The CSPF is a key event during the World Bank Group-International Monetary Fund Spring and Annual Meetings. This forum provides an open space for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)* to dialogue and exchange views on a wide range of shared development issues with World Bank Group and IMF staff, their peers, government delegations, and other stakeholders. The next CSPF will take place during the Spring Meetings in Washington, DC, with hybrid components.
Follow the CSPF Event Page for updates and recordings.
Find a preliminary schedule here.
The registration for the Spring Meetings closed on April 4, 2024.
The call for proposals for the Spring Meetings 2024 Civil Society Policy Forum (CSPF) closed on February 21, 2024.
For additional information about the Spring and Annual Meetings and CSPF, please see the Frequently Asked Questions document.
Subscribe to the World Bank Civil Society Newsletter for updates.
*CSOs include non-governmental organizations, community groups, labor unions, indigenous peoples movements, faith-based organizations, professional associations, foundations, think tanks, charitable organizations, and other not-for-profit organizations. Representatives from the private sector, academia or governmental bodies must apply for accreditation through the "Guests" or other respective registration category as clarified on the main Spring Meetings website.
APPROXIMATE TIMELINE FOR THE CSPF**
Spring Meetings CSPF APRIL | Annual Meetings CSPF OCTOBER |
Call for session proposals: January - February CSO registration: February - March | Call for session proposals: May - July CSO registration: August-September |
Costs
Registration and participation in the WBG-IMF Meetings and CSPF is free. Unfortunately, we have come across some entities offering to register participants for a fee. If you come across any such entity, please report them to civilsociety@worldbank.org so we can take appropriate action.
Application Process
All CSO applications go through an initial review by the Civil Society Team of the World Bank Group to ensure that the applicants represent relevant CSOs. (See "What are CSOs?" paragraph in the overview page). Applications are then reviewed by the relevant Executive Directors' offices (based on the country where the CSO is based or mainly operates and/or the nationality of the requester). Once approved, participants will be notified by email of the final decision. There is no limit on the number of applicants from a single organization, but each applicant must apply individually.
Since the review and approval process can take up to 21 days, we encourage CSOs to apply early to allow for the relevant reviews and clearances.
CSPF WORKING GROUP
The CSPF Working Group is an elected group of CSO representatives that serve as a civil society interlocutor with the WBG and IMF civil society teams to effectively achieve the objectives of the Forum as a means for engagement and a platform for a globally and thematically diverse group of civil society to voice their concerns, share ideas and experiences, and dialogue with staff on a wide range of issues and development topics.
Towards this end, the CSPF Working Group actively contributes to the planning and organization of the CSPF. The Working Group is also tasked with fostering closer CSO/WB and IMF dialogue on how to improve the CSPF. The Working Group has a mandate of two years. See Terms of Reference for more information.
2022- 2024 Working Group:
2020-2022 Working Group:
2017-2019 Working Group:
LIST OF CIVIL SOCIETY POLICY FORUMS