The policymaking mechanisms of the G-20 group of nations lack transparency and exclude civil society, according to a paper by Nancy Alexander, director of the Economic Governance Program at Heinrich Boell Stiftung Foundation-North America.

Alexander also faults on transparency grounds the emerging World Bank Program-for-Results (P4R) strategy.

The observations on transparency are contained in a broader, critical review of the trend in toward more “country ownership” in development policy.

“The G20 lacks transparent relations with civil society,” Alexander wrote, citing several recent examples. The G20 charged the multilateral development banks to prepare an “Infrastructure Action Plan” for the 2011 meeting in Paris but without any plan for consultation, civil society was excluded from creation of the plan, she said.

At the Paris G20 Summit, the G20 asked the MDBs to collaborate in preparing action plans on water and food for the summit in Mexico in June. “To date neither the Mexican Presidency nor the MDBs have disclosed information about the Action Plan or about any consultative process,” Alexander said.

Be Sociable, Share!

• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Filed under: IFTI Watch