Spring and Annual Meetings of the World Bank and IMF

The World Bank (WB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) hold two global meetings – Annual and Spring Meetings – each year to discuss a range of issues related to poverty reduction and international economic development, as well as to assess the work program of both institutions.  These meetings bring together not only the development or finance ministers who represent the 185 governments which comprise the Board of Governors of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, but hundreds of other government and donor agency officials, academics, civil society representatives, and journalists. 

In an effort to provide a space for dialogue amongst various stakeholders, and particularly civil society, the WB and IMF Civil Society Teams host the Civil Society Policy Forum during the Spring and Annual Meetings. The Forum comprises of a series of policy dialogue sessions which give an opportunity for Bank and Fund staff, CSO representatives, government officials, and others to discuss important issues of common interest as well as topics being addressed by the Governors during the Spring or Annual Meetings.  The last Civil Society Policy Forum was held during the 2008 Annual Meetings, and was attended by over 350 civil society representatives from 50 countries. It comprised more than 30 policy sessions on a wide range of topics including the food crisis, climate change, governance, financing for development, and IFC's water and sanitation strategy. The sessions were organized by the Bank or Fund units, by CSOs themselves, or jointly. The 2009 Spring Meetings Civil Society Policy Forum will be organized in late April (dates TBC). All accredited CSO representatives are welcome to attend these sessions and propose topics for discussions.

All CSO representatives interested in participating in either the Spring or Annual Meetings must apply for accreditation. The requests for accreditation are managed through an on-line accreditation system. The WB and IMF accredit CSOs that engage with the Bank and the Fund on a broad range of development operations and in policy dialogues at the local, national, and global level. Accreditation system for the upcoming 2009 Spring Meetings will open in late February (TBC). 

During the past several Meetings heads of the WB and IMF participated in Town Hall meetings with CSOs and answered their questions. During the recent 2008 Annual Meetings, Bank and Fund Civil Society Teams hosted a ‘Townhall and Reception’ with WB President Robert Zoellick and IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn with CSO representatives.  (summary, video, transcript, photos)

More Information:

Spring Meetings 2009 (April 25-26, 2009)

Annual and Spring Meetings