Frequently Asked Questions about Civil Society and World Bank

How can I find out about latest developments, news and events pertaining to CSOs?

A monthly electronic newsletter – Civil Society Engagement eNewsletter – containing useful information, such as upcoming consultations, special events and new policy documents, is posted on the World Bank’s web site for CSOs. It can also be subscribed to by sending an email to:  civilsociety@worldbank.org.

Why is the World Bank interested in working with CSOs ?

The World Bank has learned through two decades of interaction that CSOs can play an important role in helping to amplify the voices of the poorest people in the decisions that affect their lives, improve development effectiveness and sustainability, and hold governments and policymakers publicly accountable.  The participation of CSOs in World Bank-financed projects can enhance operational performance and sustainability by contributing local knowledge, technical expertise, and social legitimacy.  CSOs can bring innovative ideas and solutions as well as participatory approaches to solve local problems.
   
How can CSOs get involved in World Bank-supported activities? 

CSOs can get involved in a variety of World Bank activities ranging from policy dialogue to operational collaboration.  The World Bank consults widely with CSOs on new policies (e.g. forest management and information disclosure), on programs (e.g. poverty reduction strategies/PRSPs and debt relief), on studies (e.g. annual World Development Reports/WDR), and on the design of specific projects.  CSOs are increasingly involved in Bank-financed loans in such areas as AIDS prevention, environmental protection, education, and even in macro-economic reform.  CSO participation is occurring throughout the project cycle  from the design and planning stages, to implementation and monitoring.  In order to find out about current policy consultations and opportunities for operational collaboration at the global and country levels and to reach the relevant staff please consult the World Bank’s Civil Society web site:http://www.worldbank.org/civilsociety.

How many World Bank-supported projects involve CSO collaboration?

Increasing numbers of World Bank-financed projects involve CSOs.  Deliberate involvement of CSOs in World Bank operations has risen steadily over the past decade, from 21.5 percent of the total number of projects in FY 1990 to nearly 70 percent ending June 2002.  The World Bank produces a Progress Report on the Bank’s Relations with CSOs on a regular basis which provides statistics on CSO involvement in Bank operations, as well as examples of World Bank – CSOs collaboration.  Copies of the reports are available for downloading at: http://www.worldbank.org/civilsociety.

Does the World Bank fund CSOs?

While the World Bank’s principal activity i s to provide loans to governments, it has established numerous funding mechanisms over the past two decades to provide grants to CSOs.  Grants are being provided either indirectly via government-run grant funds with Bank financing or directly by World Bank-managed funding mechanisms.  Over the past fifteen years the World Bank has financed over 100 social funds in 60 countries, for a total of nearly US$4 billion, to rebuild war-torn communities, provide social services, and strengthen community organizations.  There are also several grant mechanisms managed by the World Bank – often in partnership with other donors agencies – which provide grants directly to CSOs in a variety of areas such as environment, micro-credit, information technology, and innovative practices.  The World Bank publishes a directory of these resources called the “Resources for Mobilizing Funding for Development Projects” For more information on these grant funds visit the World Bank’s CSOs web site.

Does the World Bank have any training programs available for CSOs?

The World Bank believes that learning and capacity building for all development stakeholders is vital to the success of its lending programs.  The World Bank Institute (WBI) conducts over 400 different learning programs annually on a wide variety of issues related to development which are available to government officials and in many cases to CSO staff.  The World Bank’s Community Empowerment and Social Inclusion Learning Program (CESI), for instance, works to empower poor communities and other marginalized groups to drive their own development. To learn more about the WBI’s CESI and other training programs offered by the Bank, visit: http://www.worldbank.org/civilsociety.

Does the World Bank have compliance mechanisms?

Yes, the Inspection Panel was established in 1993 to provide an independent forum for private citizens who believe that they or their interests have been, or could be, directly harmed by a project financed by the World Bank.  The Panel is comprised of three senior members who report directly to the Board of Executive Directors.  As of April 2003, a total of 12 formal requests for inspection and the panel has undertaken these inspections.  For more information, please visit: http://www.worldbank.org/inspectionpanel

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Association (MIGA) established the Compliance Advisor/Ombudsman Office (CAO) in 2000.   In addition to auditing IFC and MIGA’s compliance with environmental and social safeguard policies, it also carries out an ombudsman role by attempting to mediate disputes between companies, governments, and CSOs.  For more information on the CAO, please visit: http://www.ifc.org/cao.

How can I access information on World Bank policies and copies of World Bank documents?

The World Bank Information Disclosure Policy, first expanded in 1994 and further updated in 2001, aims to explain its work to the widest possible audience, and promote overall accountability and transparency in the development process.  As a result, the great majority of World Bank policy and project documents are available to the public through the World Bank website.  For accessing printed versions of Bank documents, the Bank opereates the InfoShop. The InfoShop is located at headquarters and houses all public World Bank documents and publications.  Many of the publications are available at cost and others are free of charge, and many of the latter can also be downloaded from the Infoshop web site:

The World Bank’s InfoShop
701 18th Street, N.W.
Washington DC 20433, U.S.A.
Phone: (202) 458-4500
Email: pic@worldbank.org
Website:  http://www.worldbank.org/infoshop

The World Bank has also established Public Information Centers (PICs) in over 65 countries worldwide which can be visited in person, or inquiries made by phone or via email.  Each PIC serves as the central contact in the country for persons seeking to obtain World Bank documents and information on Bank’s operations. PICs are located adjacent to World Bank offices or in universities or other accessible sites, usually in capital cities around the world.  Please note that World Bank documents related to a specific country are available free of charge to citizens of that country.

Does the World Bank have a web site especially tailored to CSOs?

Yes, the World Bank maintains a web site for CSOs that contains general information on our work with CSOs; relevant staff contact information; key documents, policies and topic areas; grant funding mechanisms, and links to news and events. The site is located at: ww.worldbank.org/civilsociety.

How do I contact the World Bank?

Contacting the right individual can be time consuming. In order to help point you in the right direction, try these steps:

• For CSOs located in developing countries, it is best to make direct contact with the relevant country or regional office. Most World Bank country offices have Civil Society Specialists or other External Affairs staff who can provide information on current policy consultations as well as opportunities for operational collaboration.
   
• For a list of key World Bank country-office staff and their addresses go to the World Bank’s CSOs web site.
• For CSO representatives planning on visiting the World Bank in Washington, it is best to know how your interest corresponds with the Bank’s organizational structure. If your interest is in a specific country or region, it is best to contact civil society coordinators who work within those regions, networks, and other units at headquarters. 
• For a list of these focal points, please visit: http://www.worldbank.org/civilsociety/overview/staff