What is civil society?

The IMF uses the term “civil society organization” to refer to the wide range of citizens’ associations that exists in virtually all member countries to provide benefits, services, or political influence to specific groups within society. CSOs include: business forums, faith-based associations, labor unions, local community groups, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), philanthropic foundations, think tanks, among others. Usually excluded are not only the branches of government (government agencies and legislators) but also individual businesses, political parties, and the media.

What is the basis for CSO-IMF engagement?

Over the years, the IMF has become more transparent and has sought to become more accountable, not only to the governments that own it, but also to the broader public. This has led to a more active involvement with CSOs, as well as legislatures. When the IMF began to engage with CSOs in the 1980s, it was usually at a global level, in response to advocacy by groups concerned with economic and social justice. Engagement at the country level, especially in low-income countries, and at the global level remains central in IMF-CSO relations.

As the IMF’s policies have evolved—for instance its increased focus on promoting poverty reduction in low-income countries through a participatory approach, and its emphasis on transparency and good governance—outreach and communication have become an integral part of IMF country work as well. The Fund has become committed to:

• Being transparent about its work. Dialogue with CSOs is an important channel for communication.
• Fostering a culture of listening and learning. CSOs can highlight important issues, offer information to supplement official data, and provide insights that may differ from perspectives in official circles.
• Strengthening country ownership of policies, which is essential to successful stabilization and reform. Constructive dialogue with CSOs can help to build mutual understanding and to increase support for reform.

As a reflection of the importance of dialogue with CSOs to the IMF's work, a Guide for Staff Relations with Civil Society Organizations was distributed to IMF staff by the Managing Director in 2003, and published on the IMF website (www.imf.org). The note encourages IMF staff to continue to increase outreach, and gives practical advice on issues arising from interaction with CSOs.

How does the IMF engage with CSOs?

The issues that feature in CSO-IMF engagement evolve, but some are always at the forefront: IMF policy advice, especially to low-income countries; the social and environmental implications of IMF advice; debt relief; program conditionality; trade policy; governance and transparency; and the voice and representation of developing countries in the IMF and World Bank.

At the global level, the IMF's engagement with CSOs takes a variety of forms, including:

• Contacts between IMF management and CSO representatives, in both small meetings and larger forums;
• Public consultations on the Fund’s policy and strategy papers;
• Meetings and seminars with IMF staff—and Executive Directors—at Fund headquarters and worldwide on specific policy or country issues;
• Invitations extended by the IMF to contribute to reviews of its policies, by attending seminars or by providing comments to papers posted on its external website;
• A Civil Society Policy Forum organized jointly with the World Bank, runs in parallel with the Annual and Spring Meetings of the IMF and World Bank, with sessions covering a wide range of topics, most of them organized by CSOs themselves.
• Participation in the CSO Fellowship Program during the Annual and Spring Meetings.

The Independent Evaluation Office also maintains regular contacts with CSOs, who have been among the most active providers of feedback, comments, and suggestions to its evaluations.

In individual countries, engagement with CSOs takes several forms. The IMF Managing Director regularly meets with CSOs when he visits a country. Staff surveillance missions make a point of meeting with CSOs-for example, labor organizations and think tanks. In the context of program design and negotiations in low-income countries, missions often meet CSOs that are engaged in the consultative process of preparing poverty reduction strategies. Resident representatives routinely engage in outreach to CSOs.

How does the IMF disseminate information about its activities with CSOs?

Information relating to IMF activities, summarizing events, papers, and discussions relevant to CSOs, is gathered on the IMF and Civil Society page on the IMF website.