Recent
Developments in
IMF-CSO
Relations
Since the IMF-World
Bank Spring
Meetings in
April, debt
relief and other
issues related
to low-income
countries have
been given a
high profile on
the agenda of
the
international
community. Since
the G-8 finance
ministers
proposed, at
their June
meeting in
London, that the
IMF, the
International
Development
Association, and
the African
Development Fund
cancel their
claims on
countries that
have reached (or
will reach) the
completion point
under the
Heavily Indebted
Poor Countries (HIPC)
Initiative, the
IMF has been
assessing the
various policy,
legal, and
financial
aspects of the
proposal
relating to the
Fund. The IMF
Executive Board
met in early
August to
discuss the
proposal and
asked staff to
"work on
potential
modalities to
implement the
proposal as a
basis for
further
discussions by
the Executive
Board before the
Annual
Meetings."
The 2005
Annual Meetings
will be held
on September
24–25 in
Washington,
D.C., roughly a
week after the
UN 2005 World
Summit. As
always, Fund and
Bank staff,
along with civil
society
organizations (CSOs)
will organize
civil society
dialogues. More
information can
be found at
http://www.worldbank.org/civilsociety.
The website also
gives
information on
how to apply for
accreditation
via the new
on-line
registration
system for CSOs.
In the past
few weeks, the
world's
attention has
focused on the
extremely
difficult
situation in
Niger, where
food shortages
have become
critical. It is
heartening to
see the growing
international
response through
contributions of
food, medicines,
and other aid.
As an
article
explains, the
IMF stands ready
to assist in any
way that it can.
Now the
attention of the
international
community is
turning to
neighboring
countries, which
have been hit by
the same drought
and locust
invasion that
have created
Niger's food
shortages. The
Fund will be
closely
following the
situation in
those countries
as well.
Finally, an
article on
the continuing
efforts to
expand the
Fund's dialogue
with national
legislators in
member countries
may also be of
interest to
CSOs. In this
context the IMF
recently
published a
draft
Guide for
IMF Staff
Outreach to
Legislators.
Public comment
was invited
until July 29,
2005. The main
purpose of the
guide is to help
IMF staff in
their outreach
efforts with
legislators.
Back to Table of
Contents
IMF
Executive Board
discusses G-8
debt relief
proposal
On August 3
the IMF
Executive Board
discussed the
proposal for
debt
cancellation for
HIPC countries
set out by the
G-8 finance
ministers at
their June 10
meeting in
London and
reaffirmed by
the G-8 Heads of
State and
Government at
the Gleneagles
Summit on July
8. IMF Managing
Director Rodrigo
de Rato issued
the following
statement
after the
meeting:
"Executive
Directors
reiterated their
commitment to
further debt
relief by the
IMF as part of
the
international
support for
low-income
countries,
including its
poorest and most
heavily indebted
members. They
emphasized that
the G-8 proposal
could go a long
way to complete
the process of
debt relief for
these countries
by providing
additional
balance of
payments support
from the Fund,
thereby freeing
up resources to
help them reach
the Millennium
Development
Goals (MDGs).
Directors
noted that to
provide
effective
benefits to its
recipients, debt
relief must be
designed and
implemented
carefully. There
was a clear
consensus among
Directors on the
importance of
preserving: (i)
the Fund's
ability to
provide
concessional
financial
support to its
low-income
members; and
(ii) the
principle of
uniformity of
treatment, to
ensure that all
low-income
members are
treated by the
Fund in an
even-handed
manner. Staff
will work on
potential
modalities to
implement the
proposal as a
basis for
further
discussions by
the Executive
Board before the
Annual Meetings.
Directors
reiterated that
the Fund will
continue to
operate under
existing
policies and
procedures until
decisions to
change or modify
these policies
are taken by the
required
majorities.
The meeting
followed the
Executive
Board's initial
formal exchange
of views on the
proposal that
took place on
June 22 and
provided an
opportunity for
Executive
Directors to
explore in more
detail the
financial,
legal, and
policy
implications of
the proposal for
the Fund. It
also
complemented the
continuing
discussion in
the Executive
Board on ways to
enhance the role
of the Fund in
low-income
countries,
including
through: (i) the
establishment of
a nonfinancial
mechanism to
support policies
in low-income
countries; (ii)
financing the
continuation of
the Poverty
Reduction and
Growth Facility;
and (iii) the
establishment of
a facility to
help countries
facing exogenous
shocks."
