Follow-up process to the International Conference
on Financing for Development

Over the past few months, members of the Interim Facilitating Group have been consulting with various UN offices with regards to the upcoming ECOSOC High level meeting with institutional stakeholders scheduled for April 14, 2003 at the UN New York Headquarters. The following contains pertinent information for NGOs interested in participating in the process and attending the meetings.

ECOSOC High level meeting, April 14th, UN Headquarters in New York:

The UN will be hosting the ECOSOC High level meeting with the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) on 14 April 2003 immediately following the Spring Meetings of the World Bank-IMF Development Committee and the IMF's International Monetary and Financial Committee.

This meeting has been assigned a specific role in the follow-up process to the International Conference on Financing for Development (ICFFD) and will take up the issues of coherence, coordination and cooperation in this regard. Additionally, the meetings should be geared to advancing implementation, as well as examining institutional responses to moving the Monterrey process forward.

Highlights:
- High level meeting with four key institutions in global governance: UN, World Bank, IMF and WTO;
- The High level meeting will consist of a plenary session and round table discussions meant to enable a free-flowing dialogue;
- Civil society contributions will consist of:
* Plenary statements from civil society
* Civil society representatives on high-level round tables;
- Preparatory session in March between civil society, ECOSOC Ambassadors and other institutional representatives;
- Participants have included: Secretary-General of the UN; Managing Director of the IMF; President of the World Bank; Chairperson of the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC); Chairperson of the Development Committee; Chairperson of the Financial Stability Forum; Chairperson of the Group of 20 (G-20); Chairperson of the Group of 24 (G-24).

Preparatory meetings in March:
In preparation of the April 14th ECOSOC High level meeting, NGO strategy sessions and an interactive dialogue between civil society, ECOSOC ambassadors and institutional stakeholders will take place.

NGO Strategy Session, March 19th, at the UN : This session will provide an opportunity for NGOs to strategize around various issues: substance, content and NGO message of the ECOSOC meetings; NGO representation at the High-level plenary session and selection of round tables participants.

Interactive Preparatory Dialogue with NGOs March 20th : In order to maximize the effectiveness of the ECOSOC High-level meeting and ensure that the most salient issues are discussed, the UN in consultation with civil society is planning preparatory sessions in New York of exchanges between representatives of civil society, Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
Ambassadors and representatives of the other institutions. At this session, NGOs, ECOSOC members and institutional stakeholder representatives will have an opportunity to enrich the ECOSOC April 14th meeting.

March 21st, Business Sector / ECOSOC Interactive Dialogue : As it stands now, the March 21st Business Sector / ECOSOC Interactive Dialogue will be open to NGOs.

Entry into the UN will follow ECOSOC accreditation and registration procedures.

Should you have any specific questions, please do write directly to :
Rosa G. Lizarde,
Interim Facilitating Group for Follow-up to Monterrey,
Email : Rosaencasa@aol.com
Telephone/Fax: (718) 789-9747
Mobile: (347) 451-7794