Update

2006 IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings

11 September 2006 | Singapore

Read the latest information on World Bank and civil society events organized around the upcoming IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings.

On this page: Registration, venues and visas | Who's in town for the meetings? | Events calendar | Additional resources and recent press

This page provides logistical information about the World Bank Annual Meetings in Singapore and the International Peoples' Forum in Batam, Indonesia.

For news updates, media events and information about civil society activities relating to tension with the Government of Singapore, please refer to the following page on BIC's website:

Civil Society Groups Announce Boycott of WB-IMF Annual Meetings in Singapore (BIC website)

With Asian movements taking the lead, an international group of networks, movements, campaigns and NGOs is convening an International Peoples Forum on the IMF-World Bank (IPF) from September 15 to 17 in Batam, Indonesia (30 minute ferry ride from Singapore). The Forum will be a major venue for civil society activities during the meetings. This update includes travel and event information circulated by the IPF.

Download the September 11 update and calendar for CSOs

1. Registration, venues and visas

Accreditation for World Bank events: Civil society representatives must be accredited to participate in World Bank events. The accreditation system closed on August 4. However, if you submitted your application before the deadline and received confirmation that it is being processed, you need not worry about the August 4th deadline. Badge pick-up will open on September 11.

What will accreditation get you? Accredited civil society organizations can participate in the following events: Civil Society Dialogues, Program of Seminars, and the Town Hall meeting with senior bank management. Special note: As of August 24, the World Bank had still not decided whether civil society organizations will be able to attend press conferences. Contact the External Affairs office if you’d like to express concern or opinions on this issue:

World Bank meeting venues: All World Bank events will be held at the Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre (http://www.suntecsingapore.com/index.pl). Civil Society Forum discussions will be held at the CSO Center on the main floor of the Suntec Conference Center, to the left of the main entrance. Most sessions will be held in the conference room at the CSO Center. Some sessions on September 19 and 20 will also be held in conference room 209 at Suntec Center. Some sessions will be held in other rooms. The Center is designated for use by accredited CSOs, so indicated by their CSO Badge. The Center contains one large and one small meeting room. CSOs wishing to schedule events in these rooms must contact Ms. Mien Tan from the World Bank's Civil Society Team at: to schedule in advance. The CSO Center also contains 20 computers and 15 laptop connections to the internet, along with phones, printers, photocopier and a lounge area, all of which are available for use by CSO delegates on a first-come, first-served, shared basis. Tables will be provided at the entrance of the CSO Center for display of CSO publications, and two closed-circuit televisions in the Center will show live coverage of official plenary speeches and press conferences. A small information office located in the CSO Center will be staffed by World Bank and IMF staff and representatives of the Singapore 2006 organizing committee. The CSO Center will be open throughout the duration of the Annual Meetings period, starting Wednesday, September 13 at 9:00 am through Wednesday, September 20 at 6 pm.

Registration for the International People’s Forum vs. the IMF-WB: Participants should complete the invitation and registration form to attend the Forum. A copy of the form can be found here. Return registration forms to:

Official website of the International People's Forum vs. the IMF-WB

IPF Venue: The International People’s Forum vs. the IMF-WB will be held on the island of Batam at the Asrama Hajji Center, JL Engku Putri Batam Centre, Proponsi Kepulauan Riav, Batam. Here are some suggestions from the hosts that will make your trip easier:

Accommodations for the Forum participants will also be at the Asrama Hajji Center. There are air-conditioned as well as non air-conditioned rooms available. Rates will range from USD12-20 per day, depending on the number of beds per room. Please complete the registration forum (available here) as soon as possible and return to . There are also reasonably priced hotels near the site ranging from $12 to $35 per night. Please register at the IPF registration desk upon arrival at the Asrama Hajji Center.
Getting to Batam: Take a ferry from the Harbour Front Center terminal, located at Telok Blangah Road in Singapore. The IPF recommends using Penguin Ferry Services (see Penguin’s daily schedule at www.penguin.com.sg/ferrySchedule.html). A round trip ticket will cost S$30 (USD20) plus S$3 terminal tax paid upon departure. Tickets must be purchased at least one hour in advance to allow for immigration and security checks. Read IPF tip-sheet on getting to Batam: /bicusa/issues/Directions_to_Batam.pdf. Visit the official website of Batam, Indonesia: www.batam.go.id
Registration at Asrama Hajji Center: The IPF registration opens on 14 September, from 10am to 7pm at the Arafah Building, and everyday onwards (15-17 September) 7-12 nn. The International Peoples Forum officially starts on 15 September, at 8:30 am. A one-time registration fee of US$20 will be collected from all non-Indonesian participants to help cover the costs for venue, meeting halls and other Forum expenses.
Travel Advisory: Upon arrival at the airport, we suggest you change some of your hard currency or travelers cheques at the exchange booth to cover for your taxi and other incidental expenses in Singapore. Passports are required when cashing travelers cheques. 1US$=1.5S$
Getting to Batam Centre: Batam bound passengers are advised to go to Harbour Front Center terminal, located at Telok Blangah Road . You can take an airport taxi which can be arranged from any taxi booth at the airport lobby. Cost from the airport to Harbour Front Center is from S$18-S$22 plus a standard S$3-5 airport surcharge. For big groups, you can take The Maxicab, the six-seater taxi shuttle. Tickets costs S$7 and must be bought at the shuttle service counter in the arrivals hall. Upon reaching Harbour Front, take the escalators to the ferry service ticketing outlets (first floor). There are several ferry operators to Batam. We recommend Penguin Ferry Services as most of their ferries are clean and fast with frequent services to and from Singapore. Please find attached the ferry schedule. For reservations, you can call them at +65 6271 4866 or send an email to . A two-way ticket to Batam Centre costs S$30 (S$20 plus S$10 for departure tax) plus S$3 terminal tax which will be paid upon departure from Batam to Singapore. You have to buy the ticket one (1) hour before departure to give allowance for immigration and security checks, etc.
Indonesian Immigration and Visas: For those who will apply for Visa on Arrival (VoA), proceed to the VoA booth and present your invitation letter and other documents. You will have to pay a visa fee of US$10 for maximum of 7 days stay. For Visa-free tourists/travelers, proceed directly to immigration for clearance. You have to pass through Immigration where your visa will be checked. Participants who applied for visas at their local Indonesian Embassies, should have their visas ready.
On Arrival at Batam Centre After immigration and customs clearance, proceed to arrivals where there is an official taxi desk to your left near the exit door. The standard taxi cost to Asrama Hajji Batam Centre is Rp20,000 (around US$2).
We suggest you change some of your hard currency or travelers cheques at the exchange booth to cover for your taxi and other incidental expenses in Batam. Passports are required when cashing travellers checques. Exchange rate 1US=Rp9,064.
Other Reminders:
Attire: Day wear should be casual and comfortable with light summer clothing as the recommended attire. The venue is being operated by Ministry of Moslem religion, we were advised against wearing short shorts and mini skirts and very revealing attires. We are also enjoining participants to bring their local dress/costume for the opening ceremonies on 15 th September.
Drinking Water: Tap water is generally not potable in Indonesia (unless boiled), but bottled water is available everywhere.
Electricity: Indonesia voltage is 127-220V, 50HZ. (European plug).
Contacts: Chris Wangkay/INFID:
Lidy Nacpil/Jubilee South:

Some visitors will need visas to enter Singapore. Find out more on the World Bank website: http://www.singapore2006.org/sections/travellers/visa.html. Please note that a separate visa is required to enter Batam, Indonesia (location of the International People’s Forum on the World Bank/IMF). Find out more: http:www.indonesianembassy.org.uk/consular_visa_type_arrival.htm.

2. Who’s in town for the meetings

Will you in Singapore?! Please let us know by registering your contact information on www.ifiwatchnet.org! Don’t know how? Contact Karen ().

