SUNFO delegation led by the Director General Dr.Deshapriya S. Wijetunge participated at the WB Head quarters, Washington DC, USA. Through the Forum, the IMF and the World Bank provided space for CSOs to meet with staff and other meetings participants. From April 10-12, 2008 , almost 26 policy dialogue sessions were organized by either the Bank, Fund, CSOs, or jointly. Most addressed issues related to low-income countries, including the economic outlook for sub-Saharan Africa; the impact of food and oil price inflation; the Bank’s approach to consultations; private capital flow to low-income countries, anti-corruption efforts, and climate change.
The tone of the sessions depended on how controversial the topic was and who was leading the discussion. Most sessions were well attended by Southern CSO representatives, especially from sub-Saharan Africa. Those representatives said they appreciated the opportunity to have a conversation with IMF staff on issues that affect them personally.
Spring Meetings Briefing
The Forum kicked off with a welcome breakfast hosted by the Fund and Bank Civil Society Teams on April 10. The same day, EXR Director Masood Ahmed and his Bank counterpart, Marwan Muasher, briefed CSO participants on the key issues of the Spring Meetings. In the discussion a CSO representative wondered if the current IMF downsizing exercise was not the wrong step at this time of financial turmoil. Ahmed said that the current financial crisis calls for new staff expertise. However, this expertise differs from — and requires less staff time than — the work that is associated with declining IMF lending operations.
CSOs also asked about the Fund’s approach to consultations, picking up on Muasher’s remark that the Bank was reviewing its consultation framework. Ahmed said that consultations have helped the Fund to shape its polices — for example, the review of conditionality guidelines — and pointed to consultations on the upcoming review of the Policy Support Instrument (PSI).
Reception with the Managing Director
The briefing was followed by a reception for CSOs hosted by IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn and World Bank President Robert Zoellick. Andrew Kumbatira from the Malawi Economic Justice Network introduced the head of the institutions and moderated a short discussion. He said he hoped that the IMF was not reducing its already small presence in low-income countries as it moves to close some country offices. Strauss-Kahn, in his opening remarks, welcomed civil society participation and said that he hoped he would have more opportunities to discuss in greater depth the issues of mutual concern to the IMF and civil society. He stressed the current concern about food prices in many low-income countries.
