Francoise Clottes, World Bank director for the Caribbean, and Gina Montiel, general manager country department Belize, Central America, Mexico, Panama and Dominican Republic at the Inter-American Development Bank met with President Danilo Medina yesterday, Tuesday 4 December to start preparatory talks for a new Joint Assistance Strategy. This is the first time that the World Bank and the IDB are developing a joint country assistance strategy for the Dominican Republic.
As reported in Hoy, Clottes said that the funding would not go on financing the government deficit. She said that they want to improve the results of their programs in the Dominican Republic. Apparently social protection is foremost among the programs discussed. The main purpose of the executives’ visit on 3-4 December was to explore critical issues to support inclusive growth, job creation and poverty reduction.
During the visit the directors held various meetings with government and civil society representatives to discuss social and economic issues of relevance to the country, the developmental challenges it faces and to see how the two international financial institutions can continue to support Dominicans, within the context of the National Development Strategy.
Hoy reported meetings took place with Minister of the Presidency Gustavo Montalvo, Minister of Finance Simon Lizardo, Minister of Economy, Planning and Development Temistocles Montas, CDEEE vice president Ruben Jimenez Bichara, and representatives of civil society and the private sector.
The World Bank and IDB representatives in the DR McDonald Benjamin and Manuel Labrado, and Ary Naim, Manager of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank Group were present for the talks.
The IDB and World Bank reported that traditionally, strategies to assist countries are agreed through consultations with a broad civil society representation. This time, nevertheless, they will consider the views of civil society established within the framework of the National Development Strategy, the Anti-Corruption Participatory Initiative, and the Caribbean Growth Forum, a regional platform for dialogue with the purpose of identifying and tracking specific actions that promote sustainable growth and opportunity for all in the Caribbean.