3. Events Calendar

The Annual Meetings and related events will be held in Singapore between September 14 and 20, 2006. A calendar of events will be posted on the World Bank website in early August:

Time/Location

Monday, September 11

Organizer

8:00 AM

Singapore City Hall

Registration Opens

World Bank

Open to Accredited CSOs

Time/Location

Thursday, September 14

Organizer

9:00 AM

CSO Center, Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

World Bank Civil Society Forum opens

World Bank

Open to Accredited CSOs

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Introductory briefing for CSOs attending the 2006 Annual Meetings, by World Bank and International Monetary Fund senior managers

Kevin Kellems, Acting Vice President, External Affairs, Communications, and United Nations Affairs, World Bank; and Masood Ahmed, Director, External Relations Department International Monetary Fund

World Bank

Civil Society Dialogues

Open to Accredited CSOs

10:00 AM

Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Press Briefing: World Economic Outlook (WEO); IMF Economic Counsellor and Research Department Director Raghuram Rajan

World Bank

Open to Accredited CSOs

11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Civil Society Accountability in Disaster Relief: Lessons from the Trenches

In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of natural phenomena causing disasters. Asia is by far the most disaster prone region in the world. The recent Asian Tsunami, Indo-Pakistan earthquake, and central Java earthquake are dramatic examples. There is also a growing recognition in the international community that initiatives to address the effects of large-scale disasters are essential to mitigate their significant humanitarian, social, political and economic impacts. CSOs are playing an increasingly important role in this work. This increasing role is also matched by a perceived greater demand for and expectation of leadership, performance and accountability in CSOs’ work. There had been calls for stronger international coordination and harmonization of the work of international actors and for more principled and effective leadership in international humanitarian work. Yet accountability by civil society organizations is fraught with problems.

This panel will highlight some of the most thorny issues and lessons from the fields of disaster response and humanitarian assistance. The panel will consists of leaders of the fledgling Asian Disaster Reduction and Response Network, as well as representative from the World Bank. They will share their experiences in recent disaster response work, particularly on how CSOs can operate responsibly in the field and remain responsive to the interests and concerns of a broad range of stakeholders.

Panelists: Dr Tan Tay Keong, Executive Director, Singapore International Foundation; Naeem Salimee, Director General, Coordination of Afghan Relief (CoAR); Dr Jemilah Mahmood, President, Mercy Malaysia and Chairperson, Asian Disaster Reduction and Response Network; Carolyn Reynolds Mandell, Global Civil Society Team, World Bank.

World Bank

Civil Society Dialogues

Open to Accredited CSOs

Singapore
International
Foundation

1:30 PM – 3:00 PM

Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Social Enterprises and Social Development: The Opportunities and the Challenges

The session will first introduce key concepts of "social enterprise", and "social entrepreneurship". This will be followed by a broad overview of the sector and its contribution to social development in Asia, and presentations on its contribution in three Asian cities (Singapore, Taiwan, and Hong Kong). The central question for discussion is what else is needed to spur the growth to the social enterprise sector and maximize its potential contribution to social development in the region.

Panelists: Dr. Gillian Koh, Institute of Policy Studies, Singapore; Prof. Lisa Dacanay, Asian Center for Entrepreneurship, Asian Institute of Management, Manila; Dr. Djordjija Petkoski, World Bank

World Bank

Civil Society Dialogues

Institute of Policy Studies Singapore

Open to Accredited CSOs

Institute of Policy Studies Singapore

3:15 PM – 4:30 PM

Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

The Role of the International Monetary Fund in Low-Income Countries
Speaker: Mark Plant, Senior Advisor, Policy Development and Review Department, IMF

In a recent speech IMF Managing Director, Rodrigo de Rato laid out the strategy for the IMF's role in low-income countries. Mr. Plant will give an overview of the strategy and review the recent work and papers on the role of the Fund in low-income countries.

World Bank

Civil Society Dialogues

Open to Accredited CSOs

4:45 PM – 6:00 PM
Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Low-Income Countries in Asia and the Role of the IMF
Speaker: Wanda Tseng, Deputy Director, Asia and Pacific Department

While the Asia and Pacific region is the most economically dynamic in the world, it is home to some of the poorest countries as well. Helping these countries adjust to the new demands of globalization and accelerate the process of poverty reduction is an important priority for the Fund. Ms. Tseng will review recent performance of LICs in Asia and discuss how the Fund is trying to help the LICs accelerate the development of their economies.

World Bank

Civil Society Dialogues

Open to Accredited CSOs

6:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

CSO Planning Meeting for the Town Hall

For any CSO who wish to discuss themes to be raised by civil society during the Townhall meeting with Messrs. Wolfowitz and de Rato on Friday, September 15.

Organizers: Paul O'Callaghan, ACFID and Asia CSO planning group for the Singapore Meetings.

light dinner will be served

World Bank

Civil Society Dialogues

Open to Accredited CSOs

Organizers: Paul O'Callaghan, ACFID and Asia CSO planning group for the Singapore Meetings.

Time/Location

Friday, September 15

Organizer

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Breakfast meeting for CSO representatives with Homi Kharas, World Bank Chief Economist for East Asia Region and other regional senior staff to discuss Bank policies and work in the region.

World Bank

Civil Society Dialogues

Open to Accredited CSOs

8:30 AM -10:30 AM
Batam, Indonesia

International People’s Forum Opening Session

International Peoples Forum (IPF)

Plenary Sessions

Open to registered participants

9:00 AM

Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Press Briefing: IMF Managing Director Rodrigo de Rato

World Bank

CSO Access undecided

10:30 AM

Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Press Briefing: World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz

World Bank

CSO access undecided, more information to follow

10:45 AM – 12:45 PM
Batam, Indonesia

Seminar: Debt and Natural Disaster

IPF Plenary Sessions

Co-organized by: INFID

Open to registered participants

10:45 AM – 12:45 PM
Batam, Indonesia

Seminar on Debt, Poverty, and MDGs

IPF Plenary Sessions Co-organized by: INFID/GAPRI

Open to registered participants

12:30 PM – 2:00PM

Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Town Hall Meeting for CSOs:
President of the World Bank and Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund and heads of the Development Committee and the International Monetary and Finance Committee will answer questions from participating CSOs.

light lunch will be served at noon and coffee/tea and desserts after the session

World Bank Civil Society Dialogues

Open to Accredited CSOs

Afternoon
Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Promoting Compliance and Conflict Resolution: Experiences of World Bank Group Inspection Panel (IP) and Compliance Adviser Ombudsman (CAO)

The Inspection Panel and the CAO are tasked with responding to requests from ordinary people who believe that they may be negatively affected by World Bank Group projects. The Inspection Panel has responsibilities over the IBRD and IDA, whereas the CAO is responsible for MIGA and the IFC. Since their inception, both offices have built a substantial track record in working with people and projects all over the world to promote accountability and resolve conflict. The CAO has recently completed an extensive review of its activities to ask: what are some of the outcomes from its work and what can be learned from these experiences? This session provides some insight into recent cases managed by the Inspection panel and the CAO, and provides an opportunity for participants to find out more about how to work with them.