Back to Table of
Contents
Africa:
IMF
joins the Niger
relief effort
In recent
weeks, the
world's
attention has
been focused on
the severe food
shortages
afflicting Niger
as a result of
the confluence
of natural
disasters:
prolonged
drought and a
locust invasion.
According to the
United Nations,
about 2 .5
million of
Niger's 12
million people
are directly
affected by the
crisis.
UN agencies
have launched a
series of
appeals for
international
donations
totaling $57 .6
million. While
the initial
response to the
call for aid was
slow, donations
and assistance
now are arriving
more rapidly
because of the
intense media
attention given
to the issue.
Disaster
relief is the
responsibility
of the whole
international
community,
especially the
UN agencies, the
World Bank, and
nongovernmental
organizations.
The IMF also is
playing a
role—working
closely with
international
donors to
mobilize
additional
resources to
address the food
shortages and
assist long-term
development. In
addition, the
IMF is in close
consultation
with the
Nigerian
authorities on a
range of related
issues. The IMF
has encouraged
the government
to take every
possible step to
deal with the
immediate needs,
fully supporting
all government
spending aimed
at addressing
the food crisis
and alleviating
the effects of
the drought.
In addition,
the IMF has
signaled that it
is prepared to
increase Niger's
access to IMF
financing if
grant aid proves
to be
insufficient. An
IMF mission is
expected to
visit Niger
later this month
to assess recent
developments and
to assist the
government in
its efforts to
address the food
crisis.
Toward debt and
poverty
reduction
The food
crisis is
occurring in a
country that
already faces
many economic
difficulties.
One of the
poorest
countries in
Africa, Niger
has been working
hard in recent
years to address
the needs of its
population. Over
the past five
years, Niger has
made significant
progress in
restoring
macroeconomic
stability and
liberalizing its
economy. In
recognition of
those efforts,
the
international
community agreed
to provide
substantial debt
relief when
Niger reached
the completion
point under the
Heavily Indebted
Poor Countries
Initiative in
April 2004.
IMF policy
advice to Niger
draws largely on
a Poverty
Reduction
Strategy (PRS)
outlined by the
Nigerian
authorities in
2002 after
consultation
with the
country's civil
society. The PRS
identifies
priorities that
are regarded as
critical for
strengthening
economic growth
and reducing
poverty. In
particular, it
focuses on
increasing
spending on
human capital,
with an emphasis
on access by
vulnerable
groups to basic
social services,
and on
agricultural
development.
Niger's PRS also
underscores the
need to preserve
fiscal
sustainability.
Efforts are
aimed at
strengthening
revenue
mobilization,
improving public
expenditure
management, and
ensuring that
maximum
government
spending is
directed toward
propoor and
pro-growth
projects.
Since 2000,
IMF financial
support to Niger
under the
Poverty
Reduction and
Growth Facility
(PRGF) has
totaled $88
million. The IMF
has also
provided
extensive
technical
assistance,
especially in
the area of
fiscal
management. The
IMF-supported
program mirrors
the PRS's focus
on agriculture
by stressing the
need for Niger
to deal with the
effects of
unfavorable
weather through
the introduction
of much needed
irrigation
systems. The
authorities have
been urged to
expand their
domestic revenue
base and seek
increased donor
support.
Notwithstanding
relatively large
donor financial
assistance so
far, it is
recognized that
Niger needs
additional
resources to
make adequate
progress toward
the MDGs, which
target a halving
of key poverty
indicators by
2015. Briefing
the press on
August 3, Thomas
C. Dawson,
Director of the
IMF External
Relations
Department, said
that as
important as the
long-term
development
issues are, the
key challenge at
this stage for
the
international
community is to
provide "all
possible
assistance as
quickly as
possible" to
relieve the food
crisis. And
that, he added,
"is what we
intend to do."
The article
appeared in the
IMF Survey,
August 15, 2005.
Back to Table of
Contents
Continuing
efforts to
expand its
dialogue with
national
legislators in
member
countries, the
IMF recently
published a
draft
Guide for
IMF Staff
Outreach to
Legislators.
Public comment
was invited
until July 29,
2005. The main
purpose of the
guide is to help
IMF staff in
their outreach
efforts with
legislators.
Both IMF
management and
the Executive
Board have
signaled that a
high priority
should be given
to outreach to
legislators. The
objective of the
expanded
outreach has
been to
familiarize
legislators with
macroeconomic
issues and basic
financial
programming, to
explain IMF
advice and
operations, and
to listen to and
learn from
legislators'
views and
concerns.
The guide is
based on
experience with
outreach to
legislators so
far and the
findings and
recommendations
of the 2004
report by the
Working Group of
Executive
Directors on
Enhancing
Communications
with National
Legislators
(see
Civil Society
Newsletter
February 2004).
