
Public Statement: The World Bank and IMF must stop fuelling inequality Wednesday October 11th, 2017
We are a group of 133 civil society organisations from many different backgrounds and countries, representing millions of people. Together we are demanding the IMF and World Bank stop fuelling the global inequality crisis. We work for changes that are fundamental to achieving the just, equal and sustainable world we all desire. We are united in believing that all of our struggles are both worsened by, and are the product of, the global inequality crisis. We are coming together to fight inequality, which is fuelling injustices in land, health, education, taxation, worker’s rights, women’s rights, climate change and human rights. We are united in believing that the World Bank and IMF are too often fuelling inequality. We call on the World Bank and IMF to ensure that all operations and activities they finance contribute to reducing inequality.
The majority of people live in a country where the gap between rich and poor has grown, often rapidly and to very high levels. Inequality threatens our democracies, it corrodes our politics, and it undermines our economies. It has led to an incredible concentration of wealth, while hundreds of millions go hungry. Without action to rapidly reduce inequality we will never be able to achieve the just, equal and sustainable world we need.
Inequality is not just about income or wealth, it is about power. Runaway inequality has put too much power into the hands of the richest, and into the hands of powerful corporations. This growing divide between rich and poor has deep roots – inextricably linked with patriarchy, and exploiting and contributing to other entrenched inequalities of race, sexual identity, caste and indigenous group.
The IMF and the World Bank have recently recognised the inequality crisis, but for 40 years they have been among those responsible for creating and maintaining it. This has to change.
Concern about inequality and “shared prosperity” have now become a talking point at the institutions, but real action has lagged. Steps must be taken to truly reduce inequality, not just achieve slightly better incomes for the poor while the top 1% continue to consolidate their power and wealth at an alarming pace.
To transform the World Bank and IMF, at least two things are required. First we need a complete revolution in their governance. They remain dominated by rich nations. Africa has actually seen its voting share decline despite reforms claiming to create greater balance between rich and poor countries. Civil society must also be included more systematically and meaningfully in decision-making to ensure programs are accountable and reflect the needs of the poor and vulnerable.
Second we need to see a public break with the broken economic model of neoliberalism, and a recognition that it is has failed. The IMF has conceded that neoliberalism has driven growing inequality. Now there needs to be a fundamental and irrevocable break with this failed economic model. The first step towards this break would be ensuring any lending by the IMF or World Bank that requires policy changes must be subject to gender and economic inequality impact assessments both before implementation and after.
Breaking with this failed economic model will mean an immediate end to IMF and World Bank policies and programs that drive inequality. Promotion of damaging austerity policies must stop. Workers rights and collective bargaining systems must be respected not eroded. Promotion of private education and health care must end, and free universal public services supported. End the undermining of women’s rights and the promotion of patriarchy. End support for land grabbing and large-scale infrastructure that harms the poorest communities and the environment. End support for fossil fuels that are destroying our planet. End the insistence on risky and discredited public private partnerships. Stop supporting tax breaks and tax dodging and support and an end to tax havens and promote progressive taxation where corporations and the ultra-rich pay their fair share. This will mobilize resources for universal social protection and public investments for a just transition to an environmentally and economically sustainable economy. A pay raise for working people and productive public investments would foster economic growth and reduce inequality, and support women’s rights. Every single program of the World Bank or the IMF must demonstrate in advance how it will reduce inequality.
We believe it is possible to have a society where everyone matters. Where nobody is rich or powerful enough to be immune from the rules. Powerful elites and corporations can no longer be allowed to rig the system in their favour. To achieve this we will loudly challenge the concentration of power in the hands of an elite few, and to demand people-driven solutions from the World Bank and IMF that will really #fightinequality.