World Bank Civil Society Dialogues

Open to Accredited CSOs

1:45 PM – 3:40 PM
Batam, Indonesia

Seminar on Debt and Natural Resources

IPF Workshops, Seminars, Meetings

Co-organized by: IWGFF/WALHI

Open to registered participants

1:45 PM – 3:40 PM
Batam, Indonesia

Debt, Labour and IFIs

IPF Workshops, Seminars, Meetings

Co-organized by: Migrant Care and MFA

Open to registered participants

1:45 PM – 3:40 PM
Batam, Indonesia

Debt, transparency and Accountability

IPF Workshops, Seminars, Meetings

Co-organized by: JARI/NADI

Open to registered participants

1:45 PM – 3:40 PM
Batam, Indonesia

Debt and Democratization

IPF Workshops, Seminars, Meetings

Co-organized by: ISMAD

Open to registered participants

3:00 PM – 4:30 PM

Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Promoting Compliance and Conflict Resolution: Experiences of World Bank Group Inspection Panel (IP) and Compliance Adviser Ombudsman (CAO)

The Inspection Panel and the CAO are tasked with responding to requests from ordinary people who believe that they may be negatively affected by World Bank Group projects. The Inspection Panel has responsibilities over the IBRD and IDA, whereas the CAO is responsible for MIGA and the IFC. Since their inception, both offices have built a substantial track record in working with people and projects all over the world to promote accountability and resolve conflict. This session provides some insight into recent cases managed by the Inspection panel and the CAO, and provides an opportunity for participants to find out more about how to work with them.

World Bank Civil Society Dialogues

Open to Accredited CSOs

3:40 PM – 5:20 PM
Batam, Indonesia

Debt and Women

IPF Workshops, Seminars, Meetings
Co-organized by: Kelompok Perempuan Berdaulat

Open to registered participants

3:40 PM – 5:20 PM
Batam, Indonesia

Debt and Education

IPF Workshops, Seminars, Meetings Co-organized by: E-net for Justice

Open to registered participants

3:40 PM – 5:20 PM
Batam, Indonesia

Batam Issues: HIV/AIDS, Human Trafficking

IPF Workshops, Seminars, Meetings

Co-organized by: PRAI Batam

Open to registered participants

4:30 PM – 6:30 PM

Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

“Poor Women’s Interventions in Global Trade and Commerce – Issues and Implications”
organized by Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA)

Chair: Mona Dave, Chief Executive Officer, Trade Facilitation Centre, SEWA
Panelists: Beatrice Gakuda, Rwanda flower grower; Rasheed Kidwai, Grass-root Trading Network for Women (TBC); Gigi Francisco, International Gender and Trade Network, Asia Regional Coordinator; World Bank Group representative (TBC); other panelist(s) TBC.

World Bank Civil Society Dialogues

Open to Accredited CSOs

7:20 PM – 9:30 PM
Batam, Indonesia

Asia Facilitators Group Meeting

IPF Cultural Night

Co-organized by: GCAP

Open to registered participants

7:20 PM – 9:30 PM Batam, Indonesia

Closing/Solidarity: Labor Assembly and Strategic Meeting

IPF Cultural Night

Open to registered participants

7:20 PM – 9:30 PM Batam, Indonesia

Solidarity Event on the Middle East/Lebanon Situation

IPF Cultural Night

Co-organized by: JS APMDD

Open to registered participants

Time/Location

Saturday, September 16

Organizer

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Breakfast meeting for CSO representatives with Katherine Sierra, Vice President, World Bank Sustainable Development Network and other senior staff to discuss Bank policies and work in sustainable development and infrastructure.

World Bank Civil Society Dialogues

Open to Accredited CSOs

8:30 AM -10:30 AM

Batam, Indonesia

Plenary Session on Alternatives to the IMF

IPF Plenary Sessions

Co-organized by: Jubilee South, Focus on the Global South, 50 years is enough

Open to registered participants

Batam, Indonesia

Plenary Session on Debt and Climate Change

IPF Plenary Sessions

Co-organized by: JS, Greenpeace

Open to registered participants

9:00 AM

Singapore

Group of 24 Ministers Meeting

World Bank

Open to Accredited CSOs

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Pan Pacific Hotel

Opening and Reforming the Financial Sectors in China and India: Next Steps and Effects on the International Financial System

World Bank Program of Seminars

Open to Accredited CSOs

10:45 AM -12:45 PM

Batam, Indonesia

Plenary Session on Alternatives to the IMF

IPF Plenary Sessions

Co-organized by: JS, Focus on the Global South, 50 years is enough

Open to registered participants

10:45 AM -12:45 PM

Batam, Indonesia

Workshop/Seminar on Clean Energy Investment Framework

IPF Plenary Sessions

Co-organized by: Bretton Woods Project

Open to registered participants

11:00 AM - 12:15 PM

Pan Pacific Hotel

China and India: Challenges Ahead and Implications for the Rest of the World

World Bank Program of Seminars

Open to Accredited CSOs

11:00 AM - 12:15 PM

Pan Pacific Hotel

Pacific Island Countries: Regional Issues and Prospects for Faster Growth

World Bank Program of Seminars

Open to Accredited CSOs

11:00 AM - 12:15 PM

Pan Pacific Hotel

Asia Prepared to Address the Fiscal Challenges of an Aging Population?

World Bank Program of Seminars

Open to Accredited CSOs

12:00 PM

Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Press Briefing: World Development Report 2007: Development and the Next Generation; World Bank Chief Economist François Bourguignon and WDR director Emmanuel Jimenez

World Bank

Open to Accredited CSOs

1:15 PM - 2:30 PM

Pan Pacific Hotel

Issues in Domestic Petroleum Pricing

World Bank Program of Seminars

Open to Accredited CSOs

1:15 PM - 2:30 PM

Pan Pacific Hotel

Financing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs): How to Avoid Another Debt Crisis

World Bank Program of Seminars

Open to Accredited CSOs

1:15 PM - 2:30 PM

Pan Pacific Hotel

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Pan-Asian Integration.

World Bank Program of Seminars

Open to Accredited CSOs

1:15 PM - 2:30 PM

Pan Pacific Hotel

Riding the Tigers: Managing Asia's Megacities

World Bank Program of Seminars

Open to Accredited CSOs

1:30 PM – 3:30 PM

Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Financing of Education in Conflict Affected Fragile States

Session to complement launch of Save the Children new report on education in conflict-affected countries focusing on challenges of delivering and financing education services in difficult circumstances.

World Bank Civil Society Dialogues

Co-organized by: Save the Children

Open to Accredited CSOs

1:45 PM – 3:40 PM

Batam, Indonesia

Workshop: World Bank Basics Training

IPF Workshops, Seminars, Meetings

Bank Information Center

Open to registered participants

1:45 PM – 3:40 PM

Batam, Indonesia

Panel Discussion on Trade Finance Linkages

IPF Workshops, Seminars, Meetings

Co-organized by: IGTN, Center of Concern

Open to registered participants

1:45 PM – 3:40 PM

Batam, Indonesia

Strategy Session on IMF and WB

IPF Workshops, Seminars, Meetings

Co-organized by: Jubilee South, Focus on the Global South, 50 years is enough

Open to registered participants

1:45 PM – 3:40 PM

Batam, Indonesia

Seminar on Economic Reforms and People’s Resistance

IPF Workshops, Seminars, Meetings

Alliance for Economic Justice, Bangladesh

Open to registered participants

1:45 PM – 3:40 PM

Batam,

Indonesia

Privatization of Power Generation, Enron-Dabhol Experience

IPF Workshops, Seminars, Meetings

Maharashitra State Electricity Federation

3:00 PM - 4:15 PM

Pan Pacific Hotel

Facing East: Oil and the Rising Economic Ties Between Middle East and Asia

World Bank Program of Seminars

Open to Accredited CSOs

3:00 PM - 4:15 PM

Pan Pacific Hotel

Promises and Perils of Regional Trade Agreements in Asia

World Bank Program of Seminars

Open to Accredited CSOs

3:00 PM - 4:15 PM

Pan Pacific Hotel

South Asia Ends Poverty: How the Region with the Greatest Concentration of Poor People Can Make History

World Bank Program of Seminars

Open to Accredited CSOs

3:40 PM – 5:20 PM

Batam, Indonesia

Discussion: WB Anti-Corruption Framework

IPF Workshops, Seminars, Meetings

Co-organized by: Eurodad, Jubilee USA, CIDSE, Bretton Woods Project, Bank Information Center

Open to registered participants

3:40 PM – 5:20 PM

Batam, Indonesia

Skillshare Session: GCAP coalition actions around the IFIs

IPF Workshops, Seminars, Meetings

Co-organized by: CIVICUS, GCAP

Open to registered participants

3:40 PM – 5:20 PM

Batam, Indonesia

Post Conflict and Post Reconstruction

IPF Workshops, Seminars, Meetings

Co-organized by: Focus on Global South

Open to registered participants

3:40 PM – 5:20 PM

Batam, Indonesia

Seminar on IMF in Water and Power Sectors

IPF Workshops, Seminars, Meetings

Co-organized by: JS APMDD

Open to registered participants

3:45 PM

Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Press Briefing: Chair of the Group of 24 Ministers

World Bank

CSO access undecided

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Room 307

Raising the Governance Bar in the Forest Sector: How the fight against illegal logging is benefiting Africa

The panel will bring together representatives of the timber producing countries, timber producers, CSOs and opinion leaders to discuss ways to raise the governance bar in the forest sector, particularly in Africa. The session will also combine a multi-stakeholder discussion co-chaired by the World Bank VP for Sustainable Development and President of GLOBE.

