ABCDE 2006 Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ABCDE conference?
ABCDE is an inclusive academic meeting with a global angle focusing on the fight against poverty. The goals are to expand the flow of ideas on international development issues among thinkers, practitioners and policy-makers, and to bring the World Bank's research on development into closer contact with global perspectives.
The overarching theme for the 2005 edition of the conference was "Securing Development in an Unstable World". The ABCDE 2005 (Amsterdam, May 23-24 2005) was co-organized by the World Bank, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Development Cooperation and the Ministry of Finance of the Netherlands.
The Annual Bank Conference on Development Economics (ABCDE) is one of the world's best known conference series for presenting and discussing new knowledge about development. The first meeting was held in Washington in 1988. In recent years the conference series has expanded beyond Washington. In 1999, the World Bank held its first ABCDE-Europe conference in Paris, co-organized with the French Ministry of Finance. In 2002, the ABCDE-Europe was held in Oslo, hosted by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in 2003 it was co-organized by the Agence Française de Developpement and the Conseil d'Analyse Économique (CAE) in Paris, France and in 2004 it was co-organized by the Belgian Government. Since 2005, the ABCDE has acquired a truly global focus.

What are the outcomes of the ABCDE?
The ABCDE is an annual academic meeting, a forum to exchange ideas and an opportunity to network. No resolutions or declarations come out of these conferences. The proceedings of the ABCDE are published in a book every year and all materials are available on the web.

Who determines the agenda?
The agenda is created by the ABCDE Steering Committee which meets regularly over the year (normally from September to May). The ABCDE 2006 will also feature an Advisory Committee which will be consulted on ad hoc basis by the Steering Committee for the selection of topics and speakers. Both Committees will include staff of the World Bank and other multilateral organizations, academics, as well as representatives of civil society organizations and private sector. The Steering and Advisory Committees are based on volunteer-basis participation and do no receive any financial compensation for their services.

Who can participate?
Born in the 90s as a truly ‘academic’ conference, the ABCDE now welcomes – besides specialized researchers – a vast array of participants. Therefore academics but also policy-makers, NGOs, media, and others involved in researching development issues are invited to attend.
Every year the World Bank extends invitations to leading development experts worldwide. However, everyone interested can apply. The application process is entirely web-based and normally starts 4-5 months prior to the conference. Acceptance of applications is based on space availability.
The entire meeting is open to the media. The media accreditation process starts approximately 5-6 weeks before the conference.

What is the ABCDE Support Grant (ASG)?
As in the previous years, the organizers offer a limited number of support grants for participants of the ABCDE 2005 based in developing countries. Support Grantees are normally young policy makers, researchers, civil society and media representatives, and students. Successful applicants receive a lump sum payment to cover their transport and/or accommodation during the conference.
I am a researcher. How can I get involved in the next ABCDE?
Every year, we welcome expressions of interest and proposals from researchers, think tanks, civil society organizations, etc. to send us proposals for breakout sessions to organize during the ABCDE. To download the Terms of Reference and submission form for the organization of parallel sessions, please click here.