The report
concluded that
outreach to
legislators
should be
expanded to help
build
understanding of
the IMF. The
public was also
invited to
submit comments
on that report.
As a follow-up,
the IMF has now
developed a
draft guide for
staff on
outreach to
legislators.
IMF's
Outreach to
Legislators
The IMF
engages
legislators in a
variety of ways.
- IMF
management,
Executive
Directors, and
staff meet
with
legislators
regularly
during visits
to member
countries and
when
legislators
visit IMF
headquarters
in Washington,
D .C.
- The IMF
organizes an
increasing
number of
country and
regional
seminars
for
legislators;
for example
Tanzania in
October 2004
(see
IMF Survey,
November 8,
2004),
Cambodia and
Timor Leste in
March2 005
(see
IMF Survey,
May 9, 2005),
and seven
Central
American
countries in
May 2005 (see
IMF Survey,
June 20,
2005).
- The IMF
has been
providing
training at
the Joint
Vienna
Institute for
legislators
from the
former
transition
economies of
Eastern and
Central Europe
(since 1995)
and Central
Asia.
- The IMF
has a
well-established
relationship
with the
Parliamentary
Network on the
World Bank;
Fund
management and
staff
participate in
the annual
conference,
regional
events, and
field visits
(see
IMF Survey,
July 4, 2005).
- On the
international
level, the IMF
cooperates
with and
attends
meetings
organized by
various
groups,
including the
Global
Organization
of
Parliamentarians
Against
Corruption
(GOPAC);
Parliamentarians
for Global
Action (PGA);
the
Parliamentary
Centre; the
Commonwealth
Parliamentary
Association
(CPA); and the
Inter-Parliamentary
Union (IPU).
Back to Table of
Contents
Staff of the
civil society
organization
Global Witness
(GW) met with
IMF African
Department (AFR)
staff on July 13
to discuss the
Fund's work on
fiscal
transparency.
AFR Deputy
Director Anupam
Basu, Assistant
Directors
Menachem Katz
and Sanjeev
Gupta, and Roger
Nord, Division
Chief for
Angola, Gabon,
Guinea, and
Nigeria,
attended the
meeting.
GW was
represented by
co-director
Patrick Alley,
oil campaigner
Sarah Wykes,
Washington-based
advocate Daryl
Edwards, and
researcher Emily
Bild. They
welcomed the
recent IMF
Guide on
Resource Revenue
Transparency,
but said they
would like to
see fiscal
Reports on the
Observance of
Standards and
Codes
(ROSCs) become
mandatory rather
than voluntary
for
resource-rich
countries. Fund
staff said the
current approach
is working well,
as it stresses
the country's
ownership of
transparency
measures. GW
said it is
looking forward
to hearing about
the outcome of
the upcoming
review of
Standards and
Codes, to which
it already
submitted
comments.
Even though
both IMF and GW
staff have been
fully supportive
of the
Extractive
Industry
Transparency
Initiative
(EITI), launched
by U .K. Prime
Minister Tony
Blair at the
Johannesburg
World Summit of
Sustainable
Development in
September 2002,
they have
concerns that
countries might
be able to get
credit by simply
signing on to
the initiative
without
fulfilling the
criteria. All
participants
agreed the
initiative
becomes
meaningful only
if countries
fulfill all
criteria.
In a separate
meeting, GW
presented a new
report
Under-Mining
Peace: Tin—the
Explosive Trade
in Cassiterite
in Eastern DRC.
It concerns
allegations of
exploitation of
resources from
the Democratic
Republic of
Congo (DRC) by
several
neighboring
countries. AFR
staff said they
found the
analysis to be
valuable. They
explained the
Fund's work in
DRC and the
limited
influence the
Fund can have on
issues such as
mineral
exploitation,
but said it was
an issue they
were discussing
with the
authorities. GW
staff mentioned
that another
report on
diamond trade is
coming out in
late August. IMF
staff agreed to
continue the
exchange of
information with
the group.
Back to Table of
Contents
A United
Nations
forum, held
in Geneva July
21–22, 2005,
discussed the
role of
accountability
in the
relationship
between economic
growth, poverty
reduction, and
human rights.
The forum was
organized by the
UN
Sub-Commission
on the Promotion
and Protection
of Human Rights
and included
representatives
from the
Sub-Commission,
the IMF, World
Bank and UN
Development
Program, and
civil society
representatives
.Jean-Pierre
Chauffour, IMF
Representative
to the WTO, who
also liaises
with the
Geneva-based UN
agencies,
participated (he
also attended
last year's
forum, see
Civil Society
Newsletter
August 2004).