World Bank Civil Society Dialogues

Co-organized by: GLOBE

(Global Legislators Organization For a Balanced Environment)

Open to registered participants

4:15 PM – 5:15 PM
Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

IMF: Rising Inequality in Asia

Speaker: Wanda Tseng, Deputy Director, Asia and Pacific Department, IMF

After an extended period in which emerging Asia experienced the best of both worlds—rapid growth and increased equality—recent years have seen rising inequality and polarization. This is a matter of concern, because rising inequality makes it more difficult to reduce poverty. There is also evidence linking large income disparities to lower growth and higher macroeconomic volatility, and resistance to reforms and change. Ms. Tseng will present the findings of a chapter of the IMF's Asia-Pacific Regional Economic Outlook on the causes of rising income inequality and social polarization, and discuss some possible policy implications.

World Bank

Civil Society Dialogues

Open to Accredited CSOs

4:15 PM - 5:15 PM

Pan Pacific Hotel

Globalization and Changing Comparative Advantages: New Growth Strategies for the 21st Century

World Bank Program of Seminars

Open to Accredited CSOs

6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

Pan Pacific Hotel

Opening Reception

World Bank Program of Seminars

Open to Accredited CSOs

8:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Batam, Indonesia

Cultural Night (International)

IPF

Open to registered participants

Time/Location

Sunday, September 17

Organizer

8:30 AM – 10:30 AM

Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Building Public Service Provision in Developing Countries: The Case for Public Health and Water

Chair: Peter Bakvis, ICFTU
Panelists: Max Lawson, Policy Advisor, Oxfam; Henry Northover, Senior Policy Officer, WaterAid; Jacques Baudouy, Sector Director for Health, Nutrition and Population, Human Development Network, World Bank; Jamal Saghir, Director, Energy and Water Department, Sustainable Development Network, World Bank

light breakfast will be served

World Bank Civil Society Dialogues

Co-organized by: Oxfam and Water Aid

Open to Accredited CSOs

8:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Pan Pacific Hotel

Raising the Stakes: New Frontiers for the Private Sector in Development

World Bank Program of Seminars

Open to Accredited CSOs

8:30 AM -10:30 AM

Batam, Indonesia

Plenary Session on Illegitimate Debt

IPF Plenary Sessions

Co-organized by: JS with Jubilee USA, Eurodad and others

Open to registered participants

8:30 AM -10:30 AM

Batam, Indonesia

Launching of Campaign on IFIs Transparency

IPF Plenary Sessions

Co-organized by: Global Transparency Initiative

Open to registered participants

9:00 AM - 7:15 PM

Park Plaza Royal, 7500A Beach Road, Singapore 199591

Breaking Free: Conference on Shrinking or replacing the International Monetary Fund

Plenary Panel: The Crisis of the IMF and World Bank: Causes, Dimensions, and Consequences

Plenary Panel: Principles and Institutions of an Alternative System of International Finance

Plenary Panel: Building Gender, Labor, Food Security, Environment, and Justice into Alternative International and Regional Financial Institutions and Systems

Breakout groups: Shrinking the Fund--Breakout groups on regional financial institutions and on ending IMF control of or influence over PRGF, PRSPs, debt management, and other areas.

Plenary: Debate: Does the IMF Have a Role in an Alternative Multilateral System?

Closing Remarks: Where we’re at and where do we go from here?

Focus on the Global South

9:15 AM – 5:30 PM

Outside Venue:

NTUC-Centre,

1 Marina Boulevard

, Room 903, Level 9, Singapore

"The Future of IFI Policies in Asia"
Panel discussion

World Bank Civil Society Dialogues

Co-organized by: ICFTU, Asian and Pacific Regional Organization and Friedrich-Ebert Stiftung-Office for Regional Co-operation in Southeast Asia

Open to Accredited CSOs

10:30 AM - 11:45 AM

Pan Pacific Hotel

Checks and Balances: Corporate Governance Reforms in Emerging Markets

World Bank Program of Seminars

Open to Accredited CSOs

10:30 AM - 11:45 AM

Pan Pacific Hotel

Doing Business: How to Reform in 2007

World Bank Program of Seminars

Open to Accredited CSOs

10:30 AM - 11:45 AM

Pan Pacific Hotel

Adding Depth and Expanding Access: Making Finance Work in Africa

World Bank Program of Seminars

Open to Accredited CSOs

10:45 AM -12:45 PM

Batam, Indonesia

Plenary Session on Illegitimate Debt

IPF Plenary Sessions

Co-organized by: JS with Jubilee USA, Eurodad and others

Open to registered participants

10:45 AM -12:45 PM

Batam, Indonesia

Discussion Session on IFIs and Impact in India’s NE Region.

IPF Plenary Sessions

Co-organized by: North East Civil Society Initiative Against International Financial Institutions (NE India)

Open to registered participants

11:00 AM

Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Press Briefing: African Finance Ministers

World Bank

Open to Accredited CSOs

11:45 AM - 12:45 PM

Pan Pacific Hotel

Lunch Reception

World Bank Program of Seminars

Open to Accredited CSOs

12:45 PM - 2:00 PM

Pan Pacific Hotel

Business Reaching the Poor: The Asian Experience in Expanding Market Opportunities

World Bank Program of Seminars

Open to Accredited CSOs

12:45 PM - 2:00 PM

Pan Pacific Hotel

Emerging Champions: South-South and South-North Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)

World Bank Program of Seminars

Open to Accredited CSOs

12:45 PM - 2:00 PM

Pan Pacific Hotel

Will Public-Private Partnerships in Infrastructure Live Up to Their Promise?

World Bank Program of Seminars

Open to Accredited CSOs

12:45 PM - 2:00 PM

Pan Pacific Hotel

The Climate of 2030 – Impacts on Development and Business Today

World Bank Program of Seminars

Open to Accredited CSOs

1:30 PM – 3:30 PM

Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

World Development Report 2007: Development and the Next Generation

This session is a moderated panel discussion that will engage the audience and examine the findings of the World Bank World Development Report (WDR) 2007 on youth. With 1.3 billion young people now living in developing countries, governments need to seize the opportunity to invest in them directly or risk lagging behind in the global economy.

The panel will discuss the Report's main findings and consider what can be done to turn its recommendations into action.

