Along a coalition of economic justice, human rights, environmental, climate justice, and feminist civil society organisations, we have expressed a growing concern over the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) engagement with civil society in recent policy reviews. We argue that the current system lacks transparency, undermining the potential for meaningful collaboration.

The IMF’s 2015 guidelines on civil society engagement emphasised the value of transparent and wide-ranging interactions with civil society organisations. However, almost a decade later, we believe the guidelines are outdated, particularly given the IMF’s expanded focus on new areas like gender and climate, which are not fully considered in the original guidelines.

A recent Independent Evaluation Office report echoed our concerns, highlighting a lack of specific measures, confusion over terminology, and an absence of an evaluation system for civil society engagement. The report recommended the adoption of a clear framework for engagement, to be approved by the Executive Board, a call strongly supported by civil society.

The signatory organisations emphasise that while some consultations have taken place, they have been irregular and heavily dependent on the personal willingness of individual IMF staff rather than a systematic commitment.

Call for Reform

The coalition calls for several reforms, including clearer annual work plans with set timelines and scopes for policy reviews and formal, mandatory civil society consultation processes. They also demand greater inclusion of the civil society of the Global South and systematic access to IMF staff at the country level.

We urge the IMF to evaluate the 2015 guidelines and establish a Board-mandated framework to ensure consistent, transparent, and meaningful engagement with civil society. Without these changes, the IMF risks excluding critical voices from its decision, particularly those most affected by its policies.

This call for reform underscores the need for a more inclusive and accountable global financial system that genuinely engages with civil society in shaping policies that affect millions worldwide.

You can read the letter here.