IMF Policy and Governance in the Context of the ‘Poly-crisis’: What Next?

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has a pivotal role to play in the multilateral response to the global “poly-crisis” — from the uneven global recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, to the food and energy crises triggered by the war in Ukraine. While the human rights, health, social and economic consequences of an international financial architecture dominated by the interests of high-income countries in the Global North and elite interests in the Global South have long been a topic of intense concern, recent events and their catastrophic impacts on the human rights and lives of billions of the world’s most marginalized populations have once again brought questions of global governance to the fore. The current economic and geopolitical dynamics are further stressing an already fragile multilateral order.

On Saturday, 15 October 2022 from 1:00-5:30 PM, join us for a half-day hybrid event that will bring together organizations and individuals from around the world — including US Congressman Jesus “Chuy” García, Latindadd’s Patricia Miranda, economic historian Adam Tooze, former Argentinian finance minister Martín Guzmán, former Ecuadorian central bank director Andrés Araúz, and more — to discuss the urgent reforms of the IMF’s policies and governance structures needed to support an effective global response to the climate, inequality, food security, debt, and energy crises.

Session I: Deteriorating global conditions and the IMF: Toward immediate and adequate responses, 1:00-2:15pm

The session will be moderated by Politico economics reporter Victoria Guida, and will feature an interactive discussion and 15-minute Q&A with:

- United States Congressman Jesus “Chuy” García (IL-04)

- Adam Tooze, Director of Columbia University’s European Institute

- Andrés Arauz, Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Policy and Economic Research (CEPR) and former Central Bank General Director of Ecuador

- Patricia Miranda, Advocacy Coordinator for the Latin American Network on Debt and Development (Latindadd)

Session II: Strengthening multilateralism through IMF governance reforms, 2:15 - 3:15pm

The session will be moderated by Andrea Shalal of Reuters, and will feature an interactive discussion and 15-minute Q&A with:

- Martín Guzmán, former Minister of Economy of Argentina

- Paulo Nogueira Batista, former Executive Director for Brazil at the IMF and former vice-president of the New Development Bank

- Lara Merling, Senior Policy Advisor at the Boston University Global Development Policy Center

Break, 3:15 - 3:45pm

Session III: Enhancing accountability at the IMF through the establishment of an independent accountability mechanism, 3:45 - 4:45pm

The session will be moderated by Co-Director of the Arab Watch Coalition Shereen Talaat, and will feature an interactive discussion and 15-minute Q&A with:

- Abu Bakarr Kamara, Coordinator of the Budget Advocacy Network in Sierra Leone

- Professor Daniel Bradlow, Pretoria University Centre for Human Rights

- Margaux Day, Policy Director of the Accountability Counsel

Session IV: What next? Civil society strategy session, 4:45 - 5:30pm

The event will feature interactive discussions by distinguished panelists and will focus on concrete proposals for action by the IMF. The event will close with a strategy-setting session among civil society groups.

This event is co-organized by Arab Watch Coalition, Bretton Woods Project, Center for Economic and Policy Research, Christian Aid, Eurodad, Institute for Policy Studies Global Economy Project, and Latindadd.