World Bank Civil Society Dialogues

Open to Accredited CSOs

1:45 PM – 3:40 PM

Batam, Indonesia

Sharing: A Different Ball Game? Private Banks and the World Bank

IPF Workshops, Seminars, Meetings

Co-organized by: Bank Track

Open to registered participants

1:45 PM – 3:40 PM

Batam, Indonesia

Workshop on Banning on Foreign Investments

IPF Workshops, Seminars, Meetings

Co-organized by: Public Interest Research Centre (India) and FERN (UK)

Open to registered participants

1:45 PM – 3:40 PM

Batam, Indonesia

Skillshare workshop on Peoples Campaigning and IFI advocacy

IPF Workshops, Seminars, Meetings

Co-organized by: Action Aid Intl, Bank Information Center, NGO Forum on ADB

Open to registered participants

1:45 PM – 3:40 PM

Batam, Indonesia

Asia People’s Tribunal on Poverty and Debt

IPF Workshops, Seminars, Meetings

Co-organized by: GCAP Asia co-sponsored with JS AMPDD

Open to registered participants

1:45 PM – 3:40 PM

Batam, Indonesia

Launch of Discussion Paper on Odious Debt

IPF Workshops, Seminars, Meetings

Co-organized by: New Economics Foundation

Open to registered participants

1:45 PM – 3:40 PM

Batam, Indonesia

Workshop on Dictatorship Debt

IPF Workshops, Seminars, Meetings

Co-organized by: International Initiative on Corruption and Governance

Open to registered participants

2:00 PM - 4.00 PM
NTUC-Centre,

1 Marina Boulevard

, Room 903, Level 9, Singapore

Labor Standards in World Bank operations - workshop

World Bank Civil Society Forum

Co-organized by: Dialogues/ Friedrich-Ebert Stiftung (FES) / International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU)-APRO

Open to Accredited CSOs

2:30 PM - 3:45 PM

Pan Pacific Hotel

What Makes Asian Firms Innovative?

World Bank

Program of Seminars

Open to Accredited CSOs

2:30 PM - 3:45 PM

Pan Pacific Hotel

Using Capital Markets to Increase Access to Housing, Education and Social Services: Myth or Reality?

World Bank

Program of Seminars

Open to Accredited CSOs

2:30 PM - 3:45 PM

Pan Pacific Hotel

Asset Management: From Money Markets to Hedge Funds: How Do We Address the Changing Needs of Investors?

World Bank

Program of Seminars

Open to Accredited CSOs

2:30 PM - 3:45 PM

Pan Pacific Hotel

The African--Asian Trade and Investment Connection: What Do the Two Continents Bring to the Table for Each Other?

World Bank Program of Seminars

Open to Accredited CSOs

3:00 PM

Marina Mandarin Hotel

Per Jacobsson Foundation Lecture on "Asian Monetary Integration: Will It Ever Happen?" by Mr. Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Singapore's Minister for Education and Second Minister for Finance

World Bank

Open to Accredited CSOs

3:40 PM – 5:20 PM

Batam, Indonesia

Seminar on Ecological Debt

IPF Workshops, Seminars, Meetings

Co-organized by: JS co-sponsored with SPEDCA and others

Open to registered participants

3:40 PM – 5:20 PM

Batam, Indonesia

Seminar on Claiming Rights over Development Strategies: Whither and the BWIs

IPF Workshops, Seminars, Meetings

Alliance for Economic Justice, Bangladesh

Open to registered participants

3:40 PM – 5:20 PM

Batam, Indonesia

Asia People’s Tribunal on Poverty and Debt

IPF Workshops, Seminars, Meetings

Co-organized by: GCAP Asia co-sponsored with JS AMPDD

Open to registered participants

3:40 PM – 5:20 PM

Batam, Indonesia

Workshop on Debt and Corruption

IPF Workshops, Seminars, Meetings

Co-organized by: International Initiative on Corruption and Governance

Open to registered participants

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Venue TBC

World Development Report 2007: The Challenge of Youth Employment

This session will focus on young people’s transition into the labor market. This transition is not always easy. Long spells of inactivity during youth are costly—forgoing the accumulation of skills on the job and an employment history that could send positive signals to future employers. This session, which is being organized in partnership with Srijan, will examine the challenge of youth unemployment, and will be an opportunity to share experiences in innovative schemes geared at employing youth.

World Bank Program of Seminars

Co-organized by:

Indian CSO Srijan

Open to Accredited CSOs

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Jobs for Disadvantaged Youth: Affirmative Action or Market Led Skills Development?

In developing countries with huge young populations, still largely dependent on agriculture, such as India and China and even smaller ones in south Asia, the issue of unemployment is critical. Overall growth rate of economies (GDP) is impressive and has given an impression of “Shining India.” But there is “shunned India“ too. India has more than 340 million people in agriculture labor class, whose wage rate is among the lowest across sectors of economy. Urban-rural disparities have only worsened and organized violence has spread. Globalization could be good news only if young women and men, particularly from rural poor households are trained in skills demanded by the market, and thus get jobs that pay better. This session will present some private sector – Government – CSO partnerships focused on Employment Linked Skill Development from India and highlight the need to scale them up widely across the developing world, discuss an alternative to “affirmative action” and need to integrate policies of rural and urban industrial development.

Chair: Ved Arya, CEO, Self Reliant Initiatives Through Joint Action (SRIJAN)

Panelists: Muhammad Ibrahim, Chair, Federation of NGOs, Bangladesh; Parmesh Shah, Lead Rural Development Specialist, World Bank, Mamta Murthi, Lead Economist World Development Report 2007; Pramod Kulkarni, Head, PRERANA, Indian CSO; Manishshankar Aiyer, Minister of Youth, GOI, Nandita Gurjar, Vice-President and Head HR, Infosys BPO Ltd, Shetty, Youth representing Poor Communities.

To attend the event, please RSVP to: Ved Arya (vedarya@srijanindia.org) or Kailash Iyer (sids@srijanindia.org) or Kanak Mital (delhi@srijanindia.org ).

World Bank Civil Society Dialogues

Open to Accredited CSOs

Self Reliant Initiatives through Joint Action (SRIJAN)

4:15 PM - 6:00 PM

Pan Pacific Hotel

Partnerships to Combat Corruption: Rising to the Challenge

World Bank Program of Seminars

Open to Accredited CSOs

5:00 PM – 6.30 PM

Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Room 310

"An Investment Framework for Clean Energy and Development"

The World Bank has produced for the 2006 Annual Meetings "An Investment Framework for Clean Energy and Development: A Progress Report". The paper responds to the April 2006 request by the Development Committee for the Bank to review existing financial instruments and explore the potential value of new financial instruments to accelerate investment in clean energy. The seminar will address issues raised in the Progress Report.

followed by a reception

Chair: Kathy Sierra, World Bank VP for Sustainable Development
Moderator: Elliot Morley, MP, UK Prime Minister's Special Representative to the Gleneagles Dialogue
Presenters: Jamal Sadhir, World Bank Director of Water and Energy Sector; Bob Watson, World Bank Chief Scientist

to attend the event, please RSVP to: Mariko Tanaka () or Kristyn Schrader ().

World Bank Civil Society Dialogues Co-organized by: World Bank and Japan Bank for International Cooperation

Open to Accredited CSOs

7:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Press conference: NGO Report on the World Bank's Clean Energy Framework

Under a mandate of the G-8, the World Bank is currently preparing an Investment Framework on Clean Energy and Development. A progress report will be discussed in Singapore. A coalition of international environmental groups - including the Bank Information Center, Friends of the Earth, the Institute for Policy Studies, International Rivers Network and Oil Change International - will present a report on the World Bank's Investment Framework at this press conference. Their report finds that the proposed Investment Framework promotes conventional energy sources such as so-called clean coal technologies and large hydropower. It continues to neglect renewable energy technologies, and sells the climate and poor people short.

The press conference will be held right after a World Bank panel event on the same topic. Speakers will include: Peter Bosshard (International Rivers Network), Graham Saul (Oil Watch) and Prince Chima Williams (Environmental Rights Action/FoE Nigeria).

