WASHINGTON, May 22, 2014--The World Bank Group has established an Advisory Council to guide the development and implementation of a Strategic Framework for Mainstreaming Citizen Engagement in World Bank Group Operations. The framework is a follow-up to the World Bank Group (WBG) Strategy commitment to increase engagement with citizens for improved results, and WBG President Jim Kim’s commitment to achieve 100 percent beneficiary feedback in projects with clearly identifiable beneficiaries.
The members of the Advisory Council – experts in the field from civil society, academia, government, private sector, and development partners – were selected based on their knowledge and experience and ability to represent a range of global and country perspectives. Nominations for CSO representatives were received through an open, web-based nomination process.
The Advisory Council’s remit is to provide its guidance and expertise on how citizen engagement, including beneficiary feedback, can improve the results of World Bank Group-financed development interventions. Members are expected to meet every six months to discuss the implementation of the strategic framework, provide recommendations, and assist in evaluating lessons learned.
The Council held its first meeting in May at the World Bank Headquarters. The discussion focused on the available evidence of impact on citizen engagement; what mechanisms work where and why, how to analyze the context for engagement, as well as how to measure results and other emerging issues in mainstreaming citizen engagement in development projects for improved results, such as the role of ICT. The meeting was followed by a dialogue with World Bank Group staff on what it takes to achieve impact through citizen engagement and lessons learned from experience in government, civil society and the private sector.
The Strategic Framework is expected to be finalized in June 2014, and implemented starting July 1.
Advisory Council Members
- Ms. Stephanie de Chassy, Head of Gender, Governance, and Social Development, Oxfam GB
- Ms. Anabel Cruz, President, Communication and Development Institute (ICD)
- Dr. Archon Fung, Ford Foundation Professor of Democracy and Citizenship, Harvard University
- Dr. Sulley Gariba, Senior Policy Advisor to the President, Ghana
- Mr. Mirza Jahani, Chief Executive Officer, Aga Khan Foundation USA
- Dr. Anuradha Joshi, Team Leader, Governance, Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex
- Ms. Emily Fintel Kaiser, Executive Director, Avina Americas
- Mr. Khaled Koubaa, Public Policy & Government’s Relations Manager for North Africa, Google
- Ms. Betty Maina, Chief Executive, Kenya Association of Manufacturers
- Mr. Simon Mizrahi, Director, Quality Assurance and Results, African Development Bank
- Ms. Corazon (Dinky) Soliman, Secretary, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippines
