The IDB Group is in the process of updating its Strategy1 for the Relationship with Civil Society.
The Strategy is based on the key change factors registered in the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). These change factors include:
I) Strong institutionalization of the participatory dimension contained in new laws, regulations and policies in the countries.
II) Growing maturity of democratic systems in Latin America and the Caribbean.
III) Modernization and decentralization of the state that encourage citizen participation in the decision-making process.
IV) Emergence of LAC initiatives replicated in other countries, such as participatory budgeting.
V) Initiatives to strengthen transparency in state management such as the Open Budget Initiative, Open Data Barometer and the Open Government Index.
VI) Governmental transparency policies and programs such as Brasil Transparent and Open Government Company (OGP) with the purpose of informing and enhancing the role of participatory civil society monitoring.
In the last two decades, the IDB group has intensified and expanded its relationship with Civil Society. It has maintained a direct and permanent relationship (including Consoc members). Also, it has adopted new policies for transparency, participation as well as social and environmental safeguards, which provide a framework for relations with civil society and help build trust with governments, the private sector and civil society organizations (CSOs).
The new vision and strategy are being built on lessons learned, experiences in leveraging activities, initiatives and operations with the inclusion of field and technical expertise from civil society, and direct consultations with representatives of government, the private sector and Civil society, as well as Bank staff. Therefore, the Civil Society Team of the IDB Group is carrying out a comprehensive and systematic process of public consultations and internal consultations begun in 2016 and continuing through 2017 through meetings, interviews and virtual and face-to-face consultations.
This is the estimated time frame (subject to change) for consultations:
| Country/ Consultation Type | Status of Consultation | Estimated Date of Completion or Closure |
| Presential – Colombia | Done | April 2017 |
Presential – Caribbean
|
Done | June 2017 |
| Presential – Argentina | Done | June 2017 |
| Presential – Washington DC with CSO representatives | Done | June 2017 |
| Presential – Mexico | Done | July 2017 |
| Presential – Brasil | Done | August 2017 |
| Presential – Guatemala with representatives of indigenous people | In process | September 2017 |
| Presential – Dominican Republic | In process | September 2017 |
| Virtual – Consultation with representatives of Civil SocietyHere | Open | September 2017 |
| Virtual – Consultation with Government representativesHere | Open | September 2017 |
| Virtual – Consultation with represenatives of private sectorHere | Open | September 2017 |
| Virtual – Consultation with representatives of Civil Society – BelizeHere | Open | September2017 |
The opinions and suggestions shared in the context of consultations (face-to-face and virtual) are indicative and non-binding for the Bank. The inputs are being analyzed individually and systematized for its publication on this website.
The virtual consultations of the first phase are open. We estimate to share the first draft version to receive final inputs in person in November 2017 during the IDB Group – Civil Society Forum in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
For more information on the consultation process, please contact Viviane Espinoza at vivianee@iadb.org
1Since 2004, the IDB Group has the Strategy on Citizen Participation (GN-2232-5).
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