## More Diversity will Help the IMF at Work

_IMF Blog, June 1, 2011_

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [More Diversity will Help the IMF at Work](https://www.imf.org/en/blogs/articles/2011/06/01/more-diversity-will-help-the-imf-at-work)

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## Bibliographic details
- Authors: iMFdirect
- Published: June 1, 2011

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### Internal debate and institutional culture
- Nemat Shafik, who took over as IMF Deputy Managing Director in April, says she has been surprised by the vigor of internal policy debate at the IMF.
- From the outside, the IMF can appear “a monolith with a very single-minded view of the world.” Inside, what is “really striking is how active the internal debate is.”
- The IMF is described as a “highly professional and respectful workplace,” but Shafik acknowledges the institution “could nonetheless do better.”

### Current global context shaping IMF priorities
- The global economy is being buffeted by continued uncertainty in Europe, uprisings in the Middle East, and signs of overheating in some emerging market economies.
- These global developments increase the volume and intensity of issues for the IMF to discuss and respond to.

### Gender diversity progress and target
- Progress has been made on diversity of gender.
- Women at the IMF have spoken out against recent criticisms of the workplace.
- The IMF is committed to a new target of recruiting 50 percent women at all levels going forward.

### Broader diversity beyond gender and nationality
- The IMF needs to look beyond nationality and gender to wider diversity issues, including:
  - educational background
  - diversity of work experience
  - diversity of perspective

### How diversity affects IMF work and advice
- A wider variety of views within the institution can enrich the existing internal debate.
- Greater internal diversity can better help shape IMF policies and advice to the institution’s 187 member countries.

*iMFdirect, June 1, 2011*

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## References

- [Nemat Shafik](http://www.imf.org/external/np/omd/bios/mns.htm)
- [diversity](http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/survey/so/2010/NEW110510A.htm)
- [work in tackling global problems](http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/survey/so/2011/INT052611A.htm)
- [Middle East](http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/survey/so/2011/NEW052711A.htm)

_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/blogs/articles/2011/06/01/more-diversity-will-help-the-imf-at-work_