International Financial Institutions

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

Central bank chief’s political ouster discredits Ukraine

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
Central bank chief’s political ouster discredits Ukraine

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
Central bank chief’s political ouster discredits Ukraine

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

UkraineAlert

Jul 10, 2020

Central bank chief’s political ouster discredits Ukraine

By Anders Åslund

In June, Ukraine secured a vital new IMF program. Continued National Bank of Ukraine independence was a key condition. However, within weeks, NBU chief Yakiv Smolii resigned citing political pressure.

Economy & Business International Financial Institutions

Issue Brief

Jul 7, 2020

Trade and financial fragmentation: New challenges to global stability

By Robert A. Manning

There is greater uncertainty today about the future of global trade than at any time since the post-World War II trading system was created seven decades ago. This was true before the COVID-19 pandemic froze much of the world economy; the health crisis has added a new layer of uncertainty. We are at a historic inflection point: the global trade regime urgently needs renovation and updating to meet new challenges, yet it is fraying and fragmenting.

China Digital Policy

New Atlanticist

Jun 30, 2020

Private lenders need to step up on African debt relief

By Jeremy Mark and Vasuki Shastry

While policymakers have called for a moratorium on developing countries’ debt payments, bankers and bondholders have raised the alarm about how such action would decimate their bottom lines. There will need to be another approach.

Africa Coronavirus

AfricaSource

Jun 26, 2020

The Sudan Partnership Conference: A turning point for Sudan?

By Cameron Hudson

The world came to Berlin yesterday (at least virtually) as part of a United Nations, European Union, and German government-sponsored “Partners Forum for Sudan.” By all accounts, it was a triumph, and potentially a turning point, for the fragile transitional civilian government of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, pulling in an announced $1.8 billion in assistance to Sudan.

Africa Democratic Transitions

In the News

Jun 24, 2020

Director Josh Lipsky Interviewed by Yahoo Finance on IMF and Global Economy

By Josh Lipsky

Read the full article here.

International Financial Institutions

In the News

Jun 24, 2020

Director Josh Lipsky Quoted in The Washington Post on IMF Report

By Josh Lipsky

Read the full article here.

International Financial Institutions

UkraineAlert

Jun 10, 2020

IMF finally confirms new $5 billion program for Ukraine

By Anders Åslund

Ukraine's new $5 billion IMF program unleashes at least $2 billion of additional financing. This means Ukraine can feel quite safe regarding its external financial needs for 2020.

Coronavirus Crisis Management

New Atlanticist

Jun 8, 2020

Where does China really stand on debt relief?

By Jeremy Mark

So far, many developing countries have avoided the worst effects of the virus. But it may be only a matter of time before underdeveloped health systems are overwhelmed. China can make a big difference by accelerating debt relief. But it is not clear whether Beijing is prepared to act under any motivation beyond the bottom-line concerns of its own lending institutions.

China Coronavirus

In the News

Jun 3, 2020

Hudson quoted in Bloomberg on Sudan’s search for revenue sources to pay 1998 embassy bombing settlement

By Atlantic Council

Africa Democratic Transitions

Event Recap

Jun 2, 2020

Afreximbank president champions African free trade alongside COVID-19 response

By Africa Center

On Tuesday, June 2, the Africa Center hosted Prof. Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), for a discussion on innovative financing amid COVID-19.

Africa Coronavirus
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Experts

Fellow

Nizar El Fakih

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Corruption Human Rights

Millennium fellow

Georg Philipp Ettstaller

Director and Investment Banker, Credit Suisse Securities

Millennium Leadership Program

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia
Michael Fisch standing at an angle against a navy blue background.

Advisory Council member

Michael Fisch

Chairman, Freedom and Prosperity Center Advisory Council

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Economy & Business International Financial Institutions

Advisory Council member

Helga Flores Trejo

Vice President, Special Envoy Multilateral & Sustainability Affairs, Bayer

Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center

Brazil Economy & Business

Fellow

Ruth Goodwin-Groen

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoEconomics Center

Digital Policy Economy & Business

Fellow

Elmar Hellendoorn

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Economic Statecraft Initiative GeoEconomics Center

Defense Policy Dutch
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Events

Online Event Mon, October 12, 2026 • 9:00 am ET

Atlantic Council’s 2026 IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings in Thailand

The Atlantic Council’s Geoeconomics Center will broadcasting live from the IMF–World Bank official campus in Bangkok, bringing the Meetings to a global audience.
Americas Digital Currencies Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia