IMF Conference: Fragility, Conflict, and Macroeconomic Policy in a Shock-Prone World
June 6-7, 2022
The International Monetary Fund is organizing a conference in partnership with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office to explore the nexus between fragility, conflict, and macroeconomic policy. On June 6, policymakers, leading academics, and practitioners will reflect on insights from a new publication on Macroeconomic Policy in Fragile States (Oxford University Press, 2021), coordinated by IMF staff with contributions from leading academics and funded through the Macroeconomics in Low-Income Countries research partnership with FCDO. On June 7, the sessions will focus on the Fund’s stepped-up efforts to support its most vulnerable members, including the newly approved IMF Strategy for Fragile and Conflict-Affected States (FCS), and efforts to work with humanitarian, development, and peace actors.
Agenda:
View full agenda.
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Monday, June 6, 2022 9:00 – 10:00 Session 1: Fragility, Conflict, and Macroeconomic Policy Fragility and conflict impose heavy human costs, but also create a radically different policy space shaped by the mix of limited public goods, social tensions, political instability, and weak state capacity. This session will provide an overview of how macroeconomic policies can be adapted to address these challenges. Discussions will focus on insights and lessons learned from the new publication “Macroeconomic Policy in Fragile States” (Oxford University Press, 2021), coordinated by IMF staff with contributions from leading academics. |
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Session Chair and Moderator
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Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, Economic Counselor and Director of Research, IMF Antoinette Sayeh, Deputy Managing Director, IMF
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| Q&A | 30 Minutes |
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10:00 – 10:30 |
Break |
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10:30 – 11:30Session 2 – Building State Capacity to Exit the Fragility Trap This session will explore efforts to build state capacity in FCS, especially through the lens of policymakers. Building state capacity through technical support offered by institutions such as the IMF and donors can help reverse fragility. However, the task goes beyond technical constraints, reflecting a wide range of challenges such as weak governance, the lack of cohesiveness in the operation of the state, and the lack of state legitimacy. The session will identify challenges but also opportunities of strengthening capacities in the context of fragility and conflict – including a frank conversation of policy trade-offs in FCS. |
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Session Chair and Moderator
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Dominique Desruelle, Director, Institute for Capacity Development, IMF
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| Q&A | 30 Minutes |
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Tuesday, June 7, 2022 9:00 – 10:00 Session 3 – Enhancing the IMF’s Engagement in FCS: The Fund’s FCS Strategy The IMF is stepping up its engagement with fragile and conflict-affected states, including by completing its first FCS Strategy. Through long-term engagement and working with partners, the Fund aims to enhance its effectiveness to support FCS in achieving macroeconomic stability to help them exit from fragility, strengthen their resilience, and promote sustainable and inclusive economic growth. This session will showcase the new elements of the Fund’s engagement with FCS, as articulated by the FCS Strategy. |
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| Session Chair and Moderator FCS Strategy Overview Speakers |
Mahmoud Mohieldin, Executive Director, IMF Franck Bousquet, Deputy Director, Institute for Capacity Development, IMF
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| Q&A | 30 minutes |
| 10:00-10:30 a.m. | Break |
| 10:30 – 11:30 Session 4 – Strengthening Cooperation between International Organizations in FCS
This session will discuss the importance of partnerships in supporting fragile and conflict affected states (FCS) and provide concrete ways to further scale up the coordination among international, national, and local organizations. Using examples and lessons learned from country cases, the discussion will highlight the importance of leveraging each organization’s mandate and core competencies through humanitarian, development, peace, and macroeconomic policy interventions that jointly address fragility and conflict. The session will also showcase perspectives from country authorities and donors. |
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Session Chair and Moderator Speakers
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Sarah Cliffe, President, Center for International Cooperation, New York University
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| Q&A | 30 minutes |