For further information contact or

World Bank Civil Society Dialogues

Co-organized by: Organized by International Rivers Network and Oil Watch

Open to accredited CSOs

8:00 PM -10:00 PM

Batam, Indonesia

Cultural Night

IPF

Open to registered participants

All Day

Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

IMF IMFC

-Medium Term strategy

-Governance (voice and quota changes in the IMF)

-Surveillance

-Emerging markets

-Possibly something on LICs

World Bank

Closed to CSOs

TBA

Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Press Briefing: IMFC Chairman Gordon Brown and IMF Managing Director Rodrigo de Rato

World Bank

CSO access undecided

Time/Location

Monday, September 18

Organizer

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Breakfast meeting for CSO representatives with Praful Patel, World Bank Vice President for South Asia Region and other regional senior staff to discuss Bank policies and work in the region.

World Bank Civil Society Dialogues

Open to Accredited CSOs

9:00 AM
Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Development Committee

World Bank

Open to Accredited CSOs

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Room 309

WDR 2007: “Citizen Youth” – Young People Exercising their Citizenship

A key issue addressed by this year’s World Bank's World Bank World Development Report (WDR) 2007 is young people’s transition to citizenship. Youth is the time when young people start assuming rights and responsibilities in their communities. Young people make their voice heard in society, be it by voting, volunteering or vandalizing. How can we build an enabling environment for young peoples’ contributions? What channels of participation and civic engagement are open for young people?

The session will not only address the report’s findings in this respect, but also be a forum for sharing best practice and experiences around youth and citizenship.

World Bank Civil Society Dialogues

Open to Accredited CSOs

10:30 AM - 11:45 AM

Pan Pacific Hotel

Institutions and Frameworks for Greater Financial Integration

World Bank Program of Seminars

Open to Accredited CSOs

10:30 AM - 11:45 AM

Pan Pacific Hotel

Reducing Poverty on a Global Scale

World Bank Program of Seminars

Open to Accredited CSOs

10:30 AM - 11:45 AM

Pan Pacific Hotel

Informing Markets: Statistical Challenges Facing the Global Economy

World Bank Program of Seminars

Open to Accredited CSOs

10:30 AM - 11:45 AM

Pan Pacific Hotel

Economic Development Through Social Partnership

World Bank Program of Seminars

Open to Accredited CSOs

11:00 AM
Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Seminar by the African Governors

World Bank

Open to Accredited CSOs

11:30 AM – 1:30 PM

Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Promoting Good Governance in Electricity

In the context of a renewed World Bank emphasis on improving governance in order to meet sustainable development goals, and new efforts to mobilize investment in clean energy –particularly in electricity– it is important to discuss how to get basic governance frameworks for the energy sector right. While there is much talk of "good governance" of electricity, there is little understanding of what this entails in practice. This panel discussion will explore the role of the World Bank in promoting the open, transparent, and accountable decision-making processes that are a necessary part of a sustainable energy future. The panel will highlight the results of the Electricity Governance Initiative, a global partnership of civil society and sector actors, which has recently completed assessments of electricity governance in Thailand, India, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

Panelists: Smita Nakhooda, Associate, World Resources Institute, J. Eduardo Campos, Lead Public Sector Specialist, World Bank, Fabby Tumiwa, Working Group on Power Sector Restructuring, Indonesia, Joyashree Roy, Professore of Economics, Jadavpur University, India

World Bank Civil Society Dialogues

Open to Accredited CSOs

11:45 AM - 2:15 PM

Pan Pacific Hotel

Luncheon - Keynote Address

World Bank Program of Seminars

Open to Accredited CSOs

2:00 PM
Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Small States Forum

World Bank

Open to Accredited CSOs

2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Governance and Social Accountability

Ensuring that the voice of local citizens is heard is vital for any country. Whether development objectives are pursued by local or national government or by international financial institutions or foreign CSOs in collaboration with governments, the voice of local citizens needs to guide the process.

The session will explore a number of social accountability mechanisms that can be applied in practical development contexts. It will focus on Community-Based Performance Monitoring (CBPM) and related approaches. CBPM was first used by CARE in Malawi and has subsequently been developed by other organizations, including the World Bank and World Vision. The session will examine circumstances in which CBPM or other social accountability mechanisms such as participatory budgeting are likely to be successfully used. Speakers will refer to different country experiences where similar participatory approaches to social accountability are being implemented.

Chair: Paul O'callaghan, Australian Council for International Development (ACFID)
Panelists: Ved Arya, SRIJAN (India); Fletcher Tembo, World Vision International; Mayor Jesse Robreda, Naga, Philippines; Shantayanan Devarajan (World Bank)

World Bank Civil Society Dialogues.

Co-organized by: ACFID (Australia) and World Vision International (WVI)

Open to Accredited CSOs

2:45 PM - 4:00 PM

Pan Pacific Hotel

Asian Financial Integration: What’s Next for Bond Markets?

World Bank Program of Seminars

Open to Accredited CSOs

2:45 PM - 4:00 PM

Pan Pacific Hotel
Singapore

China and India: Lessons and Challenges for Latin America and the Caribbean

World Bank Program of Seminars

Open to Accredited CSOs

2:45 PM - 4:00 PM

Pan Pacific Hotel
Singapore

Whither the European Project?

World Bank Program of Seminars

Open to Accredited CSOs

2:45 PM - 4:00 PM

Pan Pacific Hotel
Singapore

Problems of Plenty? Challenges and Opportunities from the Accumulation of Large Foreign Exchange Reserves and Windfall Revenue

World Bank Program of Seminars

Open to Accredited CSOs

3:45 PM - 5:00 PM

Pan Pacific Hotel

Strengthening International Monetary Fund Surveillance: What Have We Learned from Independent Evaluations?

World Bank Program of Seminars

Open to Accredited CSOs

4:30 PM – 6:30 PM

Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Citizen’s Participation in Natural Resource Management

Do citizens have a role to play in a country’s natural resource management? What can external organizations (donors, INGOs, academic institutions…) do to build capacity of citizens to hold governments accountable? The problem of land and forest management is an issue of livelihoods and governance. From a livelihoods perspective, forest and land remain crucially important common property resources. From a governance perspective, issues associated with the utilization and management of forest resources and forestland reflect broader problems with the management of state property. Large portions of land are being handed over to companies in the form of concessions with a life of 70 years or more, with little transparency or regard to impacts on local communities. A number of concessions exceed the size limits permitted by laws (such as the Land Law in Cambodia), and most have failed to do environmental and social impact assessments.

This workshop will explore the ways in which citizens can be empowered to influence resource management. What are some of the tools that can strengthen the people’s power vis-à-vis restrictive government conditions. Speakers from civil society, research center, and the World Bank will explore the issues followed by open discussion from the floor.

Chair: Haidy Ear-Dupuy, Advocacy & Communications Manager, World Vision Cambodia
Speakers: Representative, NGO Forum on Cambodia; Mr. Dang Ngoc Quang, Director of Rural Development Services Centre, Vietnam (TBC); Dr. Frances Seymour, General Director of Center for International Forestry Research, Indonesia; Mr. Ian Porter, World Bank Country Director for Cambodia.

World Bank Civil Society Dialogues

Open to Accredited CSOs

Cambodia

Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Seminar on Illegitimate Debt

Confirmed speakers include Head of the Multilateral Ban and Finance Section in the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Secretary General of the Indonesian Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs.