Chauffour was
invited to make
a presentation
on "Institutional
Accountability
in Pro-Human
Rights Growth
Policies: the
IMF Perspective"
at a panel on "Growth
with
Accountability."
Opening the
forum, UN High
Commissioner for
Human Rights
Louise Arbour
noted that the
very gathering
was a
recognition that
much more needs
to be done to
ensure that
strategies and
policies for
poverty
reduction go
together with
the realization
of all human
rights. She
emphasized that
extreme poverty
is a violation
of human dignity
and frequently
represents a
violation of
human rights.
Accordingly, she
said, the
addition of a
human rights
perspective and
methodology in
implementing the
MDGs would be an
important step.
She called for
relevant state
institutions to
be held
accountable for
their failures.
She said they
must ensure that
PRSs result in
real
improvements in
the standard of
living for the
most vulnerable
and destitute.
In particular,
to close the gap
between human
rights rhetoric
and reality,
Arbour called
for those living
in poverty to be
offered the
opportunity to
participate in
the design,
implementation,
and monitoring
of PRSs. At a
very minimum,
she said,
participation
should include
the right to
express one's
opinion, the
right to
assembly and
association, to
information, and
to access to
justice.
Arjun
Sengupta, a UN
expert on human
rights and
extreme poverty
and a former IMF
Executive
Director for
India,
Bangladesh,
Bhutan, and Sri
Lanka,
emphasized that
to be effective
in addressing
the plight of
the poor, the
process of
economic growth
and poverty
reduction has to
be anchored in
enforceable
human rights.
Only a
rights-based
approach and its
relevant
political,
legislative, and
administrative
institutions can
ensure that the
benefits of this
process reach
the poorest and
the most
vulnerable, he
said. This would
require that
rights-holders'
grievances be
addressed
through domestic
judicial systems
or through
appropriate
international
mechanisms. On
the latter,
Sengupta made
two proposals:
(1)
establishment of
optional but
binding
protocols to the
International
Covenant on
Economic,
Social, and
Cultural Rights;
and (2)
strengthening
peer pressure in
relevant
international
fora.
The IMF's
Jean-Pierre
Chauffour said
that, far from
being
inconsistent,
there is a
potentially
strong
connection
between
development and
human rights
"frameworks" in
promoting
pro-human rights
growth policies.
In particular,
there are
versions of the
development and
human rights
approaches to
economic growth
and poverty
reduction that
are mutually
supportive and
internally
consistent
regarding the
respective role
of states,
markets, and
individual
rights. However,
pending a broad
understanding of
the core
elements of such
a pro-human
rights
development
strategy,
development
actors (i .e. ,
individuals,
associations,
civil society,
states,
international
institutions)
will remain
accountable to
bodies with
different and,
at times,
inconsistent
sets of values
and norms,
thereby making
the quest for
coherence in
institutional
accountability
elusive.
Brian Ngo,
Lead Economist
at the Paris
office of the
World Bank,
presented the
main findings of
the most recent
Bank/Fund PRS
review and
noted that two
of the five
areas under
review are of
direct relevance
to the general
theme of the
Forum, namely
(1) utilizing
the PRS as an
accountability
framework; and
(2) broadening
and deepening
meaningful
participation.
He emphasized
that
accountability
is not only
about supply but
also about
demand. However,
demand for
monitoring is
often weak,
especially
domestic demand.
Furthermore,
accountability
is tilted toward
donors and
multilateral
agencies, which
is at odds with
efforts to
enhance the
domestic
accountability
framework.
Although his
assigned topic
was on the
successes and
limits of civil
society
participation to
ensure greater
accountability
of state
institutions in
poverty
reduction, Rick
Rowden, policy
officer,
ActionAid USA,
used the forum
as a platform
for criticizing
the Fund and its
policies.
The
presentations
left little time
for the actual
panel discussion
and participants
regretted that
many issues
raised could not
be discussed
further.
Back to Table of
Contents
As reported
in the Civil
Society
Newsletter
May 2004,
August 2004,
and
February 2005,
the Fund has
formally set up
a Poverty and
Social Impact
Analysis (PSIA)
group of five
experts within
the Fiscal
Affairs
Department
(FAD). In June,
the head of the
group, Robert
Gillingham,
participated in
a meeting of the
PSIA Network in
Paris. In July,
the second
meeting of the
external
advisory panel
of the Fund's
PSIA group was
held.
