28 March 2007
Are you wondering what others in the North American ifiwatcher community are up to? Eager to learn more about that issue that keeps popping up in the email traffic? Or discuss how North American-based organizations can join forces around key moments like the upcoming IDA replenishment?
Join us for the inaugural North American IFIwatchers meeting on April 5!
The Purpose
The meeting will serve several broad purposes, including relationship building and advancing our collective understanding of key issues. More specifically, it will:
- Place our campaigns in broader context. The meeting will focus on a small number of key, broad issues of interest to all. Connections are made at this meeting on many levels, and deeper strategizing carried on outside of it.
- Exploit North American-specific opportunities. In addition to sharing knowledge, for example about the impacts of the recent elections, at times we might even elevate the group to achieve a specific action.
- Build relationships. Catch up with your friends. Meet some new players. Take stock of who is working on similar issues. Understand challenges and opportunities facing your peers.
- Enhance communication, both among ourselves and with colleagues overseas.
- Refresh. Yes, this is actually really important. Get re-energized by learning about all of the good work your peers are doing!
Agenda Items
Global Financial Architecture
Presenters:
- Dean Baker: Co-Director, Center for Economic and Policy Research
- Smitu Kothari: Lokayan and Princeton University
- Bruce Rich: Attorney and Program Co-Director, International Program, Environmental Defense
Moderator: Manish Bapna: Executive Director, Bank Information Center
Energy, Climate and the World Bank
Presenters:
- World Bank Clean Energy Investment Framework: Smita Nakhooda, Associate, World Resources Institute
- Carbon finance: Daphne Wysham, Sustainable Energy & Economy Network
- Contract and revenue transparency: Sarah Pray, Publish What You Pay US
- Public financing for fossil fuels: Jennifer Kalafut, Oil Change International
Moderator: Elizabeth Bast, Friends of the Earth
IDA-15
Presenters:
- Process and players: Bruce Jenkins, Bank Information Center
- Significance of the IDA moment: Lori Udall, Independent Consultant
- European IDA-15 campaign: Nuria Molina-Gallert, Eurodad
- Key trends: Aaron Goldzimer, Social Scientist, Environmental Defense
- Presentations followed by roundtable discussion of organizational plans and priorities.
Moderator: Neil Watkins, National Coordinator, Jubilee USA
Soapbox: 5 minutes on each of the following hot topics
- Labor standards at the IFIs: Molly McCoy, ITUC
- World Bank Gender Action Plan: Elaine Zuckerman, Gender Action
- Asian Development Bank Safeguards: Mishka Zaman, Bank Information Center
- Inter-American Development Bank restructuring: Vince McElhinny, Bank Information Center
- Democratic Governance and Parliamentary Oversight: JoMarie Griesgraber, New Rules Coalition
- IMF Board Accountability: JoMarie Griesgraber, New Rules Coalition
- Country systems: Anne Perrault, CIEL
- World Bank Governance and Anti-Corruption Strategy: Martha Dye, Transparency International
- IMF and public sector wages: Rick Rowden, ActionAid
- Debt in the Sabbath Year: Vulture Funds and Congressional Action: Neil Watkins, Jubilee USA
- Debt/IFI Audits and Illegitimate Debt: Neil Watkins, Jubilee USA
- World Bank internal complaint mechanisms and whistleblower protections: Bea Edwards, GAP
Participating organizations will also be asked to share information on upcoming campaigns and priorities.
The Details
Location: CIEL - 1367 Connecticut Avenue, NW Suite #300
Time: 8:30-5:30 (breakfast, lunch, coffee and snacks provided!)
RSVP required. Email at BIC
Background materials
Energy, Climate and the World Bank
IDA 15
Conference report
coming soon