World Bank Civil Society Dialogues

INFID, Action for Economic Reforms, Eurodad

TBA
Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Development Committee Press Briefing: Minister Alberto Carrasquilla Barrera, Chairman of the Development Committee; Paul Wolfowitz, President of the World Bank; Rodrigo de Rato, Managing Director of the IMF

World Bank

CSO access undecided

Time/Location

Tuesday, September 19

Organizer

8:30 AM – 10:00 AM

Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

"Claiming Our Right to Know": Launch of the Transparency Charter for International Financial Institutions

The right to access information held by public bodies, including inter-governmental organisations like the IFIs, is a fundamental human right and is grounded in the right to “seek, receive and impart information and ideas” as guaranteed under international law. This panel is part of the launch of a Transparency Charter for IFIs. The nine "openness" principles in the Charter will be discussed, transparency advocates will share their experiences, and an assessment of WBG transparency against the Charter principles will be presented.

light breakfast will be served

Chair: Smitu Kothari, Princeton University, USA

Panelists: Suchi Pande, Parivartan, India; Hemantha Withanage, NGO Forum on the ADB, Philippines; Toby Mendel, ARTICLE 19, UK; Jennifer Kalafut, Bank Information Center, USA; James Adams, World Bank, USA

World Bank Civil Society Dialogues

Open to Accredited CSOs

Global Transparency Initiative (A network of organizations focused on promoting openness at IFIs)

10:00 AM

Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Annual Meetings Opening Plenary Session

World Bank

No CSO access

11:30 AM – 1:00 PM

Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Deconstructing Reconstruction: A Civil Society-World Bank Debate on the Logic of and Experience in IFI-led Post-Conflict and Post-Disaster Reconstruction Programmes

Over the past decade, the World Bank has been increasingly involved in supporting reconstruction efforts in Asia and worldwide. The bulk of the aid for countries emerging from long-standing conflicts and debilitating disasters has been designed using a new reconstruction framework. CSOs have a number of concerns about this reconstruction approach, including that it is being used to capture the political and economic policy space in countries undergoing reconstruction, and that their design often leads to corruption and poor implementation.

Panelists will share lessons learned from on-the-ground research and service delivery experiences by civil society organizations, and discuss specific cases where WB-designed reconstruction programmes have succeeded or failed.

Chair: John Samuel, Action Aid (TBC)
Panelists: Shalmali Guttal, Focus on the Global South; Donatus Klaudius Marut, International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development /INFID; Laurence Gray, World Vision International; Andrew Steer, World Bank

World Bank Civil Society Dialogues

Open to Accredited CSOs

11:30 AM – 1:00 PM

Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Room 209

Press Conference: "Civil Society Advocates Respond to World Bank Anti-Corruption Strategy"

"As the World Bank plans to unveil its new anti-corruption strategy at its annual meetings in Singapore, civil society leaders will respond with thoughtful and critical perspectives on what is currently missing from the corruption debate. Speakers will detail concerns about the current discussions on corruption at the World Bank, including the need for strengthened whistleblower protections, the imperative to address past corrupt lending by the World Bank by canceling odious and illegitimate debts, the need for responsible lending standards, recognition of the role of Northern corporations in fostering corruption, and suggested measures to improve accountability and transparency at both the World Bank and in impoverished country governments."

Speakers:
Debayani Kar, Jubilee USA Network
representative, Bank Information Center (invited)
representative, Asian civil society (invited)
representative, Eurodad (invited)

World Bank Program of Seminars

Co-organized by: Jubilee USA Network

Open to Accredited CSOs

2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Presentation and discussion of World Bank Governance and Anticorruption Strategy with World Bank senior managers

The latest draft of the paper (August 31) is posted below. The initial comment period closed on August 28. Comments collected have been summarized in a document entitled: "Feedback from Initial Consultations on Strengthening Bank Group Engagement on Governance and Anticorruption" and have been forwarded to the Bank's Executive Directors for their consideration during a meeting on August 31.

The finalized paper will be sent to the Development Committee for discussion on September 18 during the Annual Meetings. After the Development Committee meeting, a process for further consultation and feedback will be announced. Please check back here for more information after that date. (as of August 31)

Draft paper: Strengthening Bank Group Engagement on Governance and Anticorruption (480k pdf)

Original paper outline: Strengthening Bank Group Work in Governance and Anticorruption (220k pdf)

World Bank Civil Society Dialogues

Open to Accredited CSOs

2:45 PM – 4:15 PM
Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Asian Regional Integration and Transboundary Issues
The session will promote a discussion on regional integration in Southeast Asia and how different sectors (governments, civil society, World Bank) approach this issue. Particular attention will be given to the social dimension of integration and how current integration patters affect such transboundary issues as migration, HIV-AIDS, and democracy movements.

Panelists: Professor Armando Malay Jr., University of the Philippines Asian Center; Sugeng Bhagijo, Prekarsa - Indonesia; Representative of Action for Economic Reforms and Southeast Asia Committee for Advocacy (TBC); Homi Karas, World Bank; Representative of Association of Southeast Asian Nations/ASEAN (TBC)

World Bank Civil Society Dialogues

Open to Accredited CSOs

3:00 PM

Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Annual Meetings Plenary Session

World Bank

No CSO access

4:30 PM – 6:30 PM

Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

"Impossible Architecture" - Why the Financial Structure is Not Working for the Poor and How to Redesign it for Equity and Development

Public launch of the Social Watch Report 2006 and panel debate on the reforms needed in the gloval financial architecture, based on the findings of national citizen coalitions in fifty countries worldwide.

Speakers : Martin Khor, director of Third World Network (TBC); Iara Pietricovsky, INESC Brazil; Roberto Bissio, coordinator of Social Watch.

The report can be seen on-line at: http://www.socialwatch.org/en/informeImpreso/informe2006.htm
(embargoed until the launch in Singapore)

World Bank Civil Society Dialogues

Open to Accredited CSOs

Third World Network

4:30 PM – 6:30 PM

Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Lessons Learned on Sustainable Development and Infrastructure

In February of 2006 the World Bank prepared a paper: "Infrastructure: Lessons From the Last Two Decades of World Bank Engagement." The report, which will serve as a background for the discussion, highlights a number of specific lessons. The Bank learned the need to have well-designed surveys of intended beneficiaries to understand existing consumption patterns and public perceptions of the benefits from improved service quality. It also learned the importance of tailoring design to local circumstances. The Bank adopted a more disciplined approach to conditionality, streamlined its internal procedures, and changed the promotion criteria for staff to reward client responsiveness and results, not project complexity. Inadequate attention was paid to monitoring arrangements, statistical capacity building, and the links between project outputs and higher-order outcomes. The continuity of engagement suffered in some sectors and countries when the Bank's attention drifted away. The Bank learned that producing results goes beyond the quality of individual projects - it depends on the nature of the engagement between the Bank and the country, including its duration, depth and breadth.

Panelists: TBC

World Bank Civil Society Dialogues

Open to Accredited CSOs

4:30 PM – 6:30 PM

Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

The International Financial Institutions in Governance of Aid

A two-part panel discussion and launching of the Reality of Aid 2006 Report. The Reports set out important civil society recommendations on current donor approaches to governance and the promotion of rights in international cooperation, with particular attention to the recent influence of the global security agenda on development cooperation. The roundtable discussions have been structured to facilitate in-depth policy discussions between civil society commentators from The Reality of Aid network, CSO representatives and the participants of the IMF-WB meeting. Participants will have an opportunity to witness a high-level discussion of the rights approach in international cooperation; and to take part in a rich north/south discussion on governance, rights and the global security agenda.

