Towards more inclusive, participatory, just and sustainable development.

Arab Watch Coalition (AWC) actively works towards influencing the policies, programs, and projects of international financial institutions operating in the Arab region. The coalition is committed to amplifying the voices of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and affected communities in the region, striving for the overarching goal of attaining development that is effective, inclusive, participatory, equitable, and sustainable.

Introduction

Welcome to the latest edition of the Arab Watch Coalition (AWC) Newsletter, your source for updates on our endeavors to shape policy and promote accountability in the Arab region. As a leading coalition in the region, AWC is at the forefront of numerous campaigns, striving for development that is inclusive, participatory, and sustainable. In this newsletter, we highlight our ongoing efforts to amplify the voices of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and affected communities, as well as our engagement with international financial institutions (IFIs), where we're actively working to influence policies that drive positive change in the region.

2023 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund (IMF)

During the CSPF, AWC sponsored and co-sponsored multiple sessions:

• AWC organized a panel addressing the barriers to accountability faced by communities in the Arab region.
• AWC co-sponsored a panel titled “Time to Tax Wealth in the Arab Region” focused on tax justice, with a particular emphasis on taxing wealth as an alternative to austerity measures.
• AWC co-sponsored a panel titled ”An Evolution to Accountability Roadmap: Lessons for the Bank’s New Chapter,” which addressed accountability lessons for the Bank’s Evolution Roadmap and explored insights from past cases involving the WBG’s Independent Accountability Mechanisms to advance a vision of a fairer, more inclusive, and successful WBG evolution.
• AWC also participated in the global consultations on the World Bank’s evolution roadmap.

Continued Working on the Remedy and Responsible Exit Campaign

AWC continued to play a leading role in the campaign targeting IFIs, pushing for remedy, responsible exit, and accountability within the institutions. On December 15, 2023, AWC and Arab partners sent a letter to the World Bank Group's CODE, demanding public disclosure and consultation on IFC’s updated Remedial Action Framework. This crucial step aimed to hold the IFC accountable and ensure transparent decision-making.

On May 15, 2023, AWC released a paper titled "Communities Are Forced to Pay The Hefty Price for IFC's Lessons." The paper leverages the Titan cement plant as a concrete illustration of the IFC's flawed approach to environmental and social impact assessments. The paper offers recommendations for improvements that would effectively address potential harm to communities and the environment.

Continued Working on the Campaign Against Debt and Austerity Measures     

Faced with the shortcomings of IMF programs in the Arab region and the ongoing global debt crisis, AWC produced an in-depth analysis of IMF programming in the region. This analysis delves into the IMF's role and strategies, offering valuable insights into alternative approaches to austerity measures that prioritize sustainability and equity, and advocating for feminist economics in program designs.

In collaboration with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Middle East and North Africa , AWC released a video as part of its End Austerity campaign. The video aims to raise awareness and mobilize support against austerity measures by showcasing the negative impacts these policies have on citizens' fundamental rights, including access to essential services like healthcare and education.

AWC released a study that highlights the critical economic and social challenges that Tunisia is currently facing. Titled “It’s Time to Abolish Tax Privileges” the study contends that seeking a new IMF loan won't resolve these crises but might perpetuate a damaging cycle of debt and austerity. It urges a shift in fiscal policy and proposes alternative strategies to tackle the current crisis. Drawing from history and global insights, the study suggests reforms like restructuring tax systems for fairer contributions across sectors, emphasizing equitable taxation on major corporations and high-income earners, breaking away from the last 30 years' fiscal approaches.

AWC published a paper about SDR allocation in the region for seven countries in total, titled “SDRs, Complex Injustice and Lessons for the Future: SDR experience in the Arab region amid Covid-19.” The paper examined the allocation and utilization of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) by the IMF in 2021, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 crisis. It highlights the strategic importance of SDRs for a just and green economic recovery in the aftermath of the pandemic and emphasizes the need for a transparent and inclusive allocation and spending process. The paper also sheds light on the unequal distribution of SDRs, underscoring the stark disparities between richer and less prosperous nations. 

Facilitating the engagement of impacted communities with the officials and accountability mechanisms at the funding IFIs.

AWC continues to support the Nahouli family in their ongoing fight for just compensation after losing their orchard to the World Bank-funded Bisri Dam project. AWC collaborated closely with the family to draft and submit a complaint to the Inspection Panel, facilitating multiple meetings between the family and the Panel. Although the complaint was deemed ineligible because the Bank had already fully disbursed funds to the Lebanese government at the time the complaint was submitted, registering and posting the complaint on the IP website proved instrumental in generating momentum and prompting the Bank's office in Lebanon to re-engage in discussions with the government on this critical issue.

AWC authored a piece detailing their struggle against the Bisri Dam project to garner wider support for them. AWC is still following up with the World Bank and pressuring it to use its leverage with the Lebanese government to address this unjust situation.

AWC co-sponsored the Joint Virtual Outreach Seminar titled "Making Development Work for Communities." This collaborative effort was organized by the Independent Accountability Mechanisms (IAMs) of various influential financial institutions, including the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the European Investment Bank (EIB), the International Financial Corporation (IFC), the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), The International Climate Initiative (IKI), the United Nations Development Programme  (UNDP), and the World Bank. This seminar aimed to educate and empower civil society organizations (CSOs) across the Arab  region about IAMs' functions. 

A Webinar on Strengthening IMF-CSO Engagement

AWC and Oxfam hosted a webinar which delved into and critically addressed gaps in the engagement between Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the Arab region and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Through discussions reflecting on the Marrakech Annual Meetings and specific country experiences including a detailed presentation on IMF’s engagement with Tunisian’s CSOs, the webinar identified gaps in communication and collaboration between the IMF and CSOs, and developed strategies for more effective collaboration.

The webinar provided a platform for CSOs to share their experiences, insights, and recommendations for engaging with the IMF as well as building a network of CSOs and stakeholders for ongoing dialogue and collaboration beyond the webinar.

Implementing a New Transitional Strategy

AWC developed a new transitional strategy which seeks to build the capacities of member CSOs to engage in advocacy with IFIs while strengthening the infrastructure of the coalition to ensure its sustainability and resilience. This strategic realignment prioritizes targeting key institutions like the IMF and the World Bank Group (WBG), and focusing on a clear set of campaigns that address critical issues relevant to the Arab region, including austerity, debt, citizen engagement, and accountability. Though distinct in their specific objectives, these campaigns share common ground and intersect in their broader impact on the region's socio-economic development and governance.

While sharpening its focus on achieving concrete outcomes, the strategy also envisions an expanded coalition, involving more active members and fostering greater collaboration. This expansion will facilitate the formation of working groups, leading to the development and implementation of more campaigns in the future. As a result, CSOs operating in the region will have a broader platform to amplify their collective voice and advance their shared agenda.

Visit our website for more!

For more information and to get involved, contact us at info@arabwatchcoalition.org.