Signatories
Organisation | Name |
Abibiman Foundation, Ghana | Kenneth Nana Amoateng, Executive Director |
ActionAid Arab Regional Initiative | Caroline McCausland, Regional Director |
ActionAid International | Adriano Campolina, Secretary General |
ActionAid Zambia | Nalucha Nganga Ziba, Country Director |
Activista, Tanzania | Hatibu Kilenga, Chair |
Activista, The Gambia | Saibo Suso, Coordinator |
Africans Rising | Muhammed Lamin Saidykhan, Co-ordinator |
Afrika Youth Movement | Aya Chebbi, Chair |
Ageing Nepal | Krishna M. Gautam, Founder & Chairperson |
AKSI, Indonesia | Titi Soentoro, Policy Advisor |
All Nepal Peasants’ Federation | Dr Keshab Khadka, Research Dept Head |
Alliance contre la Pauvreté au Mali, Mali | Barry Aminata Toure , Coordinatrice |
APIT Portugal (Tax and Customs Inspectors Trade Union) | Nuno Barroso, President |
Asia Monitor Resource Centre, Hong Kong | May Wong, Executive Director |
Asian People’s Movement on Debt & Development | Lidy Nacpil, Co-ordinator |
Attac-Ireland | Claudine Gaidoni |
Bangladesh Jatiyo Sramik Jote | Mesbahuddin Ahmed, General Secretary |
Bangladesh Krishok Federation | Badrul Alam, President |
Black Sox, UK | Lee Jasper, Chair |
Blood Bricks Campaign, India | Chandan Kumar, Coordinator |
Bretton Woods Project, UK | Luiz Vieira, Co-ordinator |
Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (Solidarity of Filipino Workers), Philippines | Mike Garay, Secretary-General |
CAAPOST-2015 and GCAP-Sénégal | Oumar Sow, National Co-ordinator |
Cambodian Grassroots Cross-sector Network (CGCN), Cambodia | Mr Socheat Heng, Technical Advisor |
Campaign For A Just Energy Future, South Africa | Pooven Moodley, Convenor |
Campaign for Climate Justice Nepal (CCJN) | Dr. Sarba Khadka, Coordinator |
Campaign for Good Governance-SUPRO!, Bangladesh | MA Quader, Director |
Centre for Economic and Social Rights, USA | Ignacio Saiz, Executive Director |
Centre for Financial Accountability, India | Joe Athialy, Executive Director |
Centre for Natural Resource Governance, Zimbabwe | Farai Maguwu, Founding Director |
Centre of Concern, USA | Lester A. Myers, President |
Civic Initiative for Environment and Sustainable Development, Burundi | Appolinaire Nishirimbere, Executive Secretary |
Civicus | Danny Sriskandarajah, Secretary General |
Coastal Asso. for Social Transformation (COAST Trust), Bangladesh | Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Executive Director |
Community Self Reliance Centre, Nepal | Jagat Deuja, Executive Director |
Daughters of Mumbi Global Resource Centre, Kenya | Njoki Njehu, Executive Director |
debtWATCH, Indonesia | Arimbi Heroepoetri, Director |
DIGNIDAD Coalition, Philippines-Bangladesh | Ana Maria Nemenzo, Convener |
Divine House Christian Center, South Africa | Sipho Mazibuko, Director |
Divine House Community Centre, South Africa | Christina Polo Moheta, Director |
Economic and Social Rights Centre (Hakijamii), Kenya | Geoffrey Kerosi, Programme Officer |
Education International | Fred van Leeuwen, General Secretary |
Ekklesia, UK | Simon Barrow, Director |
Environics Trust, India | Sreedhar Ramamurthi |
Equity and Justice Working Group (Equitybd), Bangladesh | Aminul Haque, Coordinator-Secretariat |
Eurodad, Brussels | Jesse Griffiths, Director |
Farmers for Farmer Network (FFF), Cambodia | Mr Chea Sopherk, Co-ordinator |
FEMNET | Dinah Musindarwezo, Executive Director |
Foundation Earth, USA | Randy Hayes, Executive Director |
Freedom from Debt Coalition, Philippines | Sammy Gamboa, Secretary-General |
Friends, Families and Travellers, UK | Zoe Matthews, Co-Director |
Gender Action, USA | Elaine Zuckerman, President |
Gender and Development Network, UK | Jessica Woodroffe, Director |
Global Alliance for Tax Justice | Teresa Marshall, Co-ordinator |
Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) | Beckie Malay, Global Co-Chair |
Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights | Bret Thiele, Co-Director |
Global Justice Now, UK | Nick Dearden, Director |
Global Platform Nairobi, Kenya | Collins Odhiambo, Coordinator |
Greenpeace International | Bunny McDiarmid, Executive Director |
Health Poverty Action, UK | Martin Drewry, Director |
Himalaya Niti Abhiyan (HNA), India | Sandeep Minhas, Secretary |
Human Rights Alliance, Nepal | Padma Prasad Khatiwada, General Secretary |
Independent Farmer Association for Community Development, Cambodia | Mr Prach Bunthoeun, Co-ordinator |
Indian Social Action Forum | Willy D’Costa, Convenor |
Indus Consortium, Pakistan | Hussain Jarwar, National Coordinator |
INISIATIF, Indonesia | Sapei Rusin, Chairperson |
INKRISPENA – Indonesia | Y Wasi Gede Puraka, Executive Director |
INSEC (Informal Sector Service Center), Nepal | Subodh Raj Pyakurel, Chairperson |
Institute of Global Responsibility, Poland | Marcin Wojtalik, Board member |
Institute of Socioeconomic Studies, Brazil | Grazielle David, Policy Advisor |
