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Civil Society Policy Forum Spring Meetings 2022

April 4-15, 2022

Virtual

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  • The Civil Society Policy Forum (CSPF) has become an integral part of the World Bank Group-International Monetary Fund Spring and Annual Meetings, providing an open space for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)* to dialogue and exchange views with World Bank Group and IMF staff, their peers, government delegations, and other stakeholders on a wide range of topics.

    A call for proposals for the 2022 Spring Meetings CSPF closed on February 23, 2022. Selected sessions were showcased during the CSPF from April 4 to April 15, 2022. 

    Find a schedule of the CSPF here.*

    Watch recordings of the CSPF sessions on the World Bank and IMF page. 

    Subscribe to the World Bank Civil Society Newsletter for updates on future CSPFs. 

    *CSOs include non-governmental organizations, community groups, labor unions, indigenous peoples movements, faith-based organizations, professional associations, foundations, think tanks, charitable organizations, and other not-for-profit organizations.  Representatives from the private sector, academia or governmental bodies must apply for accreditation through the "Guests" or other respective registration category as clarified on the main 2021 Spring Meetings website.

    *subject to change

    Last Updated: May 11, 2022

  • MULTIMEDIA

    First session of civil society policy forum on April 4
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    VIDEO Apr 04, 2022

    An introduction to the World Bank Group (WBG) for Civil Society

    Join John Kellenberg, Environmental and Social Framework Implementation Manager, World Bank; Julia Oliver, Senior Communications Officer, IFC; and Li Lou, External Affairs Officer, World Bank; as they provide an introduction for civil society organizations on the World Bank Group, its structure, mandate, how it works and how it is helping countries in the context of the current pandemic. You will have the opportunity to ask questions during q/a. Jill Wilkins, Director, Partnerships & Practice Groups, External and Corporate Relations, World Bank, will deliver opening remarks.

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    April 5 session of Civil Society Policy Forum
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    VIDEO Apr 05, 2022

    Synergies between the World Bank and the Escazú Agreement

    This session proposes synergies between the World Bank and the Escazu Agreement, so that its policy and loans are aligned to the principles of the treaty, following the IDB precedent. It is based on the situation of the communities of Ucayali - Peru and the challenges of implementing the Development Policy Loan (DPL).

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    April 6 session of civil society policy forum
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    VIDEO Apr 06, 2022

    Conflict, Economic Crisis, and COVID-19 Nexus: Recovery Perspectives in the Middle East

    The Syrian Center for Policy Research (SCPR) will moderate a discussion that demonstrates the impact of COVID-19 related policies and interventions adopted by local and international actors on conflict and crises dynamics in the Middle East. Specifically, the session will diagnose the impact on inequality, poverty, conflict economies and human security. The session also aims to critically assess the potential IMF/WB interventions for post COVID-19 recovery in such contexts, and suggests a civil society perspective for a recovery that counters conflict and crises' foundations.

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    april 7 session of CSPF
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    VIDEO Apr 07, 2022

    Sustainable Infrastructure and the World Bank’s Green Resilient and Inclusive Development: Continuities, Changes and Alternatives

    This panel investigates the World Bank’s new GRID Approach and its impact on the provision of sustainable infrastructure. It seeks to contribute to an urgent discussion about the nature of and remedies to the infrastructure gap identified by middle and low-income countries, the UN and the World Bank.

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    april 8 session of cspf
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    VIDEO Apr 08, 2022

    Indigenous Rights, Safeguards, and Conflict Resolution: Successes, Failures and Lessons from Three World Bank Projects

    The panel will share how effective engagement with Indigenous Peoples groups improved World Bank project design and outcomes in Peru, Bolivia, and Nicaragua. Panelists will share their experience and recommendations on how the Bank can use its influence to better support the role of Indigenous Peoples in WB-funded projects.

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    CSPF event
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    VIDEO Apr 11, 2022

    Debt and Climate Finance: Faith Perspectives and Proposals

    Church and community leaders from climate-vulnerable countries will share lived experiences on the intersections between debt and climate change. In dialogue with the World Bank, they will bring proposals for responding to the debt crisis as well as financing climate change adaptation and resilience-building. The session will highlight the moral imperative to tackle the debt-climate nexus, prevent needless human suffering and promote planetary restoration.

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    Session of the civil society policy forum on report
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    VIDEO Apr 11, 2022

    MISSING RECEIPTS: How did DFIs’ COVID-19 Response Affect Human and Environmental Rights during the Pandemic?

