Debate Matrix

Debate Matrix

Compare the positions of different multilateral development banks (MDBs) or organizations on major issues year by year. Click any statement to open the timeline comparison view.

I. Agriculture & Rural Development

3 claims

Repurpose farm subsidies for climate goals, or keep them for food security?

Repurpose farm subsidies for climate goals, or keep them for food security? 7 institutions

Food crises: fund emergency imports or long-term resilience?

Food crises: fund emergency imports or long-term resilience? 7 institutions

Smallholders or large agribusiness: where should MDB money go?

Smallholders or large agribusiness: where should MDB money go? 7 institutions

II. Urban Development & Human Settlements

3 claims

Affordable housing: market solutions or public provision?

Affordable housing: market solutions or public provision? 7 institutions

Invest in megacities or bet on secondary cities?

Invest in megacities or bet on secondary cities? 7 institutions

Informal settlements: upgrade in place or relocate residents?

Informal settlements: upgrade in place or relocate residents? 7 institutions

III. Conflict & Fragility

3 claims

Should MDBs keep lending after coups and sanctions?

Should MDBs keep lending after coups and sanctions? 7 institutions

In active war zones, should MDBs act like humanitarian agencies?

In active war zones, should MDBs act like humanitarian agencies? 7 institutions

Ukraine reconstruction: grants or loans, and who leads?

Ukraine reconstruction: grants or loans, and who leads? 7 institutions

IV. Education

3 claims

Scarce funds: foundational learning first, or universities and skills?

Scarce funds: foundational learning first, or universities and skills? 7 institutions

Post-COVID learning loss: remedial teaching or edtech bets?

Post-COVID learning loss: remedial teaching or edtech bets? 7 institutions

Should MDBs finance low-cost private schools?

Should MDBs finance low-cost private schools? 7 institutions

V. Energy

3 claims

Should MDBs pay to retire coal plants early?

Should MDBs pay to retire coal plants early? 7 institutions

Is natural gas a legitimate transition fuel for MDB finance?

Is natural gas a legitimate transition fuel for MDB finance? 7 institutions

Nuclear power: time to end the MDB financing taboo?

Nuclear power: time to end the MDB financing taboo? 7 institutions

VI. Environment & Climate

3 claims

Climate finance: adaptation or mitigation first?

Climate finance: adaptation or mitigation first? 7 institutions

Carbon border taxes: climate tool or green protectionism?

Carbon border taxes: climate tool or green protectionism? 7 institutions

Paris alignment of all lending: necessary discipline or development brake?

Paris alignment of all lending: necessary discipline or development brake? 7 institutions

VII. Finance & Debt

3 claims

Stretch MDB balance sheets or protect the AAA rating?

Stretch MDB balance sheets or protect the AAA rating? 7 institutions

Local currency lending: who should bear the FX risk?

Local currency lending: who should bear the FX risk? 7 institutions

Debt restructuring: should MDBs share the pain and take haircuts?

Debt restructuring: should MDBs share the pain and take haircuts? 7 institutions

IX. Governance, Law & Public Sector

3 claims

Trust borrower country systems, or impose MDB safeguards?

Trust borrower country systems, or impose MDB safeguards? 7 institutions

Anticorruption conditions: development necessity or political interference?

Anticorruption conditions: development necessity or political interference? 7 institutions

State-owned enterprises: reform them or keep funding them?

State-owned enterprises: reform them or keep funding them? 7 institutions

X. Health, Nutrition & Population

3 claims

Local vaccine manufacturing in Africa: resilience or inefficiency?

Local vaccine manufacturing in Africa: resilience or inefficiency? 7 institutions

Pandemic preparedness: new global funds or existing health systems?

Pandemic preparedness: new global funds or existing health systems? 7 institutions

Universal health coverage: how big a role for private providers?

Universal health coverage: how big a role for private providers? 7 institutions

XI. Industry, Trade & Private Sector

3 claims

Blended finance: catalytic tool or subsidy to private capital?

Blended finance: catalytic tool or subsidy to private capital? 7 institutions

Industrial policy is back: should MDBs embrace it?

Industrial policy is back: should MDBs embrace it? 7 institutions

Friend-shoring and fragmentation: threat or opportunity for developing countries?

Friend-shoring and fragmentation: threat or opportunity for developing countries? 7 institutions

XII. Digital & Technology

3 claims

AI in development: leapfrog opportunity or new divide?

AI in development: leapfrog opportunity or new divide? 7 institutions

Data localization or free cross-border data flows?

Data localization or free cross-border data flows? 7 institutions

Digital public infrastructure: public rails or private platforms?

Digital public infrastructure: public rails or private platforms? 7 institutions

XIII. Macroeconomics, Growth & Poverty

3 claims

After the debt surge: austerity now or growth first?

After the debt surge: austerity now or growth first? 7 institutions

Should middle-income countries graduate from MDB lending?

Should middle-income countries graduate from MDB lending? 7 institutions

Is $2.15 a day still the right poverty yardstick?

Is $2.15 a day still the right poverty yardstick? 7 institutions

XV. Infrastructure, Transport & Water

3 claims

Mega-infrastructure: growth engine or debt trap?

Mega-infrastructure: growth engine or debt trap? 7 institutions

Transport money: more highways or green public transit?

Transport money: more highways or green public transit? 7 institutions

Water utilities and big dams: private capital or public provision?

Water utilities and big dams: private capital or public provision? 7 institutions

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