The IMF and Civil Society

Last Updated: May 4, 2009

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IMF Invites Civil Society Input Into Governance Reform

More than 100 people have joined the conversation about IMF Governance on the Fourth Pillar website

The IMF is engaging with civil society organizations worldwide to gather input for the on-going process of Fund governance reform. The consultation process will culminate with a meeting with the IMF Managing Director at the 2009 Annual Meetings in Istanbul.

News

CSO Engagement at Spring Meetings

May 1, 2009
The 2009 Spring Meetings attracted active civil society participation, with over 300 representatives from civil society organizations (CSOs) representing 30 countries, including low-income countries.

Conversations with Civil Society

May 5, 2009
The IMF has held a series of meetings with a variety of civil society organizations (CSOs) since October 2008.

IMF Resources and the G-20 Summit

April 17, 2009
The Group of Twenty (G-20) industrialized and emerging markets countries agreed to triple the IMF’s lending capacity to $750 billion in order to assist countries affected by the crisis.
Français | Español

IMF - Students and Civil Society Representatives Hold Dialogue in Tanzania

March 23, 2009
During a visit to Dar es Salaam, IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn met with Tanzanian university students and civil society representatives to talk about the role of the IMF in Africa and to explain how the global financial crisis is affecting the African continent.

The World Must Not Forget Africa During This Crisis

February 19, 2009
Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn met with African Ambassadors in Washington to talk about the impact of the crisis in Africa and to discuss the upcoming Tanzania conference.

Yunus - Banker to the Poor Visits the Fund

February 10, 2009
Before a standing room only audience at the IMF, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus presented his vision of “creating a world without poverty.”

Filling accountability gaps through civil society engagement

November 18, 2008
At a recent seminar hosted by the IMF and the World Bank, a prominent academic and his team made a presentation on the role of civil society in furthering the accountability of international financial institutions.

Conversations with Civil Society

October 20, 2008
Read our account of a variety of meetings between the IMF and a range of civil society organizations (CSOs) since April 2008.
Français | Español

Consequences of financial crisis on LICs can be dramatic, Strauss-Kahn tells CSOs

October 14, 2008
At a Townhall meeting with civil society organizations (CSOs) on Thursday, October 9, IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn warned that the impact of the financial crisis on advanced economies is likely to be severe and low-income countries could also be dramatically affected.

The Challenges of Scaling-up Aid

October 6, 2008
On the sidelines of the United Nations summit on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a major topic of discussion was scaling-up aid to Africa.

The Other Crisis: Food, Fuel Prices Pose Continued Risk

September 26, 2008
Strauss-Kahn: "At a time of deep global concern about the crisis in U.S. financial markets, it is essential that we not lose sight of the 'other crisis' that is having a direct impact on the world's poor — surging food and fuel prices."
Français | Español

IMF and World Bank Dialogue with African Church Leaders

September 4, 2008
Teams from the IMF, World Bank and the World Council of Churches (WCC) met in Accra, Ghana, on August 28-29 for a dialogue centered on poverty and focused on Africa.

IMF Helping Countries on Health, Social Spending Policies

July 25, 2008
The IMF is committed to improving health and living standards in the world's poorest countries, working closely with governments to reduce poverty through policy advice, technical assistance, financial support and debt relief.

The Impact of the Food and Fuel Crisis

July 1, 2008
Surging oil and food prices are being felt globally, but the impact is most severe for import-dependent poor and middle-income countries that are confronting balance of payments problems and higher inflation.
Français | Español

IMF and Civil Society Discuss the Global Food Crisis

May 29, 2008
Dominique Strauss-Kahn and Robert Zoellick consult with civil society organizations (CSOs) from around the world to identify priorities for addressing the world's food crisis.
Français | Español

IMF-Liberia Dialogue Expands

May 23, 2008
An April seminar in Monrovia brought together teams from the IMF with Liberian legislators and representatives of civil society organizations (CSOs) to talk about policy challenges, and the IMF's role in Liberia.
Français | Español

The Food Emergency

April 29, 2008
Soaring food costs have moved to the top of the international community's policy agenda in recent weeks, including at the IMF and World Bank
Français | Español

