ABSTRACT

Three clear types of contact have emerged: NGO collaboration in World Bank-financed projects; invited consultation in policy discussions; and confrontations over projects or controversial policies. Both project collaboration and more confrontational critiques have helped to make way for changes in the World Bank policy, forced a more open information disclosure policy, and, in a few cases, influenced its lending practice. The World Bank now refers to its engagement with ‘civil society’ or with ‘civil society organizations’, including not only NGOs, but also religious leaders, trades unions, manufacturers’ associations and other organized groups. The term NGO is retained in this chapter, but the organizations discussed often include social movements and other forms of association.