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World
Bank-Civil Society Initiative (WB-CSI)
Be sure to take
a look at the frequently updated IFIwatchnet
Calendar for the latest World Bank- and IMF-related events
all over the world.
Upcoming Events
No upcoming events at this time.
Past
Events
January 13, 2005
Recent
proposals put forth by the US Treasury Department and UK Chancellor
Gordon Brown calling for "up to 100%" debt cancellation for poor nations
represent a encouraging new development in discussions on debt sustainability. However, progress
has not been immediate due to varied concerns about mechanisms to
finance the debt cancellation. Our discussion will address the
financing options: Should international financial institutions
be asked to finance debt cancellation from their own resources?
What are the resources available at the World Bank and the IMF?
What is the role of the G-7 countries? What are other options?
Panelists:
Bobby
J. Pittman Jr., Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury
Dr. Mark Weisbrot, Co-Director, Center for Economic and Policy Research
Dr. Geoffrey Lamb, Vice President, World Bank
Sony Kapoor, Senior Advisor, Jubilee Research UK & Jubilee USA Network
Read
more about InterAction's high-level panel on debt cancellation
October 4,
2004
Taking Stock
of the PRSP Process and Looking Toward the Future
June
25, 2004
Fiscal Adjustment in IMF-Supported Programs: Commentary from Country Experience
The IMF’s Independent
Evaluation Office has recently published a study on fiscal adjustment
in IMF-supported programs. The study takes up the question of whether
the budget deficit (or surplus) targets recommended by the IMF follow
a “one-size-fits-all: model. In particular, the study addresses
the question of whether excessively cautious projections of foreign aid
lead to unnecessary reductions in public spending. Critics have observed
that such pessimistic projections effectively impose a budget “cap”
that is unjustified in the face of foreign aid levels. Moreover, they
further maintain that the priority should be placed on increasing ODA
levels, rather than accepting “realistic” ODA projections
and the belt-tightening this implies. On the other hand, observers assert
that fiscal targets are sometimes based on overly optimistic economic
growth assumptions. The study examines these and other concerns and makes
specific recommendations on how to cope with problems in the future.
Panelists:
Marcelo Selowsky, Assistant Director, Independent Evaluation Office, IMF
Mauricio Díaz Burdett, Coordinator, FOSDEH (Social Forum on Development
and
External Debt of Honduras)
May
7, 2004
The UN and World Bank/IMF April Meetings: What do These Conclaves Have
to Do with My Programming??
With the end of several
high-level dialogues among the World Bank, the UN, and the IMF, we examine
how to make sense of these seemingly arcane policy debates and to connect
them to active programming concerns at the local level. InterAction earnestly
invites all to come and hear from and discuss these issues with NGO participants
and observers of the above events.
April
14-26,
2004
World
Bank/IMF Spring Meetings
While the official Spring Meetings are being held on April 24-25, a number
of dialogues
for interested civil society organizations are being organized around
the Meetings. InterAction has requested a conversation
with the World Bank on reaching the MDGs and the “managing for
development results” mandate coming out of IDA-13. InterAction
is also supporting a panel discussion on the “voice and vote” of
developing countries on the boards of the IMF and the World Bank.
March 21 - 25, 2004
Civicus
World Assembly
InterAction was represented at the 5th biennial Civicus World Assembly
held in Gaborone, Botswana, entitled "Acting Together for a Just
World". View more information
on InterAction’s participation.
December 11, 2003
World
Bank and Civil Society Discussion on Poverty Reduction Strategies
and Governance
Presentation on good governance and PRSP, given by Ann Hudock of World
Learning and Lawrence Egulu of ICFTU, with commentary by Katrina Sharkey
of the World Bank.
December 1-3, 2003
Eurodad
Annual Conference
InterAction staff participated in the Annual Conference of the European
Network for Debt and Development (Eurodad), held in Prague, the Czech
Republic. The conference was entitled, "IDEOLOGY and EVOLVING ACRONYMS:
Progress or Doublespeak?"
View
a full report of the conference proceedings
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