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, GhanaKenneth Nana Amoateng, Executive Director
ActionAid Arab Regional InitiativeCaroline McCausland, Regional Director
ActionAid InternationalAdriano Campolina, Secretary General
ActionAid ZambiaNalucha Nganga Ziba, Country Director
Activista, TanzaniaHatibu Kilenga, Chair
Activista, The GambiaSaibo Suso, Coordinator
Africans RisingMuhammed Lamin Saidykhan, Co-ordinator
Afrika Youth MovementAya Chebbi, Chair
Ageing NepalKrishna M. Gautam, Founder & Chairperson
AKSI, IndonesiaTiti 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 KongMay Wong, Executive Director
Asian People’s Movement on Debt &
Development
Lidy Nacpil, Co-ordinator
Attac-IrelandClaudine Gaidoni
Bangladesh Jatiyo Sramik JoteMesbahuddin Ahmed, General Secretary
Bangladesh Krishok FederationBadrul Alam, President
Black Sox, UKLee Jasper, Chair
Blood Bricks Campaign, IndiaChandan Kumar, Coordinator
Bretton Woods Project, UKLuiz Vieira, Co-ordinator
Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (Solidarity of Filipino Workers), Philippines Mike Garay, Secretary-General
CAAPOST-2015 and GCAP-SénégalOumar Sow, National Co-ordinator
Cambodian Grassroots Cross-sector Network (CGCN), CambodiaMr Socheat Heng, Technical Advisor
Campaign For A Just Energy Future, South AfricaPooven Moodley, Convenor
Campaign for Climate Justice Nepal (CCJN)Dr. Sarba Khadka, Coordinator
Campaign for Good Governance-SUPRO!, BangladeshMA Quader, Director
Centre for Economic and Social Rights, USAIgnacio Saiz, Executive Director
Centre for Financial Accountability, IndiaJoe Athialy, Executive Director
Centre for Natural Resource Governance, ZimbabweFarai Maguwu, Founding Director
Centre of Concern, USALester A. Myers, President
Civic Initiative for Environment and Sustainable Development, BurundiAppolinaire Nishirimbere, Executive Secretary
CivicusDanny Sriskandarajah, Secretary General
Coastal Asso. for Social Transformation (COAST Trust), Bangladesh Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Executive Director
Community Self Reliance Centre, NepalJagat Deuja, Executive Director
Daughters of Mumbi Global Resource Centre, KenyaNjoki Njehu, Executive Director
debtWATCH, IndonesiaArimbi Heroepoetri, Director
DIGNIDAD Coalition, Philippines-BangladeshAna Maria Nemenzo, Convener
Divine House Christian Center, South AfricaSipho Mazibuko, Director
Divine House Community Centre, South AfricaChristina Polo Moheta, Director
Economic and Social Rights Centre (Hakijamii), KenyaGeoffrey Kerosi, Programme Officer
Education InternationalFred van Leeuwen, General Secretary
Ekklesia, UKSimon Barrow, Director
Environics Trust, IndiaSreedhar Ramamurthi
Equity and Justice Working Group (Equitybd), BangladeshAminul Haque, Coordinator-Secretariat
Eurodad, BrusselsJesse Griffiths, Director
Farmers for Farmer Network (FFF), CambodiaMr Chea Sopherk, Co-ordinator
FEMNETDinah Musindarwezo, Executive Director
Foundation Earth, USARandy Hayes, Executive Director
Freedom from Debt Coalition, PhilippinesSammy Gamboa, Secretary-General
Friends, Families and Travellers, UKZoe Matthews, Co-Director
Gender Action, USAElaine Zuckerman, President
Gender and Development Network, UKJessica Woodroffe, Director
Global Alliance for Tax JusticeTeresa 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, UKNick Dearden, Director
Global Platform Nairobi, KenyaCollins Odhiambo, Coordinator
Greenpeace InternationalBunny McDiarmid, Executive Director
Health Poverty Action, UKMartin Drewry, Director
Himalaya Niti Abhiyan (HNA), IndiaSandeep Minhas, Secretary
Human Rights Alliance, NepalPadma Prasad Khatiwada, General Secretary
Independent Farmer Association for Community Development, CambodiaMr Prach Bunthoeun, Co-ordinator
Indian Social Action ForumWilly D’Costa, Convenor
Indus Consortium, PakistanHussain Jarwar, National Coordinator
INISIATIF, IndonesiaSapei Rusin, Chairperson
INKRISPENA – IndonesiaY Wasi Gede Puraka, Executive Director
INSEC (Informal Sector Service Center), NepalSubodh Raj Pyakurel, Chairperson
Institute of Global Responsibility, PolandMarcin Wojtalik, Board member
Institute of Socioeconomic Studies, BrazilGrazielle David, Policy Advisor
International NGO Forum On Indonesian Development, IndonesiaSugeng Bahagijo, Executive Director
International Trade Union ConfederationSharan Burrow, General Secretary