Meeting of the
PSIA Network
On June 15,
Robert
Gillingham
participated in
a meeting of the
PSIA Network in
Paris. Jennifer
Bisping of the
IMF's External
Relations
Department also
attended. The
network
comprises
international
financial
institutions,
bilateral
donors, and
civil society
organizations
interested in
promoting the
use of PSIA in
the development
and
implementation
of poverty
reduction
strategies.
The purposes
of the meeting
were to: (1)
share recent
experiences with
PSIA methods and
lessons learned
from conducting
such analyses;
and (2) discuss
the possibility
of a larger PSIA
gathering with
greater
participation
from recipient
countries to
expand the
network and
facilitate
capacity
development.
The morning
session focused
primarily on
lessons learned
from PSIA
experience, with
presentations by
the World Bank,
IMF, the German
development
cooperation
agency
Gesellschaft für
Technische
Zusammenarbeit,
and the U .K.
Department for
International
Development.
Gillingham's
presentation
summarized the
activities of
the PSIA group,
and discussed
the lessons
learned and
possible next
steps. He
emphasized the
group's close
cooperation with
IMF area
departments—its
focus on
countries and
issues where
PSIA can make
contributions to
program
design—as well
as the group's
attempts to
leverage its
resources by
building
capacity within
the area
departments.
Gillingham noted
that the group
has taken a
broad view,
recognizing that
poverty has many
dimensions and
seeking input
from a variety
of stakeholders
in the Fund's
country work. He
also stressed
that the PSIA
group's analyses
have fed into
IMF program
design.
The key CSO
presentation was
by Lucy Hayes of
Eurodad on
"Civil Society
Perspectives on
PSIA in
Practice." The
presentation
raised concerns
about the lack
of PSIA
capacity-building
in developing
countries,
narrow economic
focus, lack of
local
involvement in
the process as
well as lack of
transparency in
recent PSIAs.
Bank and Fund
staff tried to
place these
concerns in
perspective—in
particular, that
expectations for
PSIA capacity
building may be
too high. They
noted that some
of the work
mentioned in the
presentation is
incomplete, so
that it is too
early to draw
conclusions.
They also noted
that publishing
the results of
specific
analyses is a
matter of
concern.
Although both
organizations
would like to
disseminate
their results
widely, they
must respect
procedures to
protect the
interests of
member
countries.
PSIA
Advisory Panel
Meeting
The second
meeting of the
external
advisory panel
of the Fund's
PSIA group was
held on July 11.
The panel
reviewed three
main areas: (1)
PSIA missions
and other
country work,
(2) preparation
by the group of
guidance notes
and accompanying
seminars for
Fund economists,
and (3) external
outreach. The
panel agreed
that the group's
efforts to date
have effectively
promoted the
integration of
PSIA into the
design of
Fund-supported
programs, which
is the group's
established
objective.
However, the
panel
recommended
steps that could
broaden the
scope of the
group's work and
increase its
effectiveness.
These
recommendations
included placing
more emphasis on
(1) the social
dimensions of
poverty, (2) the
broader
macro-economic
context of the
program measures
it analyzes, (3)
the political
and social
responses of
households to
falling into
poverty, (4) the
political
economy of
reforms, and (5)
the labor market
effects of
reform measures.
The PSIA group
has already
worked on some
of these topics;
the work will be
expanded in the
future, within
resource
constraints.
Back to Table of
Contents
Letters from
the Field:
IMF
Management
visits
development
projects in
Africa
During recent
trips to Africa
that focused on
discussions with
government and
financial
leaders, IMF
Managing
Director Rodrigo
de Rato, First
Deputy Managing
Director Anne
Krueger and
Deputy Managing
Director
Takatoshi Kato
also visited
development
projects. During
these visits
they made
donations on
behalf of the
Fund's
Civic Program,
which responds
to specific
humanitarian
needs, and is
separate from
the IMF's
financial
support for
member
countries'
policy programs.
In each of
the four
countries (
Benin, Chad,
Niger, and
Nigeria) that
IMF Managing
Director Rodrigo
de Rato visited
May 17–20, he
met with civil
society
organizations.
In Benin, he
spent time at
the Institut
des Filles de
Marie
Auxiliatrice,
which provides
shelter, food,
education and
medical care to
girls who have
escaped from
trafficking,
slavery, or
other serious
abuse. More than
520 girls have
been helped
since 2001. De
Rato donated
$5,000 on behalf
of the IMF's
Civic Program.
He was
accompanied by
Benin's Minister
of Education.
