October 2008 – This year, the Annual Meetings are held in Washington, DC from October 11 to 13.
The Annual Meetings include 2 days of plenary sessions, during which Governors will take up matters of development issues, consult with one another, and address the assembled delegates to present their countries' views on current issues in international economics and finance. The main seminars are about Sub-Saharan Africa Economic Outlook, Recent developments in Latin America, Europe and Central Asia Economic Update, 2008 Middle East North Africa Economic Developments and Prospects (Regional Integration for Global Competitiveness), etc. > More What are the Annual Meetings? The Board of Governors of the International Monetary Fund (Fund) and the Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group (Bank) normally meet once a year to discuss the work of their respective institutions. The Annual Meetings are chaired by a Governor of the Bank and the Fund, with the chairmanship rotating among the membership each year. > More Rising food and fuel prices
The report, "Rising food and fuel prices: addressing the risks to future generations”, due to be presented on Sunday to the Development Committee at the Annual Meetings, says while food and fuel price increases may have moderated in recent months, prices remain much higher than previous years and show few signs of declining significantly, according to the report entitled “Rising food and fuel prices: addressing the risks to future generations”. Poor families around the world are being pushed to the brink of survival, causing irreparable damage to the health of millions of children. As families cut back on spending, there are also grave risks for the educational performance of poor children.> More Financial crisis
Speaking ahead of the Annual Meetings, World Bank President, Zoellick, said: “The events of September could be a tipping point for many developing countries. A drop in exports, as well as capital inflow, will trigger a falloff in investments. Deceleration of growth and deteriorating financing conditions, combined with monetary tightening, will trigger business failures and possibly banking emergencies. Some countries will slip toward balance of payments crises. As is always the case, the most poor are the most defenseless.” > Speech: "Modernizing Multilateralism and Markets" Climate change The World Bank will present its new report, "Development and Climate Change: A Strategic Framework for the World Bank Group", to development and finance ministers on October 12. The Strategic Framework, reviewed over more than five months of consultations by 1,800 participants from 76 countries, defines the World Bank Group’s role in addressing a problem that is likely to cause the greatest distress to countries least responsible for it. > More Countries Challenges and World Bank projects Annual meetings are also a time for the update of the Country briefs on World Bank projects and countries development challenges (economy, education, health, etc.).
> Algeria Country brief
> Morocco Country brief
> Tunisia Country brief |
RSS