11 Scaling Up World Bank Group Engagement with Civil Society: A Strategic Priorities Paper Civil Society Team EXTIA

22 Introduction Significant expansion of space for civil society since early 1990s CSOs substantial players in global development assistance Technological and communications advances have aided CSO growth and linkages Enabling conditions help CSOs to thrive WBG has continued engagement: in sectors, projects, policies and strategies, and new constituencies

33 Background CSO engagement a key part of WBG business model, calls for periodical reviews Last review 2005 Issues and Options Paper Identified 5 key priorities, and a 10 Point Action Plan Progress review shows both progress and gaps on Action Plan

44 Objectives: Assess internal environment for CSO engagement Identify constraints and emerging opportunities Recommend priorities for scaling up

55 Rationale Key Opportunities and Imperatives: Expansion of Bank-CSO relations WBG leaders strong interest Key changes in global and national context GAC-IP emphasizes role of civil society Six strategic themes Need to improve internal synergy

66 Approach and Methodology Phase 1 Establishing Steering Group and Core Strategy Team Developing preparatory documents and Draft Outline Internal WBG consultations – staff interviews and group discussions External outreach: Semi-structured interviews, group discussions (e.g. Spring Meetings) Web-based consultation First zero draft of Paper, review with EXT and Steering Group Phase II Broad external consultations on zero draft Final revision Board process

77 Lessons and Issues from Stocktaking Shift of engagement from constituency to issue- driven. Shift from do-no-harm advocacy to do-good advocay on Bank Specific themes dominate: climate change; fragile/conflict-affected regions; food security, etc. Rising CSO interest in more operational relationships Policy dialogue more intense, but requires better follow up Policy consultations (e.g. GAC-IP) have improved but require more uniformity and quality

88 Lessons and Issues from Stocktaking Incentives and capacities of Bank CS focal points in regions reduced Engage CSOs up and downstream in project cycle, and improve guidance to task teams Help governments improve knowledge of and engagement with CSOs Help access to information/FOIA processes and enabling environments for civil society Improve WBG information disclosure and translations Increase accessibility of Bank staff by CSOs

99 Need to improve analytical work and generate more knowledge products on civil society. Monitoring of CSO engagement/participation needs to be enhanced Lessons and Issues from Stocktaking

10 Opportunities for Scaling up Issue- based Engagement Governance and Anti-Corruption (GAC) Harness CSO knowledge and experiences at the country level, linking it to global level lesson learning Explore collaboration with CSOs around piloting anti-corruption based on civic engagement Systematically capture lessons from civil society monitoring of GAC

11 Opportunities for Scaling up Issue-based Engagement Agriculture and Food Security Improve joint planning with CSOs Link analysis to financial crisis Identify and engage focal points in WBG, to promote country-level engagement More systematically map CSO actors at all levels to expand and deepen dialogue Identify specific focus areas for collaboration

12 Opportunities for Scaling up Issue- based Engagement Climate Change Build on long-standing engagement with environmental CSOs Develop measures to address CIF and other contentious issues Innovate partnerships and scale-up engagement

13 Opportunities for Scaling up Issue-based Engagement The Banks Six Strategic Themes Identify CSOs whose work intersect with Strategic Themes Pilot and develop sustained CSO engagement in planning, implementation and monitoring of Strategic Themes Explore partnership in core areas

14 Opportunities for Scaling up Issue-based Engagement Global Financial Crisis and IFI Governance Facilitate systematic CSO engagement in WBG governance reforms Continue to map and engage CSOs working on global economic governance issues Define specific strategies and mechanisms for dialogue

15 Recommendations on Strategic Priorities i. Substantial global report on CSOs as development agents ii. Intitute global survey to track and enhance operating conditions for CSOs iii. Establish programmatic partnerships with global NGO platforms (i.e. InterAction, Coordination Sud) iv. Establish CSO advisory group for WBG president v. Develop instruments to enhance funding to CSOs and help capacity building vi. Improve WBG coordination on civil society engagement, enhance role of Civil Society Team vii. Improve monitoring and evaluation system to track CSO engagement

16 Next Steps Management review of current draft Internal and external consultations Further revisions Technical briefing of Board Final document and dissemination

17 Questions What are we doing right in our relationship with CSOs? Where can we improve What priorities should our engagement focus on? How can we balance formal and informal approaches?