In a village
on the outskirts
of Niamey in
Niger, the
Managing
Director visited
the Women's
Dairy Cattle
Project, a
nongovernmental
organization (La
Coordination des
Organisations
non
Gouvernementales
et Associations
Féminines
Nigériennes)
of women who
raise cattle for
milk production.
With children
watching from
the sidelines,
the village
leaders told de
Rato about
purchasing the
cattle with
microfinancing
provided by the
government. The
small-scale
lending had been
made possible by
debt relief
provided through
the IMF-World
Bank Heavily
Indebted Poor
Countries
Initiative. The
cattle provide
income for the
women's families
that also allows
them to repay
their
microfinance
loans. De Rato
told members of
the dairy cattle
project that the
IMF Civic
Program would
donate 10 cows.
He was
accompanied by
the Ministers of
Finance, and
Education and
Health.
In Chad, de
Rato donated
$5,000 on behalf
of the IMF's
Civic Program to
the Oure
Cassoni Camp
near the
Sudanese border
for refugees
from the Darfur
region. The
visit to a
community center
and a health
center within
the camp
highlighted the
adverse affects
of conflict on
economic
well-being and
also the
important work
that the Fund is
doing with
conflict and
post-conflict
countries. In
Nigeria, de Rato
donated $5,000
on behalf of the
IMF's Civic
Program to the
Wongoje
Training and
Rehabilitation
Centre for
Destitutes,
a training
center for the
homeless. He was
accompanied by
the Minister of
Federal Capital
Territories.
One a trip to
Madagascar in
early June,
Deputy Managing
Director Krueger
visited the
social project
Conseil de
Développement
d'Andohatapenaka
in Antananarivo
(Andohatapenaka
is a section of
the capital city
Antananarivo).
The project
identifies
children and
adults in the
poorest parts of
the town and
provides
services for
them such as
schooling,
training for
basic employment
skills, and
basic health,
pre-natal, and
pediatric
services.
Krueger donated
$5,000 on behalf
of the IMF's
Civic Program to
the project.
Deputy
Managing
Director Kato
visited a health
research
institute and a
banana
cooperative—the
Cooperative
Eduardo Mondlane
in Mozambique
and an HIV/AIDS
orphanage in
Zambia during
his July 24–29
trip to the two
countries. The
Centro de
Investigação de
Sáude de Manhiça
is one example
of how public
and private
partnerships
have enabled
groundbreaking
research to be
conducted on the
most pressing
health issues in
the region. At
the other end of
the spectrum,
the
Cooperativa de
Bananas Eduardo
Mondlane is
an example of
poor women
organizing
themselves to
engage in
income-producing
business
activities. The
cooperative was
established in
1976 and
provides
self-sustainable
work to 91
farmers growing
bananas and
vegetables, and
raising chicken.
The cooperative
is also about to
embark on a new
project to raise
fresh water
fish. The
Kwasha Mukwenu
Women's Group,
that runs
the Zambian
HIV/AIDS
orphanage,
provides provide
food, clothes,
skills training,
primary and
secondary
education,
parental care,
and counseling
to over 2,000
orphans and
other vulnerable
children,
affected by
HIV/AIDS. Kato
donated $5,000
on behalf of the
IMF's Civic
Program to each
project.
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Peter Fallon,
Deputy Division
Chief in the
Policy
Development and
Review
Department
(PDR),
participated in
the Trade Union
Communicators
Conference on
May 13. The
discussion
focused on
current key
issues faced by
the
International
Financial
Institutions
(IFIs), such as
debt relief and
the
implementation
of Poverty
Reduction
Strategy Papers
(PRSPs). The
discussion also
highlighted the
IMF's tailored
approach towards
addressing labor
issues in
various
countries.
On May 17,
William Allan,
Section Chief in
the Fiscal
Affairs
Department,
participated in
a discussion
panel on
"Remedying the
Natural
Resources Curse
in Autocratic
Societies:
Changing Global
Norms on
Resource Revenue
Disclosure,"
sponsored by the
Open Society,
the IRIS Center,
a research and
advisory center
attached to the
Economics
Department of
the University
of Maryland, and
the Democracy
Coalition
Project.
Co-panelists
included Corinna
Gilfillan, lead
campaigner of
Global Witness,
and Nicholas
Cotts, unit
director at the
Newmount Mining
Company. The
panelists
outlined the
relationship
between
autocratic
governments,
centrally
controlled
natural resource
revenues,
corruption, and
underdevelopment
and gave an
overview of the
progress made
towards
establishing
norms of
resource revenue
disclosure.
