International Conference on Poverty Reduction Strategies

Washington, D.C.

January 14-17, 2002

IMF Meeting Hall


An international conference on national poverty reduction strategies was held in Washington, D.C. from January 14-17, 2002 as a key input into the ongoing joint staff review of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) approach being carried out by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), as well as the IMF's staff review of its Poverty Reduction Growth Facility (PRGF). The conference was organized jointly by the IMF Institute and the World Bank Institute.

The objectives of the conference were to discuss the experience to date with the design and implementation of PRSPs, the challenges that lie ahead, and possible areas where the approach could be strengthened. In discussing donor assistance and instruments in support of the PRSP approach, attention was paid to the experience to date with the Fund's PRGF.

Participation was broad based, with representatives from low-income countries, bilateral donor agencies, international organizations, and northern and southern civil society groups attending.

Schedule
See also the Detailed Agenda (PDF 186KB)

Monday, January 14

8:00–10:00
 Registration/Coffee
IMF Gallery - Second Floor
10:00–10:30

Introduction/Welcome by Mohsin S. Khan, Director, IMF Institute
Opening Remarks by Messrs. Horst Köhler, Managing Director, IMF
Opening Remarks by James D. Wolfensohn, President, World Bank
IMF Meeting Hall
10:30–12:30
 Plenary Session I: Country Presentations: Lessons Learned from the first 8 Full PRSPs
IMF Meeting Hall
12:30–2:00

 Lunch - IMF Gallery (By invitation)
2:00–4:00

Plenary Session II: Discussion of the Review and the IMF/WB staff paper,"Issues Paper" (PDF file 256KB)
IMF Meeting Hall

4:00-4:30 Coffee Break - IMF Gallery

4:30–6:00

Plenary Session III: Retrospective of Regional Forums

Open forum discussion of Lessons learned from the first 8 full PRSPs and from Regional Forum Retrospective
IMF Meeting Hall

6:30–7:00

 Cocktail - IMF Gallery

7:00–8:30

 Dinner - IMF Gallery (By invitation)
Tuesday, January 15
9:00-10:30

Theme I Plenary: Participation
World Bank Preston Auditorium
10:30-11:00 Coffee break - World Bank Preston Auditorium
11:00-1:00

Theme I Parallel Breakout Discussions

  1. Participation within Gov't & with Parliaments—IMF B-702
  2. Civil Society—IMF Meeting Hall B
  3. Governance—IMF Meeting Hall A
  4. Donors—IMF R-710 (Auditorium)
1:00-2:30 Lunch - IMF Gallery (By invitation)
2:30-4:00

Theme II Plenary: Content of Poverty Reduction Strategies
World Bank Preston Auditorium
4:00-4:30 Coffee Break - World Bank Preston Auditorium

4:30–6:30:

Theme II Parallel Breakout Discussions

  1. Macroeconomic Policies
    IMF Meeting Hall A
  2. Public Expenditure Policies and Management
    IMF R-710 (Auditorium)
  3. Targets, Indicators and Monitoring
    IMF B-702
  4. Structural and Sectoral Policies
    IMF Meeting Hall B
Wednesday, January 16

9:00–10:30:

Theme III Plenary Session: Donor Assistance, Partnerships, and Instruments
World Bank Preston Auditorium
10:30-11:00 Coffee break - World Bank Preston Auditorium
11:00-1:00

Theme III Parallel Group Discussions

  1. IDA lending Programs, including the Poverty Reduction Support Credit
    IMF Meeting Hall B
  2. Bilateral support and the European Commission—IMF R-710 (Auditorium)
  3. Other multilateral assistance, including from the United Nations—IMF B-702
  4. IMF PRGF - Part 1—IMF Meeting Hall A
    1. Fiscal Aspects—IMF 2-530
    2. Conditionaliry and PRSP Relationships
    IMF Meeting Hall A
1:00-2:30 Lunch - IMF Gallery (By invitation)
2:30-4:00

Special Sessions

  1. IMF Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF)—Part II
    IMF Meeting Hall A
  2. PRSP in Conflict-affected Countries
    IMF B-702
  3. Implementation & Reporting
    IMF R-710
  4. HIPC—IMF Meeting Hall B
4:00-4:30 Coffee Break - IMF Gallery
4:30-6:30

Reflection Period

  1. Country Delegations
    1. African Countries—IMF Meeting Hall A
    2. Latin America & Caribbean—IMF 2-530
    3. Baltic & Central Asia—IMF B-702
    4. East & South Asia—IMF B-618
  2. Civil Society Organizations—IMF Meeting Hall B
  3. Bilateral Donors & International Organizations—IMF R-710
7:00-7:30 Cocktail - World Bank Atrium
7:30-8:30 Dinner - World Bank Atrium (By invitation)
Thursday, January 17

9:30–10:00:

Coffee

10:00–12:00:

Final Plenary on Main Conclusions of the Conference
Presenters: Representatives from country delegations, civil society and external partners.
World Bank Preston Auditorium
12:00-12:30

Introduction by Vice President, World Bank Institute
Formal Closing by Messrs. James D. Wolfensohn, President, World Bank and Horst Köhler, Managing Director, IMF
World Bank Preston Auditorium