SEMC organized a panel discussion on access to information related to projects funded by International Financial Institutions the Middle East in cooperation with the Middle East and North Africa Alliance on (), the Bank Information Center (BIC) in Washington, the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), the Phenix Center for Economic and Informatics Studies (PCEIS), Jordan.
Challenges faced by civil society organizations and wider public as a whole in obtaining clear and simplified information from international financial institutions, especially the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), were discussed, and feasible solutions were proposed.
Panel coordinator, Ms. Emi Akdawi, stated that it was is important to hold such open sessions to discuss challenges facing civil society organizations in the Middle East and to find solutions in cooperation with representatives of leading international financial institutions, especially the World Bank and the IMF.
Several papers on challenges faced by civil society organizations in getting access to information related to programs and activities in the Middle East were presented. Senior researcher at the Egyptian Initiative for Human Rights, Salma ……., presented a case study on clients of international financial institutions in Egypt. The paper diagnosed challenges to access to information on entities dealing with International Finance Corporations (IFCs).
Ms. Ellison, from the Center for Economic and Social Rights in the United States of America, presented a paper on challenges to obtaining information on social and economic indicators of IMF programs in the region, again based on the case of Egypt.
Mr. Ahmed Awad, from PCEIS, reviewed challenges to obtaining information about programs and projects targeting refugees and host communities in Jordan.
The session was attended by representatives of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. Participants raised many questions on effective IFC strategies to improve disclosure and transparency policies.
SEMC had submitted a set of demands to the panel, called on IFCs to ensure commitment to disclosure policy, and to introduce clear mechanisms that reflect adherence to disclosure policy. It also demanded IFCs to introduce institutional mechanisms of partnership with civil society organizations and the media, and to allocate more technical and material resources aimed at empowering beneficiaries.
The Studies and Economic Media Center (SEMC), based in Yemen, is a civil society organization advocating promotion of transparency and citizens’ right of access to information. It has played a pivotal role in supporting legislations that affirm the Yemeni citizens’ right to obtain information.
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