PNoWB

Initiated in 2000 by a group of parliamentarians and the then World Bank European Vice Presidency (currently EXTEU), the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank (PNoWB) is an independent and non-partisan network of parliamentarians from developed and developing countries interested in development. Its mission is to mobilize parliamentarians in the fight against global poverty, promote transparency and accountability in international development and offer a platform for policy dialogue between the World Bank and parliamentarians. 

The PNoWB has since established itself as a non-profit organization led by an elected board of nine MPs. Over the past seven years, some 1500 parliamentarians from about 110 countries have participated in PNoWB events and activities. The Network has become the Bank's main global parliamentary interlocutor. Through its regional and national chapters, PNoWB has created with World Bank staff in country offices a common platform for action-oriented policy dialogue and parliamentary participation at the country level.

The PNoWB is now headed since June 2007 by US Congresswoman Betty McCollum elected in June 2007, following the resignation of Bert Koenders nominated as Minister for Development Cooperation of The Netherlands.

The network's activities, funded by bilateral donors include:

• A field visit program jointly organized with the World Bank to review the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) process and obtain first-hand access to Bank operations (16 held so far in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East). As part of the Network's and EXT's efforts to support the IDA 15 replenishment process, 4 recent visits have been organized in IDA countries (Mozambique, Haiti, Cambodia and Niger).
  
• A policy dialogue series, linking MPs together with World Bank Senior Management by video to exchange views on development issues and bank projects.
  
• The organization and support of country and regional chapters-which to date include: India, Japan, the Balkans, Donor Countries, East Africa, the Middle East and North Africa,  and West Africa- to help structure Bank-parliamentary interaction at the country and regional level.
   
• The PNoWB Annual Conference is the network's flagship event. World Bank, External Affairs, collaborates with the PNoWB on the organization of this main parliamentary event - Every year, the annual gathering brings together about 200 MPs with development leaders such as the heads of the Bank, IMF, and the WTO and heads of state to identify what parliamentarians can do to promote action on pressing development and global issues.  Representatives from the private sector, inter-parliamentary organizations, media and civil society also attend along with several senior Bank staff members. The 2007 Annual Conference of the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank (7th Edition) was held in Cape Town, South Africa in March 2007 and was hosted by the Parliament of South Africa. It was jointly organized by the PNoWB, the Parliament of South Africa, the World Bank and the African Development Bank . This was the first time that the annual conference was taking place in a developing nation.

The PNoWB's objectives moving forward include ensuring the systematic early involvement of parliamentarians in Country Assistance Strategies and Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers; development of a resource guide on best practices for parliamentary involvement in World Bank activities; ensuring that PNoWB has a strong voice in consultations on World Bank policy; and securing observer status on the World Bank/IMF Development Committee.

More information at: http://www.pnowb.org