The Civil Society Policy Forum (CSPF) of the 2025 World Bank Group–IMF Annual Meetings ran from October 14 to 17, with 22 sessions hosted at the World Bank that explored some of the world’s most pressing development challenges.

Tuesday, October 14 – Opening Day: Catalyzing Human Capital and Innovation

The Forum opened with a focus on social protection, inclusion, and innovation.
The session “How ‘Cash Plus’ Approaches Reduce Poverty and Boost Economic Resilience” showcased evidence from Nepal, Somalia, and Zambia on how integrated social protection systems, supported by government–CSO collaboration, can lift vulnerable communities out of poverty.

Health and financing took center stage in “Advancing IDA21 Country Priorities on UHC, Nutrition and Jobs by Scaling Catalytic Financing,” where panelists discussed leveraging the Global Financing Facility and other instruments to align donor and domestic investments toward inclusive growth and universal health coverage.

Innovation and technology were also in focus. “Engineering Redemptive Impact: AI-Driven Solutions for Civil Society’s Grand Challenges” illustrated how artificial intelligence and data analytics are transforming how CSOs measure and scale impact — from financial inclusion to environmental action — signaling a shift toward a data-enabled civil society.

Wednesday, October 15 – Shared Prosperity and Planetary Sustainability

The second day emphasized collaboration in fragile contexts, climate justice, and sustainable growth.

“Working Together Toward Solutions in Protracted Displacement and FCV Settings” highlighted lessons from humanitarian–development coordination to foster resilience and self-reliance for displaced populations.

In parallel, “Mainstreaming a New Generation of Skills for Employment for All” presented youth-centered digital skills programs from Türkiye — such as AI Stars and SolveForTomorrow — demonstrating public–private partnerships for employability and inclusion.

Civil society also led a provocative debate on inequality through “Extreme Wealth – How Much Is Too Much?” where Oxfam and partners proposed an “extreme wealth line” as a tool to frame the global inequality agenda, aligning with the Bank’s goal to end high inequality.

Climate and natural resource governance were central to two high-profile sessions:
“MDBs and the Just Transition: Opportunities and Principles for a Just Role in Transition Minerals” examined responsible financing for the energy transition, while “WBG at the Forest Frontier: Rethinking Forest Finance and Community Rights” challenged assumptions around forest investment models and called for stronger safeguards for indigenous and local communities.

African youth and women leaders were spotlighted in “Advancing Homegrown Economy through Sustainable Infrastructure and Skills Development in Africa,” which championed inclusive industrialization and gender-responsive policy reforms.

Later, “Strengthening Civil Society Through Indigenous Mutual Aid Practices” drew lessons from Haitian and Latin American experiences, arguing that local solidarity networks can strengthen resilience where formal systems fail.

The day closed with “Compliance for Growth: SME Transparency Standards,” emphasizing good governance, ESG, and risk management as drivers for sustainable private-sector growth.

Thursday, October 16 – Accountability, Inclusion, and Health Systems

“An Action Agenda on Global Health Financing” brought together key players from the ONE Campaign, WACI Health, and the World Bank to discuss mobilizing resources through ODA, domestic funding, and private-sector partnerships.

Faith-based collaboration was the focus of “Faith Matters: Driving Inclusive Development in Fragile and Hard-to-Reach Contexts,” which underscored the vital role of religious organizations in advancing equity and delivering services in fragile contexts.

Institutional transparency and accountability took the spotlight in “A Potential Integration of the World Bank and IFC/MIGA Accountability Mechanisms,. The discussion explored how consolidation could improve responsiveness while protecting complainants’ rights.

 “Protecting Progress: Lessons from Civil Society in Financing Health and Rights” highlighted domestic resource mobilization and coalition advocacy to sustain health outcomes, while “Enhancing Economic Growth through Effective Tax Policy and Administration” examined lessons from the Bank’s B-READY survey to improve efficiency and equity in tax systems.

Friday, October 17 – Climate Action, Jobs, and Gender Equality

The final day brought a strong close, weaving together themes of just transition, green jobs, and gender equity.

“Pathways to Rural Prosperity: Unlocking Green Jobs for Women and Youth through Renewable Energy Access” spotlighted how investments in renewable energy and skills can transform rural economies and empower women entrepreneurs.

Energy transition remained central in “Mission 300 in Action: Operationalizing National Energy Compacts for a Just Transition,” where CSO and Bank experts discussed how Mission 300 can help countries deliver inclusive and accountable energy access.

The debate continued with “How Can DPFs Promote Equitable Energy Access and Accomplish Climate Objectives?” focusing on the World Bank’s Development Policy Financing as a tool for climate action and inclusion.

Simultaneously, “Evidence, Innovation and Action: Civil Society Transforming Climate Finance Governance” showcased the Bank’s new CIVIC initiative and the Green Accountability Platform, underscoring the importance of citizen engagement in climate finance transparency.

The CSPF concluded with two dynamic sessions emphasizing women’s empowerment and institutional accountability:

“From Classroom to Career: Scaling the Girls in Energy Model for Industry Entry and Retention” featured global voices including Google’s Vint Cerf, presenting actionable pathways to advance women’s entry into the energy industry.

Meanwhile, “Transparency as a Twin Engine: Driving Community Ownership, Development Effectiveness, and Investment Efficiency at the IFC” proposed reforms to strengthen disclosure and accountability, highlighting transparency as both a moral and financial imperative.