Civil Society Engagement at the 2008 Spring Meetings

April 11, 2008
Summary of World Bank and IMF discussions with CSOs during the Spring Meetings
Français | Español

Conversations with Civil Society

April 7, 2008
Summary of a series of meetings with a variety of civil society organizations between January and March 2008
Français | Español

Tanzania and Malawi Seminars for Legislators, CSOs, and Media

February 20, 2008
Legislators, civil society organizations and the media exchange views on the Fund's work in Tanzania and Malawi, and on current economic policy challenges
Français | Español

Letter from Haiti

February 12, 2008
Ugo Fasano on his discussions on poverty reduction and growth with a range of stake-holders
Français | Español

Liberia Eligible for HIPC Assistance

February 8, 2008
World Bank and IMF approve Liberia's eligibility for assistance under enhanced HIPC scheme
Français | Español

Reducing the Impact of Climate Change

December 14, 2007
How the Fund aims to ease the economic effects of a global problem
Français | Español

Conversations with Civil Society

December 14, 2007
Summary of the Fund's recent meetings with Oxfam, the global union movement, and other civil society organizations
Français | Español

New Managing Director Arrives

December 6, 2007
Dominique Strauss-Kahn 'determined' to pursue reform
Français | Español

Delivering Debt Relief to Liberia

November 21, 2007
The IMF secured sufficient financing pledges from member countries to take "critical step" on debt relief for Liberia
Français | Español

Letter From Gabon

November 14, 2007
Sambia Thiam meets the leader of the Publish What You Pay campaign
Français | Español

Letter From Sierra Leone

November 12, 2007
Civil society opens dialogue with the Fund on transparency, voice and social spending
Français | Español

Civil Society at the Annual Meetings

October 22, 2007
Civil Society Forum engages 250 representatives on low-income issues
Français | Español

Oxfam Engages the Fund

September 24, 2007
Public forum discusses Fund policy, reform and focus on Low-Income Countries
Français | Español

Bulletin Board

Spring Meetings 2009

New IMF Integrity Hotline

IMF Executive Board Calendar

Seminars, Conferences, Workshops and Economic Forums

Resources

Civil Society Factsheet

Guide for Staff Relations with Civil Society

Civil Society Transcripts

Civil Society Newsletter Archive

The IMF and Civil Society: Striking a Balance

IMF Civic and Community Relations

The IMF and Legislators

The Fund and Development, Trade, and Aid

The Fund and Globalization

The IMF: Making a Difference

Refocusing the IMF

Technical Assistance

Economic Analysis and Policy Advice

The World Bank and Civil Society

Related Webcasts and Media Clips

Africa: Riding Out Twin Crises

Townhall Meeting and Reception with Civil Society Representatives. October 9, 2008

Strauss-Kahn on NewsHour with Jim Lehrer October 8, 2008

New AFR Director Antoinette Sayeh on the 2008 Annual Meetings and responding to Africa's challenges (YouTube) October 6, 2008

IMF Technical Assistance: Building Human and Institutional Capacity: August 1, 2008

Haiti: IMF's Third Review of Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (also in French) June 19, 2008

Engaging Civil Society

Civil society organizations have become an important player during the past quarter century, and have influenced policies on a broad range of issues including economic matters at the core of the work of the IMF. The Fund is increasing its engagement with civil society

Spotlight

U.S. Congress Vote Marks Big Step For IMF Reform, Funding
June 18, 2009

Consultation Roundtable on IMF Transparency, Summary of Comments from Civil Society Organizations
May 29, 2009

Transcript of a Conference Call with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) on the IMF Low-Income Countries (LIC) Facilities Review
May 15, 2009

Letter from the IMF to Oxfam
April 30, 2009

Letter from IMF Managing Director to Civil Society Organizations
April 27, 2009

Employment Policies and Social Sustainability, Speech by John Lipsky at the G8 Social Summit
March 31, 2009

About this page

This page replaces the Civil Society Newsletter and aims to provide civil society organizations with relevant, up-to-date information on new developments at the Fund.

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The Fund's Civil Society Team welcomes your suggestions and feedback. Ph: (+1) 202 623-9400 Fax: (+1) 202 623-6220

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