Japan Center for a Sustainable Environment and Society (JACSES), JapanYuki Tanabe, Director
Jubilee Debt Campaign, UKSarah-Jayne Clifton, Director
Jubilee ScotlandKirsty Haigh, Campaign Director
Kampanya para sa Makataong Pamumuhay (KAMP), PhilippinesAna Maria Nemenzo, Convener
Kirchlicher Dienst in der Arbeitswelt Bremen (Urban Industrial Mission Bremen), GermanyIngeborg Mehser, Manager
Kopano Hospice, South AfricaGert Kagisang Motlhaolwa, Managing Director
KPRI (Confederation of Indonesia People Movement), IndonesiaAnwar Maruf, General Secretary
KRUHA (People’s Right to Water Coalition), IndonesiaMuhammad Reza, Coordinator
KSN (National Confederation Union), IndonesiaHermawan S, President
LDC WatchGauri Pradhan, International Coordinator
Letsopa Advice Centre, South AfricaBen Kolojane, Director
Medact, UKDavid McCoy, Director
Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA), RegionalTatcee Macabuag, Program Coordinator
Mining Affected Communities United in Action (MACUA), South AfricaMeshack Mbangula, Coordinator
Missing Children, South AfricaSekai Chagwiza, Head of Secretariat
National Alliance for Tax and Fiscal Justice Network, Nepal Dr Keshab Khadka, Chairperson
National Association of Welfare Rights Advisers (NAWRA), UKAlan Markey, Chair
National Confederation of Dalit and Adivasi Organisations (NACDAOR), IndiaAshok Bharti, Chair
National Economic and Environmental Development Organization, PakistanWaseem Sheikh, General Secretary
National Hawkers Federation, IndiaSaktiman Gosh, Secretary- General
National Network on Right to Food (RtFN), NepalDr Keshab Khadka, APNFa Representative
Network for Transformative Social Protection – AsiaMaris dela Cruz, Facilitator
New Economics Foundation, UKAnnie Quick, Lead for Inequality and Wellbeing
NGO Forum on ADBRayyan Hassan, Executive Director
Niger Delta Women’s Movement for Peace and DevelopmentCaroline Usikpedo, Founder/National President
Octopizzo Foundation, KenyaOctopizzo, Founder
Omaatla ECD, South AfricaGomolemo Moheta, Director
Oxfam InternationalWinnie Byanyima, Executive Director
Pakistan Development AllianceZia Ur Rehman, Founder & Chief Executive
Pakistan Fisherfolk ForumSaeed Baloch, Secretary-General
Pakistan Kissan Rabita CommitteeFarooq Tariq, General Secretary
PLUS, Coalition Internationale SidaKhalil Elouardighi, Directeur du Plaidoyer
Positive Money, UKFran Boait, Executive Director
Povod, SloveniaRobert Križanič, Director
Radha Paudel Foundation, NepalRadha Paudel, Founder
Right to Education Forum, IndiaAmbarish Rai, National Convenor
Roots, ZambiaMaiko Zulu, Founder
ROSEN: Reseau des Organisations du Secteur Educatif du NIGERAbdou Mamane Lokoko, Co-ordinator
Sanlakas, PhilippinesManjette Manalo, National President
SKOP – The National Platform of Maltese Development NGOsRoderick Agius, Secretary General
Social WatchRoberto Bissio, Co-ordinator
Society for International Development, KenyaAli Hersi, Director
Society for Women’s Rights and Development, PakistanFiza Naz, Executive Director
Solidaritas Perempuan, IndonesiaAliza Yuliana, Program Coordinator
Stamp Out Poverty, UKDavid Hillman, Director
Swazi Community Trust, SwazilandHlongwa Taeya Stephen
Tax Justice NetworkAlex Cobham, Chief Executive
Taxpayers Against Poverty, UKReverend Paul Nicolson, Founder
The African Forum on Alternatives, SenegalDemba Moussa Dembele, Director
The Disabled Migrants Rights Networking Organization, South AfricaBrian Muziringa, Co-ordinator
The Equality Trust, UKWanda Wyporska, Executive Director
The Good Samaritan Project, South AfricaRonald Chikwenhere, Project Co-ordinator
Trades Union Congress, UKFrances O’Grady, General Secretary
Unaccompanied Refugee Minors, South AfricaThandiwe Hove, National Co-ordinator
Village Development Organization, PakistanAli Hassan Mahar, Executive Director
Wada Na To do Abhiyan – People’s Action For Rural Awakening, IndiaThomas Pallithanam, Director
War on Want, UKAsad Rehman, Executive Director
WEED – World Economy, Ecology & Development Assoc, GermanyPeter Wahl, Executive Committee
WomanHealth, PhilippinesAna Maria Nemenzo, Coordinator
Zambia Council for Social DevelopmentLewis Mwape, Executive Director
Zimbabwe Diaspora Network, South AfricaSamson Chikeya, Director

Download the full statement as PDF here: Public statement – for sign on – The World Bank & IMF must stop fuelling inequality