International NGO Forum On Indonesian Development, Indonesia | Sugeng Bahagijo, Executive Director |
International Trade Union Confederation | Sharan Burrow, General Secretary |
Japan Center for a Sustainable Environment and Society (JACSES), Japan | Yuki Tanabe, Director |
Jubilee Debt Campaign, UK | Sarah-Jayne Clifton, Director |
Jubilee Scotland | Kirsty Haigh, Campaign Director |
Kampanya para sa Makataong Pamumuhay (KAMP), Philippines | Ana Maria Nemenzo, Convener |
Kirchlicher Dienst in der Arbeitswelt Bremen (Urban Industrial Mission Bremen), Germany | Ingeborg Mehser, Manager |
Kopano Hospice, South Africa | Gert Kagisang Motlhaolwa, Managing Director |
KPRI (Confederation of Indonesia People Movement), Indonesia | Anwar Maruf, General Secretary |
KRUHA (People’s Right to Water Coalition), Indonesia | Muhammad Reza, Coordinator |
KSN (National Confederation Union), Indonesia | Hermawan S, President |
LDC Watch | Gauri Pradhan, International Coordinator |
Letsopa Advice Centre, South Africa | Ben Kolojane, Director |
Medact, UK | David McCoy, Director |
Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA), Regional | Tatcee Macabuag, Program Coordinator |
Mining Affected Communities United in Action (MACUA), South Africa | Meshack Mbangula, Coordinator |
Missing Children, South Africa | Sekai Chagwiza, Head of Secretariat |
National Alliance for Tax and Fiscal Justice Network, Nepal | Dr Keshab Khadka, Chairperson |
National Association of Welfare Rights Advisers (NAWRA), UK | Alan Markey, Chair |
National Confederation of Dalit and Adivasi Organisations (NACDAOR), India | Ashok Bharti, Chair |
National Economic and Environmental Development Organization, Pakistan | Waseem Sheikh, General Secretary |
National Hawkers Federation, India | Saktiman Gosh, Secretary- General |
National Network on Right to Food (RtFN), Nepal | Dr Keshab Khadka, APNFa Representative |
Network for Transformative Social Protection – Asia | Maris dela Cruz, Facilitator |
New Economics Foundation, UK | Annie Quick, Lead for Inequality and Wellbeing |
NGO Forum on ADB | Rayyan Hassan, Executive Director |
Niger Delta Women’s Movement for Peace and Development | Caroline Usikpedo, Founder/National President |
Octopizzo Foundation, Kenya | Octopizzo, Founder |
Omaatla ECD, South Africa | Gomolemo Moheta, Director |
Oxfam International | Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director |
Pakistan Development Alliance | Zia Ur Rehman, Founder & Chief Executive |
Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum | Saeed Baloch, Secretary-General |
Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee | Farooq Tariq, General Secretary |
PLUS, Coalition Internationale Sida | Khalil Elouardighi, Directeur du Plaidoyer |
Positive Money, UK | Fran Boait, Executive Director |
Povod, Slovenia | Robert Križanič, Director |
Radha Paudel Foundation, Nepal | Radha Paudel, Founder |
Right to Education Forum, India | Ambarish Rai, National Convenor |
Roots, Zambia | Maiko Zulu, Founder |
ROSEN: Reseau des Organisations du Secteur Educatif du NIGER | Abdou Mamane Lokoko, Co-ordinator |
Sanlakas, Philippines | Manjette Manalo, National President |
SKOP – The National Platform of Maltese Development NGOs | Roderick Agius, Secretary General |
Social Watch | Roberto Bissio, Co-ordinator |
Society for International Development, Kenya | Ali Hersi, Director |
Society for Women’s Rights and Development, Pakistan | Fiza Naz, Executive Director |
Solidaritas Perempuan, Indonesia | Aliza Yuliana, Program Coordinator |
Stamp Out Poverty, UK | David Hillman, Director |
Swazi Community Trust, Swaziland | Hlongwa Taeya Stephen |
Tax Justice Network | Alex Cobham, Chief Executive |
Taxpayers Against Poverty, UK | Reverend Paul Nicolson, Founder |
The African Forum on Alternatives, Senegal | Demba Moussa Dembele, Director |
The Disabled Migrants Rights Networking Organization, South Africa | Brian Muziringa, Co-ordinator |
The Equality Trust, UK | Wanda Wyporska, Executive Director |
The Good Samaritan Project, South Africa | Ronald Chikwenhere, Project Co-ordinator |
Trades Union Congress, UK | Frances O’Grady, General Secretary |
Unaccompanied Refugee Minors, South Africa | Thandiwe Hove, National Co-ordinator |
Village Development Organization, Pakistan | Ali Hassan Mahar, Executive Director |
Wada Na To do Abhiyan – People’s Action For Rural Awakening, India | Thomas Pallithanam, Director |
War on Want, UK | Asad Rehman, Executive Director |
WEED – World Economy, Ecology & Development Assoc, Germany | Peter Wahl, Executive Committee |
WomanHealth, Philippines | Ana Maria Nemenzo, Coordinator |
Zambia Council for Social Development | Lewis Mwape, Executive Director |
Zimbabwe Diaspora Network, South Africa | Samson Chikeya, Director |
Download the full statement as PDF here: Public statement – for sign on – The World Bank & IMF must stop fuelling inequality