Panelists and speakers will include: Antonio Tujan, Jr., Chairperson, The Reality of Aid Network; Alex Wilks, Coordinator, Eurodad; Chien Yen Goh, Representative, Third World Network; Paul O'Callaghan, Executive Director, ACFID; Charles Mutasa, Executive Director, Afrodad; Charles Mutasa, Executive Director, Afrodad; Sonny Africa, Research Head, IBON Foundation, Inc.; Moderator: Junko Okura, Jubilee Kyushu

Reality of Aid Network

6:00 PM

Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Lecture by Anne Krueger (IMF First Deputy Managing Director, Sept. 2001- Aug. 2006) on "An Enduring Need: The Importance of Multilateralism in the 21st Century"

World Bank

Open to Accredited CSOs

Time/Location

Wednesday, September 20

Organizer

9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Room 209

Social Protection: Income Support to Older People
co-organized by TSAO Foundation and Asia Pacific HelpAge International

The purpose of this session is to stimulate discussion on the need for investigation and policy debate on the potential and feasibility of non-contributory cash assistance (the first of the multi-pillar pensions approaches advocated by the World Bank and the ILO) in the context of persistent very low coverage of contributory pension schemes (the second and third pillars of the World Bank approach) in most developing countries in Asia. The issue of fiscal affordability needs further study in the context of individual country circumstances especially in terms of tax revenue base and sustainability issues. Where such studies are available, evidence prove that these forms of social investment contribute to intergenerational cohesion, well being and social stability at below 2 percent of GDP, although others question the efficacy of such programs. Panelists will speak on various experiences with such programs in Asia.

Moderator: Dr. Mary Ann Tsao, TSAO Foundation
Panelists: Dr. Kanwaljit Soin, HelpAge International; Dr. Dharmapriya Wesumperuma, Asia Pacific, HelpAge International; World Bank Speaker (TBC)

World Bank Civil Society Dialogues

Open to Accredited CSOs

9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Small conference room, CSO center

World Bank Conditionality One Year Past the Conditionality Review

In 2005, the World Bank undertook a review of its conditionality, resulting in a set of good practice principles for the use of conditionality in policy-based operation. Recently, the World Bank has offered a first update on implementation in the Development Policy Lending Stocktaking paper .

A number of civil society groups have also presented their own view on the progress made in the application of World Bank conditionality, including ActionAid's: "Shadow Review of WB Conditionality", Christian Aid's: "Challenging conditions: A new strategy for reform at the World Bank and IMF?/a>" and Jubilee Debt Campaign's: "Loosening the Strings".

This session will offer an opportunity for an informal discussion with James W. Adams, Vice President, Operations Policy and Country Services at the World Bank, on the findings of the different reports and will offer an opportunity to look ahead to what the Bank will be doing on conditionality in policy-based lending in the future.

Chair: tbd

World Bank Civil Society Dialogues
Co-organized by: Oxfam

Open to Accredited CSOs

9:30 AM
Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Annual Meetings Plenary Session

World Bank

No CSO access

11:30 AM – 1:00PM
Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Room 209

Launch of “Odious Lending: Debt Relief as If Morality Mattered”
organized by the New Economics Foundation

The purpose of this paper is two-fold: first to demonstrate how large the impact of odious lending can be, and how this impact continues growing until the loan is cancelled; and secondly to outline a proposal to address this problem.

The paper briefly reviews the debate on the concept of odious debt, and proposes a methodology for calculating the impact of such debt on the welfare of countries. This is based on the premise that odious lending is frequently of no benefit to the economies of debtor countries, while servicing this debt is a real cost; one that continues (via interest paid, investments forgone in order to repay, and servicing roll-over loans) until such debt is cancelled. Using 13 case studies it demonstrates this methodology and shows that in many cases the value of odious debt exceeds the value of outstanding debt.

The paper then emphasises the importance of a fair and transparent arbitration procedure for assessing and adjudicating on odious debt.

World Bank Civil Society Dialogues

Open to Accredited CSOs

1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

"Discussion on the National Barriers to Sustainable Development Implementation in 15 Southern Countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America"

The first International Sustainability Watch Report will be launched and debated at the roundtable. The report is based on 15 national assessment reports produced by CSO networks in Africa, Asia and Latin America, which has focused on the analysis of existing implementation barriers hindering the effective realisation of sustainable development goals. A key recommendation for accelerating the efforts to reach the MDGs is to strengthen linkages between environmental sustainability (MDG 7) and poverty reduction (MDG 1). Furthermore, devolution of resources and decision-making is need for strengthen sustainable development initiatives at the local level with enhanced citizen’s participation. Further information on www.suswatch.org

The roundtable will provide a platform for dialogue between representatives from the World Bank (TBC), UNDP/UNEP, the Philippine Sustainability Watch Network, Indonesia Peoples Forum (IPF) and the Vietnamese NGO Network (VNGO)

World Bank Civil Society Dialogues
Co-organized by:

Sustainability Watch network

Open to Accredited CSOs

3:30 PM – 5:00 PM

Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

The World Bank and the IMF after the Doha suspension: Quo vadis?

Last July, after more than four years, the Doha Round of trade negotiations was brought to an indefinite suspension. It is expected that the World Bank and the IMF, having been deeply engaged in the Doha Round, will see their activities and agendas on trade and investment issues affected by this development.

The objective of this dialogue is to have an exchange of views among civil society representatives and shareholders of the IFIs on the meaning of latest developments for the directions of these institutions on areas such as: (a) The shape of the Aid for Trade initiative; (b) Economic policy conditionalities; (c) Trade-related research

Speakers: Chien Yen Goh, Third World Network; Oscar Ugarteche, LATINDAD; Khadim Hussain, Action Aid Pakistan; Gigi Francisco, International Gender and Trade Network.

World Bank Civil Society Dialogues
Open to Accredited CSOs

International Working Group on Trade-Finance Linkages

6:00 PM
Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Civil Society Forum closes

World Bank

TBA
Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Annual Meetings Closing Plenary Session

World Bank

No CSO access

4. Additional Resources and Recent Press

Protests. In spite of the World Bank’s most recent request that civil society organizations be able to peacefully protest outside of the meeting venue, the Singapore government has maintained its position that the only protest allowed will be in the designated space in the SunTec lobby. Some recent press:

Singapore’s Barring of Some Activists Prompts a Protest By Steven R. Weisman and Wayne Arnold September 8, 2006 (NY Times website)
IMF-WB Exposed by Ban on NGOs at S'pore Meet by Rudy Parawisto, September 9, 2006 (IPS News website)
IMF and World Bank rebuke Singapore by John Burton and Shawn Donnan of the Financial Times, September 8, 2006 (MSN website)
Indonesia says 'no rallies' on Batam island during World Bank and IMF conference Associated Press September 8, 2006 (International Herald Tribune website)
IMF/World Bank meetings to showcase Asia's recovery from 1997 crisis September 1, 2006 (Channel News Asia website)
World NGOs use Batam to attack decisions of IMF and WB sessions August 29, 2006 (Antara News website)
Singapore opposition party plans rally during IMF meetings, despite ban August 23, 2006 (China Post website)
'Alternative external venues' raised by World Bank not possible: Lim Hwee Hua August 23, 2006 (Channel News Asia website)
World Bank wants Singapore to allow protests at Annual Meetings August 22, 2006 (World Bank website)
Singapore gearing up for IMF-WB meetings Xinhua News, August 16, 2006 (People's Daily Online website)
World Bank Finds Refuge in Nanny State by Marwaan Macan-Markar, July 31, 2006 (IPS website)
Dissent off the agenda in Singapore by Connie Levett, August 14, 2006 (The Age website)
Singapore Stages Anti-Terror Drill for Financial Industry May 10 (Bloomberg news website)
IMF Chief Unveils Ambitious Agenda For Singapore Meeting August 4, 2006 (World Bank website)

Useful Resources and Contacts

www.ifiwatchnet.org: Civil society organizations are encouraged to post events on www.ifiwatchnet.org. This calendar pulls and compiles all events posted on ifiwatchnet. CSO representatives planning to attend the meetings should also post contact information on ifiwatchnet. And finally, ifiwatchnet will once again host a blog during the meetings, open to submissions from all ifiwatchnet.org members. Contact Karen () with questions.
Official website of the International People's Forum vs. the IMF-WB
International People’s Forum vs. the IMF-WB contacts: . Send registration and accommodation requests to: .
World Bank 2006 Annual Meetings website Program of Seminars website: http://www.worldbank.org/pos/!!!POS2006/website_source.swf
World Bank External Affairs contact information: .