIs. In addition to NGOs, academics, parliamentarians, journalists and activists worldwide, the Project facilitates contacts with staff of the Bretton Woods institutions and decision-makers in bilateral aid ministries. It is often asked to advise NGOs in Europe, USA and the

Global South The concept of Global North and Global South (or North–South divide in a global context) is used to describe a grouping of countries along socio-economic and political characteristics. The Global South is a term often used to identify region ...

planning meetings, reports and campaigns. Many members of governmental and

intergovernmental organisations An international organization or international organisation (see spelling differences), also known as an intergovernmental organization or an international institution, is a stable set of norms and rules meant to govern the behavior of states a ...

also contact the Bretton Woods Project for briefings or to find out about NGOs working on particular issues.

Organisational structure and origins

The Bretton Woods Project was established in 1995 by the

Development and Environment Group Development or developing may refer to: Arts *Development hell, when a project is stuck in development *Filmmaking, development phase, including finance and budgeting *Development (music), the process thematic material is reshaped *Photographi ...

(DEG), a network of UK-based NGOs, to facilitate monitoring of the social and environmental impacts of World Bank and IMF policies and projects. The Project coordinates and consults with the UK BWI network, over 40 organisations working in development, environment and human rights. The Bretton Woods Projec
Steering Group
made up of some members of the DEG, meets on a regular basis to advise and review Project activities. The Project is funded by

CS Mott Foundation CS, C-S, C.S., Cs, cs, or cs. may refer to: Job titles * Chief Secretary (Hong Kong) * Chief superintendent, a rank in the British and several other police forces * Company secretary, a senior position in a private sector company or public s ...

and the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation and receives in-kind and other support from members of the Development and Environment Group. At present,

ActionAid ActionAid is an international non-governmental organization whose stated primary aim is to work against poverty and injustice worldwide. ActionAid is a federation of 45 country offices that works with communities, often via local partner organis ...

is hosting the Bretton Woods Project.

External links

Bretton Woods Project

Similar organisations

IFIwatchnet (website)Bank Information Centre (website)World Bank Campaign Europe (website)Global Transparency Initiative (website)
{{Authority control World Bank International Monetary Fund Organisations based in London

Publications and services

Networking

Organisational structure and origins

See also

External links

Similar organisations