26 NGOs decide not to participate in IFC’s Washington DC consultation
6 October 2004
In response to a rapid and substandard policy consultation process, 26 NGOs declined to participate in the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) civil society meeting in Washington DC.
During the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Annual Meetings in Washington DC this week, the International Finance Corporation (IFC)—the World Bank’s private sector arm—held a stakeholder meeting to engage international civil society members in its policy revision process. The IFC is currently reviewing its disclosure policy, social and environmental safeguard policies, and 70 technical pollutant standards contained in the World Bank Group Pollution Prevention and Abatement Handbook. Many members of civil society have been frustrated with the IFC’s brisk consultation process and 180 signed on to a letter on September 16 (see BIC’s update) demanding an expanded and inclusive consultation process.
On October 4, 26 NGOs wrote a statement declaring that “although we are all present in Washington DC for the annual meetings, we do not believe that engaging under the current circumstances would be appropriate or worthwhile.” This was not the first time civil society withdrew from the IFC consultations. Friends of the Earth International has decided to withdraw itself from the IFC’s review process, affirming that they will continue their advocacy efforts with other stakeholders. During the IFC’s first regional consultation in Rio, the Brazilian Forum of NGOs and Social Movements, representing 1,200 civil society organizations, walked out on the consultation citing a “lack of accomplishment, on the part of the institution, of promises publicly made by the President of the World Bank James Wolfensohn.” Based on this, the Forum evaluated that their participation in the meeting would be "useless and possibly used to allege that IFC keeps a dialogue with the civil society."
To read the full statement, along with endorsements, presented in Washington DC, click the link below:
To read a press release on the Brazilian NGO walk out, click the link below:
For more information on the International Finance Corporation's Environmental and Social Safeguard Review, and Disclosure Policy Review, click on the following links: