[stop-imf] DC Conference on basic services privatization

[Robert Weissman]

You are cordially invited to a workshop on

PROTECTING THE RIGHT TO BASIC SERVICES: WATER, EDUCATION, AND HEALTH

ASSESSING THE POTENTIAL ROLES OF THE PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND NON-PROFIT
SECTORS

Wednesday, November 28, 2001
from 9 AM to 5 PM

Jurys Washington Hotel
Westbury Room
1500 New Hampshire Ave, N.W.
(Metro Station Dupont Circle)
Washington, D.C. 20036

Sponsored by:   The Heinrich Böll Foundation, The Friedrich Ebert
Foundation, Public Services International, Environmental Defense,
Fifty Years is Enough, RESULTS, Globalization Challenge Initiative

In many different venues, groups are debating the appropriate roles of
public, private and non-profit players in the delivery of basic
services.
Some groups have provided input to the World Bank Group, which is
formulating a new Private Sector Development (PSD) Strategy that will
speak
to this issue.  In particular, citizens’ groups have expressed concern
with
potential implications of privatizing basic services.  This meeting is
intended to provide a forum for labor, environment, and development
groups
to share experience and knowledge about this topic with each other and
with
the representatives of the World Bank Group.

PROGRAM

9:00 ? 9:30       Welcome and Introduction:

Nancy Alexander, Director, Globalization Challenge Initiative


9:30 ? 11:00    Emerging Themes Regarding Provision of Basic Services

David Hall, Director, Public Services International Research Unit,
London
Michael Klein, Director, Private Sector Advisory Services,
The World Bank Group*
Bruce Rich, Environmental Defense, Washington
MODERATOR:  Liane Schalatek, Heinrich Böll Foundation


11:00 ? 11:15   COFFEE BREAK



11:15-12:45     Comparative Advantages of Public, Private,
        and NGO Service Provision

Ray Offenheiser, President, Oxfam America
David Boys, Public Services International, Geneva
Aasim Sajjad Akhtar, Sustainable Development Policy Institute and
All-Pakistan Alliance of Katchi Abadis, Pakistan
MODERATOR: Sameer Dossani, Project Coordinator, Globalization Challenge
Initiative


12:45 ? 1:45    Luncheon Presentation

Charles Abugre, Executive Director, Integrated Social Development Centre

(ISODEC), Ghana
INTRODUCTION: Manfred Bardeleben, Friedrich Ebert Foundation, New York


1:45 ? 3:15     Emerging Themes Regarding Provision of Water Services

David Boys, Utilities and Pensions Officer, Public Services
International,
Geneva
Penelope Brooke, Program Manager, Rapid Response Unit, Private Sector
Advisory Services Group, The World Bank Group*
Maitet Pascual, Freedom from Debt Coalition, Philippines
Karoly Lorant, SAPRI in Eastern Europe, Hungary
MODERATOR: Charles Abugre, Executive Director, ISODEC


3:15 ? 3:30     COFFEE Break


3:30 ? 5:00     Emerging Themes Regarding the Health and Education
Services
Sectors

Valerie Wilk, AFSCME, Washington
Charles Griffin, Health, Nutrition and Population Unit(HNP),
The World Bank Group
Meenu Vadera, Country Director, Action Aid, Uganda
Rick Rowden, RESULTS, Washington


5:00            Next Steps



*To be confirmed

RSVP:  Liane Schalatek  (liane@boell.org) or Tel. 202-462-7514

For further information, please contact Nancy Alexander
(ncalexander@igc.org) or
Tel. 301-270-1000, ext. 102