The role of
the Fund in
low-income
countries (LICs)
was the focus of
a May 26 meeting
between Oxfam
Great Britain's
Director Barbara
Stocking and IMF
Managing
Director Rodrigo
de Rato. It was
Stocking's first
meeting with de
Rato, following
two sessions
with his
predecessor,
Horst Köhler, in
2001 and 2003.
One of the main
issues discussed
was the role of
the Fund in
helping poor
countries absorb
more aid. De
Rato agreed that
increasing the
capacity to
absorb more
resources is an
imperative for
many LICs and
noted that the
IMF is doing
more work on
this issue. This
point was
underlined by
PDR Director
Mark Allen, who
described how
the review of
the Poverty
Reduction and
Growth Facility
program design
(currently under
discussion)
specifically
looks at the
challenges faced
by governments
and by the Fund
in preparing for
more aid
inflows.
Benedicte
Christensen,
Deputy Director
in the African
Department
explained how
staff reports
for African
countries
increasingly
include
forecasts that
allow for
greater donor
inflows. This
had already been
done in the case
of Ethiopia and
Madagascar would
be next, she
said. De Rato
also noted that
it is necessary
for donor
countries to
harmonize their
aid flows and to
reduce the
burden they put
on recipient
countries.
An
international
conference in
Montreal
discussed
visions and
strategies for
civil society
seeking to
attain global
democracy. The
May 29–31
conference was
organized by the
Montreal
International
Forum, "a global
alliance of
individuals and
organizations
with the goal of
improving the
influence of
international
civil society on
the UN and the
multilateral
system." The
conference's
theme of
Global
Democracy: Civil
Society Visions
and Strategies
brought together
CSOs, social
movements,
funders,
academics and UN
agencies. The
IMF was
represented by
Simonetta Nardin
of the External
Relations
Department
(EXR). The
conference,
which was
attended by EXR
and PDR staffers
in October 2002
(see
Civil Society
Newsletter,
January 2003),
offers a unique
opportunity for
the Fund to
interact with
CSOs and, this
year in
particular, to
discuss
important issues
such as UN
reform and
global economic
governance.
Nardin was
invited to
participate in a
discussion on
"The Growing
Influence Of
International
Actors On
Regional And
Local
Governance:
Perspectives
From The IMF."
Nardin said CSOs
could take
advantage of the
growing push for
more
transparency and
better
governance that
now accompanies
most Fund
programs that
can have
positive effects
on issues such
as human rights
and the rule of
law.
EXR staffer
Simonetta Nardin
attended the
annual
InterAction
Forum, June 1–3,
entitled
"Charting a
Course for
Relief and
Development:
Advancing the
MDGs and Other
Global
Commitments."
The forum aimed
to continue
discussions
surrounding aid
by donors to
achieve the
MDGs.
On June 7,
Robin Robison,
Alison Prout,
and Martin
Watson of Quaker
Peace and Social
Witness, Nestor
Avendano of the
Managua-based
CSO Consultores
para el
Desarollo
Empresarial
(COPADES), and
Tom Loudon of
the Don Quixote
Center, met with
the Nicaragua
mission team to
discuss recent
economic
developments in
Nicaragua.
On June 7,
PDR Division
Chief Andy Berg,
Ross Leckow,
Assistant
General Counsel
in the Legal
Department, Luis
Breuer, Deputy
Division Chief
in the Western
Hemisphere
Department, and
EXR's Simonetta
Nardin,
sponsored a
seminar at the
IMF for the
Academy of Human
Rights at
American
University. The
seminar
panelists gave a
brief overview
of the IMF's
role in poverty
reduction,
transparency
policy, and
legal
perspectives in
Latin America.
As part of
the effort to
improve dialogue
between civil
and
international
organizations,
EXR staffer
Jennifer Bisping
participated in
the annual
meeting of the
NGO/CSO Focal
Points of the UN
System in Paris
on June 16–17.
The discussions
were aimed at
sharing best
practices
amongst UN
representatives
to enhance civil
society dialogue
with
multilateral
organizations.
On June
23–24, EXR
staffer Sofia
Soromenho-Ramos
participated in
the Informal
Hearings of the
UN General
Assembly with
NGOs, CSOs and
the Private
Sector. The
hearings allowed
groups to
present their
views directly
to member states
in preparation
for the 2005 UN
World Summit
scheduled for
September 14–16,
2005. Testimony
by CSO
representatives
focused on UN
Secretary-General
Kofi Annan's
report on UN
reform, In
Larger Freedom,
and IFI policy,
transparency and
accountability.
