S P E C I A L

  Clark began the session by preempting what was sure to be the biggest question on the minds of the NGOs - what is the World Bank's stand on involving citizens in development issues? Clark worked in the NGO community for more than 20 years, including 12 years as a government liaison with Oxfam, Britain's largest development NGO, and expressed his original misgivings about joining the Bank. "I wasn't convinced that the organization wanted to go beyond seeing NGOs as delivery mechanisms for programs," he said. "But I can tell you there is strong support for change from people throughout the organization, and convincing evidence that public participation is effective."

  A recent Bank strategy paper, which Clark presented at the meeting, emphasized the need for stronger Bank-NGO relations, calling for an increase in staff resources to liaise with NGOs, particularly on the country mission level; stronger Bank-NGO operational collaboration; the establishment of funding mechanisms for NGO operations; and the improvement of government-NGO relations by advising governments of the contribution NGOs can and do make in development.

  Over the last year NGO liaisons have been appointed in many of the country missions. Thirty-five of the 75 resident offices now have one person who is dedicated solely to working with NGOs. Clark cited the effectiveness of the liaisons as one of the Bank's greatest successes.

  But public participation in Bank projects in CEE is low, as evidenced by the fact that, despite their prominence in the NGO community, only three of the 16 NGOs at the meeting had ever been in contact with the Bank. There is no liaison in Hungary and the NGOs were quick to ask why not. This question was punctuated by the frustration expressed by those NGOs who had tried to contact the Bank's Budapest office. Eniko Szemanik, of the CEE Bankwatch Network explained, "We've had some trouble with the country office. They don't seem to have the information we need and they are usually so busy that NGOs are treated as a burden. So far, they have not been encourage to deal with us. But this [meeting] may be the first step."

  As most Bank projects are initiated and implemented by national governments, the NGOs also called for the World Bank to use its influence to encourage governments to work more closely with citizens groups. While the Bank does "strongly suggest" public participation in its lending policies, Clark explained that it would not necessarily refuse a loan if a country did not involve citizens, and noted that countries could always go elsewhere for funding to avoid Bank restrictions. He also expressed his hope that the Bank can work as a broker to bring together governments and NGOs, saying "We can set an example. When governments see us working with the NGOs they may realize just how important cooperation is."

  Among his suggestions to the NGOs, Clark said it is important for people to be pushy about getting official information. He also emphasized the need for them to learn the language of the Bank - to make the links between community issues and macroeconomic policy.

  Monika Kadar of LO Hungary wasted no time in following up on his first suggestion with the question, "What now?" But alas, Bank-NGO relations are changing slowly and a direct question still receives a somewhat less-direct answer. Clark said the Bank is discussing a strategy for CEE, and that there is a proposal to hold a region-wide meeting with NGOs in the Spring.