International Financial Institutions

International financial institutions, such as the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, are a key pillar of the rules-based international order. These institutions facilitate multilateral solutions for today’s most pressing economic opportunities and risks. Bi-annual IMF/World Bank meetings also provide the Atlantic Council the opportunity to convene global policy makers to discuss the most pressing economic and societal challenges.

Featured Analysis

Dispatch from COP30: In the Brazilian jungle, the private sector takes center stage

New Atlanticist Oct 7, 2025

How a weaker US dollar can help debt-burdened African countries

By Bart Piasecki

Trump’s drive to weaken the US dollar is having global side effects. For some African countries, it is helping to ease immediate fiscal pressures.
Africa Fiscal and Structural Reform
Dispatch from COP30: In the Brazilian jungle, the private sector takes center stage

New Atlanticist Aug 4, 2025

Trump’s review of US membership in the IMF offers a rare chance for reform

By Martin Mühleisen

The institution needs its major shareholders aligned to tackle new challenges, and it deserves a management team qualified to lead it on this new path.
Economy & Business International Financial Institutions
Dispatch from COP30: In the Brazilian jungle, the private sector takes center stage

Econographics May 12, 2025

Multilateralism under pressure: Takeaways from the 2025 IMF Spring Meetings

By Bart Piasecki

The 2025 IMF Spring Meetings unfolded against a backdrop of mounting geopolitical tensions, economic fragmentation, and rising doubts about the future of multilateral cooperation. Here are the key insights.
International Financial Institutions Macroeconomics

Content

New Atlanticist

Nov 20, 2025

Dispatch from COP30: In the Brazilian jungle, the private sector takes center stage

By Jorge Gastelumendi

Throughout COP30, there has been a recognition that the public and private sectors cannot act alone when it comes to climate finance.

Brazil Civil Society

New Atlanticist

Nov 7, 2025

Hurricane Melissa left $8 billion in damage. Jamaica needs US support to get back on its feet.

By Patricia R. Francis, Maite Gonzalez Latorre

After the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, Jamaica needs the United States to invest in the country’s resilience and economic recovery.

Caribbean Climate Change & Climate Action

Econographics

Nov 7, 2025

Without development finance, the United States can’t deliver on strategic investment

By Jessie Yin

The United States isn't the only traditional lender to move from aid to investment. But the current administration is going to struggle to achieve its strategic goals without effective development finance.

Economy & Business Inclusive Growth

Inflection Points

Oct 17, 2025

Dispatch from Washington: Is this the calm before the economic storm?

By Frederick Kempe

At the IMF-World Bank annual meetings, cautious optimism about the global economy was tempered by what could come next.

Economy & Business International Financial Institutions

AfricaSource

Oct 16, 2025

African voices are shaping G20 discussions around international financial architecture reform

By Sijh Diagne

Africa is not merely affected by these reforms. It is actively shaping them.

Africa Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Oct 13, 2025

Behind the scenes of the IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings as leaders adjust to a new normal of uncertainty

By Atlantic Council experts

We sent our experts to the IMF and World Bank headquarters to glean a sense of what may be in store for the global economy—and what policymakers should do about it.

Inclusive Growth International Financial Institutions

Econographics

Oct 13, 2025

Expect IMF-World Bank meeting debates over China, the US, Ukraine, and more—behind closed doors

By Martin Mühleisen

Behind closed doors, delegates are likely to tackle questions around Washington's relationship with the IMF, China's economic performance, and the role of the Bretton Woods institutions.

China Financial Regulation

Econographics

Oct 8, 2025

From US tariffs to Argentina’s crisis: The five important issues at next week’s IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings

By Hung Tran

The IMF and the World Bank will face five important issues, which span both near-term economic prospects and more fundamental, longer-term challenges confronting the global economy.

Argentina Financial Regulation

New Atlanticist

Oct 7, 2025

How a weaker US dollar can help debt-burdened African countries

By Bart Piasecki

Trump’s drive to weaken the US dollar is having global side effects. For some African countries, it is helping to ease immediate fiscal pressures.

Africa Fiscal and Structural Reform

New Atlanticist

Sep 30, 2025

Is the US currency rescue for Argentina positive statecraft or reckless favoritism?

By Martin Mühleisen

A twenty-billion-dollar US support package for Argentina announced last week provides crucial breathing room for President Javier Milei.

Argentina Economy & Business
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Experts

Fellow

Didier Acouetey

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Africa Center

Africa Economy & Business

Fellow

Rabah Arezki

Distinguished Fellow

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Africa Economy & Business

Fellow

Ridhika Batra

Nonresident Senior Fellow, India

Economy & Business Politics & Diplomacy

Fellow

Sarah Bauerle Danzman

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Economic Statecraft Initiative GeoEconomics Center

Economy & Business Financial Regulation

Fellow

Emilie Bel

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Africa Center

Africa Economy & Business

Fellow

Jérémie Bertrand

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Economy & Business English
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Events

Online Event Mon, April 13, 2026 • 8:00 am ET

2026 IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings at the Atlantic Council

The Atlantic Council hosts a series of special events with finance ministers and central bank governors from around the globe during the 2026 spring meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.
Economy & Business International Financial Institutions