CSOs advocated
for issues
related to debt
cancellation,
poverty
reduction
strategies and
trade
liberalization.
Hearings for
CSOs by the
General Assembly
could become an
annual event.
Back to Table of
Contents
The
2005 Annual
Meetings,
wherethe Boards
of Governors of
the IMF and the
World Bank Group
(WB) meet to
discuss and
review the work
of their
respective
institutions,
will take place
over the weekend
of September
24–25 at Fund
and Bank
headquarters in
Washington.
Numerous
seminars are
held in the week
prior to the
Meetings,
including Civil
Society
Dialogues. The
Annual Meetings
Program of
Seminars,
designed to
foster dialogue
among CSOs, the
private sector,
government
delegates and
senior WB and
IMF officials,
will be open
free-of-charge
to CSOs this
year. CSOs need
to be accredited
in order to
attend.
Accreditation
opened on July
25 and will
close on
September 5. A
new on-line
registration
system for CSOs
can be accessed
at:
http://www.worldbank.org/civilsociety
where complete
information on
how to apply for
accreditation
can be found.
Back to Table of
Contents
Selected
speeches
-
Remarks at the
IMF Seminar
for
Legislators of
Central
America,by
AgustínCarstens,
Deputy
Managing
Director, San
José, Costa
Rica, May
19–20, 2005.
-
Capacity
Building in
Africa and the
IMF's Role,by
Rodrigo de
Rato, Managing
Director,
Abuja,
Nigeria, May
17, 2005.
-
Opening
Remarks at the
ECLAC-IMF
Round Table
Seminar on
Building
Prosperity in
Latin America
and the
Caribbean:
Macroeconomic
and Reform
Priorities,
by Rodrigo de
Rato, Managing
Director,
Santiago,
Chile, May
30,2005.
-
The Time is
Always Ripe:
Rushing Ahead
with Economic
Reform in
Africa,by
Anne O.
Krueger, First
Deputy
Managing
Director,
South Africa,
June 9, 2005.
-
Global
Imbalances and
Poverty-Challenges
for the World
Economy,
remarks by
Rodrigo de
Rato, Managing
Director,
Ottawa,
Canada, June
20, 2005.
-
United Nations
Address to the
High-level
Dialogue on
Financing for
Development
by Agustín
Carstens,
Deputy
Managing
Director, New
York, June 27,
2005.
Back to Table of
Contents
-
Does Foreign
Aid Reduce
Poverty?
Empirical
Evidence from
Nongovernmental
and Bilateral
Aidby
Nadia Masud
and Boriana
Yontcheva, IMF
Institute,
Working Paper
No. 05/100.
-
Can Debt
Relief Boost
Growth in Poor
Countries?
by Benedict J.
Clements,
Western
Hemisphere
Department,
Rina
Bhattacharya,
African
Department,
Economic
Issues No. 34.
-
What
Undermines
Aid's Impact
on Growth?
By Raghuram
Rajan,
Research
Department and
Arvind
Subramanian,
University of
Chicago,
Working Paper
No. 05/126.
-
Aid and
Growth: What
Does the
Cross-Country
Evidence
Really Show?
by Raghuram
Rajan, and
Arvind
Subramanian,
University of
Chicago,
Working Paper
No. 05/127.
-
Financial
Reform: What
Shakes It?
What Shapes
It? by
Abdul Abiad,
and Ashoka
Mody, European
Department,
Economic
Issues No. 35.
-
Crouching
Tiger, Hidden
Dragon: What
are the
Consequences
of China's WTO
Entry for
India's Trade,
by Valerie
Cerra, Sandra
A. Rivera, and
Sweta Chaman
Saxena, IMF
Institute,
Working Paper
No. 05/101.
-
Tax Revenue
and (or?)
Trade
Liberalization,
by Thomas
Baunsgaard,
African
Department,
Michael Keen,
Fiscal Affairs
Department,
Working Paper
No. 05/112.
-
International
Risk Sharing
and Currency
Unions: The
CFA Zones,
by Etienne B.
Yehoue, IMF
Institute,
Working Paper
No. 05/95.
-
Global
Integration
and Regional
Cooperation -
Chapter 8: The
Political
Economy of
Implementing
Pro-Growth and
Anti-Poverty
Policy
Strategies in
Central
America by
Luis Breuer
and Arturo
Cruz, Western
Hemisphere
Department,
Occasional
Paper 243.
-
Does the World
Need a
Universal
Financial
Institution?,
By James M.
Boughton,
Policy
Development
and Review
Department,
Working Paper
No. 05/116.
Back to Table of
Contents