Strategy

Funding proposal for network strengthening project

A funding proposal has been made to the Ford Foundation to support a one-year pilot period of IFI watchnet. Included in the proposal is funding for a Communications Assistant and Project Evaluator.

Funding proposal
Terms of Reference: IFIwatchnet project evaluator
Job Outline: Communications Assistant, IFIwatchnet

Discussions on communications strategies for IFI watchers

On 29 September 2002, a second round of informal discussions took place with groups from around the world assembled in Washington for the Annual Meetings.

Highlights of the 29 September meeting

On 20 June 2002, informal discussions were held with a number of Washington-based IFI watchers on how to use communication strategies to work together more effectively based on the recommendations made in the report outlined below.
Highlights of the 20 June meeting

Report outlines new communications approaches for Bank/Fund watchers

A new report examines how civil society groups monitoring the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) communicate with each other and sets out new options for the future. The study recommends basic improvements to existing usage of the web and email, and proposes the establishment of a web ring and consideration of more advanced systems of information pooling.

The report is based on a review of websites and email lists produced by IFI-watching NGOs, plus in-depth interviews and questionnaires with active network hubs and with recipients of NGO information. As well as its main conclusions the report contains a list of electronic newsletters/listserves in this area, as well as case studies of successful and less successful approaches to collaborative information management. These include Jubilee 2000 as well as Labourstart, an initiative which collects and distibutes news from a wide range of people working on labour issues.

The report was commissioned by the Bretton Woods Project, with a grant increase from the C.S. Mott Foudation. It was carried out by Ethical Media Ltd., a company which provides media and communications solutions for a range of NGOs and official organisations.
The Bretton Woods Project is now taking forward more detailed discussions with organisations which have expressed interest in collaborating more closely on World Bank/IMF-related information exchange. Comments on the report, suggestions of other approaches not covered, and expressions of interest in working together on new, collaborative approaches are welcome.
Email Bretton Woods Project

Download report
Main text (Word version 245KB) | Appendix (Word version 311KB)
Main text (PDF 580KB) | Appendix (PDF 659KB)

For more background on this work see the
1 page outline or the 8 page full terms of reference | Full terms of reference (Word version).