Review of the IMF’s Transparency Policy — Public Consultation with Civil Society Organizations

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The public consultation with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) was conducted between May 31 – June 30, 2023.
A total of 23 responses were received from CSOs.
The consultation was part of preparatory work for the "2024 Review of the Fund’s Transparency and Open Archives Policy".
Inputs from the consultation were presented to and discussed with CSOs in a virtual seminar and informed Background Paper 2 (analysis of CSO and stakeholder input).

Objective: To gather views on the Fund’s Transparency Policy and Open Archives Policy.
Scope: The Review examines the implementation of the Transparency and Open Archives Policy over the last ten years and assesses whether the right balance is being struck between disclosure and protection of confidential information and analytical candor.
Policies under review: Transparency Policy, Open Archives Policy, and the Communication Strategy (with a separate stakeholder feedback process for the Communication Strategy to follow).

The Transparency Policy governs publication and modification of documents prepared for the IMF’s Executive Board, with publication presumptions, modification rules for corrections or deletions, and communications expectations for country, policy, and multi-country documents.
The Open Archives Policy governs public access to Fund records with legal, historical, or other enduring value.
Significant changes to the Transparency Policy have occurred since its introduction in the 1990s.
The Transparency Policy was last reviewed in 2013; the 2024 Review assesses application of the 2013 Transparency and Archive Policies in a changed disclosure environment.

The CSO consultation included:
- An online survey launched at end-May 2023 with responses to be submitted electronically by June 30th, 2023.
- A virtual preparatory meeting with CSOs familiar with the Fund’s transparency and open archive policy ahead of launching the survey.
- A virtual seminar to present and discuss the survey results with CSOs.
- Possibility of bilateral meetings for additional follow up if needed.
The views of CSOs from the consultative process were to be incorporated into the staff report presenting findings and recommendations to the IMF’s Executive Board by mid-2024.

On November 15th, 2024, the IMF Executive Board concluded the 2024 Review of the Fund’s Transparency Policy and Open Archives Policy.
The Review includes:
- A comprehensive stocktaking of implementation of the Transparency and Open Archives Policy in the last ten years.
- A number of reforms designed to strengthen the Policy.
- Documentation and analysis of input provided by CSOs and other stakeholders during the consultation process (Background Paper 2).

The next review by the Executive Board of the Transparency and Open Archives Policies is expected to take place in light of experience in five years or more, as needed.