Development effectiveness versis aid effectiveness

First published on the Euforic Blog

With a few weeks to go until the Accra Forum, discussions on the effectiveness of aid are close to the peak. However as a new paper by OEFSE (pdf in German) observes, they tend revolve around issues of technical-operative implementation of development programs rather than more fundamental issues like the usefulness of development policy, structural pre-conditions of North-South relations or new challenges for international cooperation.

The paper by Clemens Six discusses the UNDP concept of Development Effectiveness which

“reflects the extent to which an institution or intervention has brought about targeted change in a country or the life of the individual beneficiary. Development effectiveness is influenced by various factors, beginning with the quality of project design and ending with the relevance and sustainability of desired results” [UNDP 2001]

According to the author, the concept is much broader with Aid Effectiveness actually being just one aspect of a more complex framework. Looking on the diverse definitions of development and effectiveness, the paper challenges the reader to reflect on mainstream concepts and to take other issues like the ‘Right to Development’, ‘Commitment to Development’ and micro-level effectiveness and empowerment into consideration.

by Martin Behrens

See Euforic newsfeed on Aid Effectiveness or more news from ÖFSE.

 

Global Perspectives on the bumpy road to Accra

First published on the Euforic Blog

The August 2008 issue of the magazine ‘Global Perspectives‘ focuses on the process towards the Accra High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness (HLF3).

The HLF3 aims to review the Paris Declaration which was signed to improve ways that donors and recipients work together to speed up progress toward the MDGs.

Civil society organisations fear that donors will bediverted from their promises. According to an article by David Cronin (IPS Europe) mechanisms to measure implementation, like a clear time frame, are missing, which makes it hard to hold signatories accountable.

Ramesh Jaura (IPS Europe) reports from the UN Development Cooperation Forum which took place on 30 June – 1 July 2008 in New York. As a main input for Accra, the forum discussed questions of conditionality and capital flight to developing countries.

Also in this issue are three opinion articles looking at the global food crisis (Jacques Diouf, FAO), the post-oil age (Ignacy Sachs, School of Advanced Studies in Social Science) and the importance of dialogue in global governance (Daisaku Ikeda – Soka Gakkai International).

Global Perspectives is a bi-lingual (English/German) publication by IPS Europe. It releases monthly editions on various themes of international cooperation and development and is available for free download.

See also Euforic newsfeed on IPS Europe.

by Martin Behrens

 

Aid effectiveness in Accra: Whose ownership?

First published on the Euforic Blog

At the Third High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Accra, Ghana (2-4 September), one of nine Roundtables will be devoted to “Whose Ownership? Whose Leadership?“, co-chaired by the governments of Switzerland and Colombia.

Ahead of the meeting, a discussion forum invites contributions on the topic from other governments and civil society from North and South. Hoping for diverse points of views, the portal should contribute to a broad understanding of the topic and enrich the upcoming roundtable discussion.

Comments can be posted on the two themes: “inclusive ownership” and “leadership and capacity”. The website is provided in English and Spanish.

See Euforic’s aid effectiveness newsfeed / the betteraid blog newsfeed.

See more on the Accra Meeting

 

Sustainable finance, aid effectiveness and poverty alleviation in the new global aid architecture

First published on the Euforic Blog

Realizing that achievement of the MDGs is endangered, the German Association of NGDOs, Venro, recently published two position papers for the Accra Forum on Aid Effectiveness and the 2rd World Conference on Development Finance.

While welcoming the international commitment to the successful implementation of the ‘Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness’ Venro criticises several aspects, including the:

• missing notion of pro-poor growth and adequate consideration of economic, social and cultural rights
• strong focus on governments while neglecting parliaments and non-state actors
• neglecting of the global economic framework including the development of global commodity prices and global trade policy
• ownership principle which is not balanced with political conditionality
• harmonisation which endangers the diversity of development approaches (see pdf, in German).

Regarding the “Financing for Development” Process, Venro argues that it would not be in the interest of CSOs to see the upcoming conference become a simple reviewing exercise. Directed to the German government Venro calls for a fast implementation of the UN Convention against corruption, extension of budget support in good performing partner countries, strengthened cooperation between Germany’s Technical and Financial Cooperation institutions and a further discussion of the concept regarding the cancellation of illegitimate debts (see pdf, in German).

by Martin Behrens

See the Euforic newsfeed on Aid Effectiveness.

Visit our German Cooperation dossier or subscribe to the newsfeed.

See also the WECA Project of the European Center for Development Policy and Management dealing with issues of Aid Management, Ownership and Accountability.