    In order to respond to the pandemic, the WBG and other DFIs positioned themselves as central players for the global economic and social recovery, committing billions of dollars. Civil society and communities have identified gross transparency and accountability gaps. Where has this funding gone? How have funds been utilized?

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    Session of the civil society policy forum
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    VIDEO Apr 12, 2022

    A New Era of Accountability in Development: Realizing the Right to Remedy for Affected People

    The World Bank Group has long focused on safeguards to avoid harm from development projects, but now there is more attention to the need for mechanisms to ensure remediation when harms do occur. This session will discuss what an effective remedy framework would look like, informed by the experiences of affected communities.

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    Session of the civil society policy forum
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    VIDEO Apr 13, 2022

    Towards a World Bank Private Sector Development Strategy that Puts People and Planet before Profit

    Last year, the World Bank announced the discontinuation of the Doing Business Report, which encapsulated its vision of private sector development. This session will examine the harmful legacy of the DBR, including the inconsistency with the WB’s mandate, and how this risks being replicated in the Business Enabling Environment project. It will also discuss an alternative vision of private sector development that supports poverty reduction and economic diversification, and properly values people and the planet. It will identify the steps that states can take to build an ‘enabling business environment’ consistent with such a vision and the implications for the WB’s work.

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    Session of the civil society policy forum
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    VIDEO Apr 14, 2022

    Exploding the Myths - World Bank Gas Finance and Recommendations to Shift Investment to Renewable Solutions

    Colleagues from countries where WBG is supporting gas will join this panel on World Bank gas finance. The panel will explode the myths around gas as a transition fuel, expose the impacts of ongoing WBG investment in gas and outline the arguments for leapfrogging to renewables.

    MULTIMEDIA

    Session of the civil society policy forum
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    VIDEO Apr 14, 2022

    National and Global Debt Mechanisms towards Long Term Sustainability in a Post COVID-19 Recovery

    Multiple crises have exacerbated Southern countries’ sovereign debt burdens and vulnerabilities, as well as increased the corporate debt. Global and national mechanisms are needed to be in place towards debt sustainability and an equitable recovery. This panel will address debt justice challenges with a view from the Global South.

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    Session of the civil society policy forum
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    VIDEO Apr 15, 2022

    Ensuring that People and Planet are at the Heart of Green Equity Approaches

    With the world facing a climate crisis, urgent action is required in ensuring adequate levels of climate-compatible finance to support mitigation and adaptation in the Global South. In this context, green equity approaches are gaining popularity among publicly-backed financial institutions such as the International Finance Corporation (IFC) or the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The investment shift away from fossil fuels towards greener solutions is indeed welcome. However, instead of creating truly green outcomes for local communities and their environment, so called green equity investments can also perpetuate an extractive and exploitative development model. This session will explore what needs to improve in order for green equity to become a powerful instrument to support a green and socially inclusive transformation – vital as all MDBs prepare their Paris alignment methodologies for indirect finance.

  • Ensuring that civil society can continue to engage and dialogue with World Bank Group and IMF remains a priority for the two institutions. Thus, in cooperation with the Civil Society Policy Forum (CSPF) Working Group, we launched a call for proposals for a virtual CSPF to take place over the course of the weeks (April 4-April 15, 2022) directly preceding the Spring Meetings (April 22-April 24, 2022) in the morning in Washington D.C (ET). 

    The call for proposals closed on February 23, 2022. 

    Session organizers will be notified if their session has been selected for inclusion in the CSPF, prior to posting the preliminary CSPF program schedule online.

    Due to the virtual nature of this year’s CSPF and the need to organize sessions at a reasonable time for participants in several time zones, the number of sessions we are able to accommodate will be limited. We will have space for roughly 10-18 sessions, and thus cannot guarantee that every proposal will be accepted. 

  • In July of 2019, we announced the opening of the Civil Society Policy Forum (CSPF) Working Group Election. The call for candidates to become members of the working group was held from August 22 to September 30, 2019. The voting process was open from October 18 through the 31.

    SELECTION CRITERIA

    VOTING RESULTS

    WORKING GROUP MEMBERS

    The CSPF Working Group members will serve two-year terms, starting on January 1, 2020. You can find their biographies and terms of reference below.

    CSPF WORKING GROUP 2020-2022

    TERMS OF REFERENCE

CONTACT

  • Email: civilsociety@worldbank.org

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