🌐 Global Advocacy and

UN Engagement

Ágora actively participates in the World Bank Group (WBG) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Spring and Annual Meetings, engaging in high-level dialogues that shape the global development agenda. Through our involvement in the Civil Society Policy Forum (CSPF) and thematic panels, we ensure that the voices of youth, civil society, and harm reduction advocates are heard in spaces where financial and policy decisions impact millions of lives.

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Our Mission at the Meetings

At Ágora, we believe that global financial institutions have a crucial role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ensuring that economic policies promote equity, peace, and sustainability. Our participation in the World Bank and IMF meetings centers on four main priorities:

1. Promoting Inclusive Development:
   We advocate for policies that ensure development financing reaches marginalized communities, including those affected by violence, exclusion, and the war on drugs.

2. Linking Peace and Economic Justice:
   We highlight how peacebuilding, disarmament, and harm reduction are essential components of sustainable development, calling for financial strategies that address social inequalities and foster human security.

3. Advancing Youth Participation:
   We promote meaningful youth engagement in economic governance, pushing for mechanisms that allow young leaders and civil society organizations to influence decision-making processes.

4. Strengthening Civil Society Networks:
   We collaborate with international NGOs, grassroots initiatives, and advocacy networks to enhance coordination, amplify local perspectives, and co-develop policy proposals that reflect real-world needs.

 

Civil Society Forum and Advocacy Panels

During both the Spring Meetings (April) and the Annual Meetings (October), Agora’s delegation participates in the Civil Society Policy Forum (CSPF) — a key platform for dialogue between global institutions and non-state actors.

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Our team:

• Organizes and speaks on panels connecting drug policy reform, sustainable development, and peacebuilding;

• Facilitates workshops and roundtables on the role of civil society in promoting inclusive financing;

• Builds partnerships with international organizations, networks, and donors to enhance cross-sector collaboration.

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These engagements allow Agora to bridge the gap between local advocacy and global policy, ensuring that communities most affected by harmful economic and social policies are not left behind in global decision-making processes.

 

Supporting Civil Society Participation

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We are committed to democratizing access to these global spaces. Every year, Ágora provides guidance, coordination, and logistical support to help civil society organizations, youth groups, and NGOs attend and meaningfully engage in the World Bank and IMF Meetings.

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We support participants by:

• Sharing key information on registration, sessions, and advocacy opportunities;

• Hosting preparatory briefings and strategy sessions;

• Facilitating introductions to policymakers, World Bank staff, and mission representatives;

• Coordinating collective advocacy around shared priorities — from climate finance to drug policy and human rights.

 

Building Bridges Between Policy and People

Our work at the World Bank is grounded in the belief that economic reform must serve social justice. Through consistent participation in these global meetings, Agora:

• Amplifies the links between economic governance, peace, and sustainable development;

• Advocates for the inclusion of public health and harm reduction principles in development financing;

• Promotes an ecosystem approach that integrates drug policy, climate resilience, and institutional reform under the same global agenda.