(the summary was prepared by the World Bank Group Vice Presidency for Europe) Participants Mr. Frans Polman – CONCORD (European NGO Confederation for Relief and Development) Ms. Ester Asin - CONCORD Mr. James Howard – ICFTU (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions) Ms. Sevdalina Rukanova - European Foundation Centre Mr. Luis Morago - Action Aid International Ms. Jo Leadbeater - Oxfam International Ms. Eva Christina Nilsson – APRODEV (Association of World Council of Churches related Development Organisations in Europe) Mr. Alex Wilks – Eurodad (European Network on Debt and Development) Ms. Jane Backhurst - World Vision Mr. Justin Kilcullen – Dóchas (umbrella organisation of Irish Non-Governmental Organisations) Ms. Melanie Vritschan – European Network on Street Children Mr. James D. Wolfensohn - World Bank Mr. Jean Francois Rischard - World Bank Mr. Andrew Kircher - World Bank Ms. Haleh Bridi - World Bank Mr. Guggi Laryea - World Bank
Introduction Mr. James D. Wolfensohn, President of the World Bank held discussions with nine European civil society networks in a meeting focused on the issues of poverty and security during his visit to Brussels on 20 October. Chaired by Mr. Frans Polman, the President of CONCORD, the meeting included, representatives from Eurodad, World Vision, Dóchas, the European Foundation Centre, the International Confederation of Trade Unions, Oxfam International, Action Aid, European Network on Street Children, and APRODEV. It provided an opportunity for high-level dialogue between the Bank and networks representing three key strands of European civil society: NGOs, trade unions and foundations. As regards NGOs, it was the first occasion for dialogue with the NGO umbrella organization CONCORD, which brings together 1500 European NGOs. With the approaching progress review of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2005 and the ongoing global debate around the relation between development and security in the wake of the war in Iraq, the topics for discussion were particularly relevant to all parties.
Summary of Questions and Answers Mr. Wolfensohn’s responses to individual comments and questions from the civil society organization are summarized below. Debt Relief In response to a question from Eurodad on whether the Bank will call for a 100% debt cancellation for the poorest countries in support of efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, Mr. Wolfensohn stated the following: There is a need to address the issue of governance in some developing countries as well as debt relief. 100% cancellation of debt will not tackle the issue of governance. 100% cancellation of debt would also deplete resources of the International Development Association, the lending arm of the Bank for the poorest countries, and as a consequence reduce its ability to extend further loans to these countries. This would mean that funding requirements of many developing countries would not be met. The recent proposal from UK Minister, Gordon Brown, to cancel the UK's share of the remaining debt owed by a number of developing countries to the World Bank sounds promising. The Bank is currently studying this proposal.
Development and security In response to a question from Dóchas on the Bank's views on politicization of aid, and attempts to redefine Official Development Assistance (ODA) to include military expenditure, Mr. Wolfensohn stated that: He was against the idea that military expenses would be classified as ODA The World Bank had however not been consulted in any discussions on whether military expenditure could be redefined as Development Assistance.
Labour standards In response to the question from ICFTU on how PRSPs and the Bank’s own operations could give greater emphasis to the creation of decent work and core labour standards, Mr. Wolfensohn stated: Discussions on labour had unfortunately not been part of the process of discussions around PRSPs. While the Bank is in favour of promoting good practice on labour, the Bank has however refused the idea of using labour standards as a conditionality. This would require a Board decision, but differences among members of the Board remain strong on this issue. The Bank supports the promotion of core labour standards through programmes for children, staff training and seminars. The Bank’s relationship with the ILO and with trade unions has broadened and deepened in the past few years. Regular meetings and dialogue sessions with these organisations are now standard practice.
Conditionality In response to the question from Oxfam on the independence of the forthcoming review of the Bank’s conditionality mandated by its Development Committee, and how civil society could input in to this process, Mr. Wolfensohn stated: There was a need to ensure that the review process on bank conditionality would be open and independent. Few concerns had been raised on this issue thus far. He would examine the possibility of how civil society could input in this process and ensure the result is communicated to civil society actors.
HIV/AIDS and Orphans and Vulnerable Children In response to a question from World Vision on the Bank’s approach to the UN Framework for the Protection, Care and Support of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVCs) living in a world of HIV/AIDS in the light of the fact that the Bank is hosting the Global Partners Forum in December 2004, Mr. Wolfensohn stated:
Other Comments and Conclusions Collaboration between the Bank and Foundations The European Foundation Centre (EFC), commended Mr. Wolfensohn's initiatives to enhance the dialogue and understanding between World Bank staff and foundations. It stated that further efforts to inform Bank staff about foundations, and the EFC’s Foundation Coordinator office will continue, with the hope that its role and position will be strengthened. Foundations would like to be called upon to participate in Bank projects, or work with the Bank staff to scale up projects they have already funded. There is also a clear interest among foundations in better understanding how the World Bank operates, and how to obtain information about projects being planned. In this respect, both the EFC and the World Bank Foundation Coordinator office has undertaken a number of information and convening activities, including the development of a series of focused dialogues between World Bank Country Director and senior officers and foundation leaders. The first is taking place on 18-21 October in Thailand. Sessions in Brazil, Kenya and Russia are in the pipeline for 2005. The EFC wishes to see these types of initiatives grow, and gain broader support among World Bank staff at different levels. Collaboration between the Bank and the European Commission Mr. Wolfensohn informed the meeting that following a discussion with incoming EU Commissioner, Mr. Louis Michel, he expected enhanced dialogue and collaboration between the World Bank and the European Commission. He remarked that the Bank and the Commission could complement each other with their different strengths. While the Commission could provide a lot more grants than the Bank, the Bank has a lot more human resources in the field. Blending of different Bank and Commission instruments could also be envisaged. Mr. Wolfensohn reported that Mr. Michel had accepted an invitation to Washington in early 2005 for further discussions on Bank/Commission collaboration. Concluding remarks and proposals from CONCORD CONCORD thanked the World Bank for the meeting on behalf of all civil society actors present. It acknowledged that though CONCORD is focused primarily on European affairs, there is a need for it to give serious attention to the role and impact of the EU in the world and its interaction with other donors. That is why regular dialogue with the World Bank [2] is needed. To this end it called for: Regular meetings with the Bank’s Brussels office. Periodic exchanges with the Bank’s Headquarters in Washington (involving Mr. Wolfensohn when possible) and Southern civil society, via video conference facilities that the Bank’s office had at its disposal. Consultations with the Bank and other donors in advance of the OECD High Level Forum on Harmonization, Alignment and Results taking place in March 2004. [ 3]
Concluding Remarks from Mr. Wolfensohn Mr. Wolfensohn thanked all participants of the meeting and welcomed CONCORD’s proposals. He concluded by calling for civil society dialogue with the Bank to begin from ‘a clean slate’ with an ‘amnesty’ for past misunderstandings between the two parties.
[1] Discussions between the Bank’s Brussels office and World Vision have started on this issue. (back)
[2] CONCORD, being the new umbrella organization for European development NGOs, has not participated in previous dialogue meetings between the Bank’s offices and European civil society.
[3] The Bank has started discussions with CONCORD’s working group relevant to this issue.
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