Does World Bank President, Robert Zoellick, finally get civil society? In a recent speech, Zoellick has announced he wants the Bank to invest in civil society to bolster accountability and transparency, as successful development is dependant on good government and citizen participation.The announcement came in a policy address in advance of the World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings which take place next week. The World Bank President emphasised the important role of civil society in creating accountability and service delivery. In the speech, Zoellick thought it was time for the Bank to support civil society, just as the Bank has moved over the past 6 decades to support the development of the private sector.
"Now it may be time to invest in the private, not-for-profit sector – civil society -- to help strengthen the capacity of organizations working on transparency, accountability, and service delivery... I suggest it is now time for the World Bank to examine, with its Board and shareholders, whether the Bank needs new capabilities or facilities that could leverage support from countries, foundations, and others to strengthen the capacity of CSOs working on accountability and transparency in service delivery. We could give priority to countries in the Middle East and North Africa, and in Sub-Saharan Africa. We could back this work with seed capital, and with knowledge exchange and research aimed at improving the enabling environment for social accountability.”
Importantly, the Zoellick thought it could prioritise the Middle East and Africa, thereby, bypassing Asia and some of the difficulties the Bank could face promoting this agenda in China. Whether the Bank could convince its board to support this change is funding is not clear.
The speech may be the marker of a major change in the Bank's direction, similar to former President Wolfensohn's promoting the fight against corruption. It could spur the development of strong civil society voices in developing countries, building on some of the work currently undertaken by the World Bank Institute. However, Bank wtching groups may groan that the Bank will now dictate the development of civil society through its financing plans.
The Spring Meetings take place next week and the Bank will be holding its traditional Civil Society Forum in the side-lines of the event. Anti-bank groups are planning a major rally on the 16th April to close down the meetings reviving the tradition of the anti-globalisation groups of the late 90s and early 2000s.