## Help Shape the Future of IMF Engagement with Civil Society

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Help Shape the Future of IMF Engagement with Civil Society](https://www.imf.org/en/about/partners/civil-society/consultation-2015-guidelines-imf-cso)

## Other formats

- [Markdown version](/en/about/partners/civil-society/consultation-2015-guidelines-imf-cso/index.md)
- [Structured JSON version](/en/about/partners/civil-society/consultation-2015-guidelines-imf-cso/index.json)
- [Bundle manifest](/en/about/partners/civil-society/consultation-2015-guidelines-imf-cso/bundle-manifest.json)

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### Introduction
- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is reviewing its 2015 Guidelines on the IMF Staff Engagement with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).
- The 2015 Guidelines shape IMF engagement with a wide range of non-media and non-governmental stakeholders, including nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), trade unions, academia, think tanks, and others.
- The IMF is conducting internal and external consultations to inform the review and seeks input from stakeholders worldwide.
- The IMF states that inclusive dialogue, based on information-sharing and mutual exchange, helps improve understanding of policy and country issues and can strengthen IMF policy analysis and advice.
- The review is presented as an opportunity to step back, listen, and improve how the IMF engages with the broader CSO community to ensure its approach remains relevant, transparent, and responsive.

### Public consultation window and survey
- The Public Consultation is Open from October 13, 2025 to January 13,2026
- Take the Survey: English | French | Spanish | Arabic [1]
- The online survey:
  - Is an opportunity for participants worldwide to provide written input through a structured survey.
  - Is open until January 13, 2026.
  - Will take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
  - Requires all responses to be submitted electronically through the online form by January 13, 2026.
  - Participants are advised: "Please do not close the page or leave it unsaved. If you would like to work on your answers before completing the form, you can download the survey questions here. However, please kindly note that all responses to the survey must be submitted electronically, without exception, through the online form by January 13, 2026."

### Scope of the review and tentative timeline
- Main goal: update the 2015 Guidelines on the IMF Staff Engagement with CSOs to ensure they remain fit for purpose and to take stock of developments since 2015.
- The review will consider how the IMF can best engage with the CSO community at the country, regional and global level.
- Multi-phase consultation process:
  - Online survey (virtual) October 2025-January 2026: Written input via structured survey.
  - Roundtable conversations (virtual/hybrid) March-June 2026: Follow-up discussion(s) with those who completed the online survey to share findings, dig deeper on significant feedback, and provide updates on the review process.
- The updated version of the Guidelines is expected to be published during the second half of 2026.
- The IMF invites participation across all phases of the consultation.

### Who can participate
- All stakeholders covered in the 2015 Guidelines on the IMF Staff Engagement with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) are invited to participate, including:
  - nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)
  - business forums
  - faith based organizations
  - youth organizations
  - labor unions and professional organizations
  - local community groups
  - philanthropic and charitable organizations
  - gender and women’s associations
  - local organizations of persons with disabilities
  - social movements (including representatives of the informal sector and rural areas)
  - academics
  - research centers
  - think tanks

### Contact information and language access
- For questions, contact via email:
  - Emilia Berazategui, Civil Society Lead
  - Abha Parekh, Communications Officer
- To access the Arabic translation of the survey:
  - Send an email to publicaffairs@imf.org with the subject line: “Public Consultation Review 2015 Guidelines IMF engagement with CSOs– Arabic translation of the survey”. The team will then send it to you directly.

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## Content in this bundle

- [Csoguidelinesmarch2016 (PDF)](/external/np/exr/cs/pdf/csoguidelinesmarch2016.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"}

---

## References

- [Civil Society and the IMF](https://www.imf.org/en/About/Partners/civil-society)
- [Factsheet: What is the IMF?](https://www.imf.org/en/About/Factsheets/IMF-at-a-Glance)
- [Consultation on the Comprehensive Surveillance Review (CSR)](https://www.imf.org/en/Topics/Comprehensive-Surveillance-Review/CSO-public-consultation-2026)
- [Consultation on the Review of the Fund’s Transparency Policy](https://www.imf.org/en/Topics/review-of-the-transparency-policy-public-consultation-with-csos)
- [Consultation on the Review of the IMF’s AML/CFT Strategy](https://www.imf.org/en/Topics/review-of-imf-anti-money-laundering-and-combating-the-financing-of-terrorism-strategy)
- [[1]](https://www.imf.org/en/about/partners/civil-society/EditorPage.aspx?da=core&di=0&ed=&fbd=1&fld=%7B1DC78734-EC8A-44EB-B9C6-BF7935BA25BB%7D&hdl=H1526707468&id=%7B3842A009-5B5F-4E3D-9E24-1933934522C2%7D&la=en&mo=&pe=1&so=%2Fsitecore%2Fsystem%2FSettings%2FHtml+Editor+Profiles%2FRich+Text+Full&vs=9)

_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/about/partners/civil-society/consultation-2015-guidelines-imf-cso_