PHA-Exch> From Paris to Accra - Will Aid Become Effective Now?

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: Ruggiero, Mrs. Ana Lucia (WDC) <ruglucia at paho.org>
crossposted from: EQUIDAD at listserv.paho.org

 *From Paris to Accra - Will Aid Become Effective Now?*

*Development Outreach, February 2009 *
*Development OUTREACH is a flagship magazine in the field of global
knowledge for development*

*After Accra: Delivering on the Agenda for Action*

Website: http://www1.worldbank.org/devoutreach/index.html


“……..Just after last September’s High-Level Forum on *Aid Effectiveness in
Accra*, the *Economist* offered the stark assessment that, “the development
aid business is a shambles.” Aid managers themselves, in both recipient and
donor countries, agree that too many agencies finance too many projects,
following different systems of accounting and multiple objectives, in
uncoordinated efforts that often overtax developing-country ministries,
which are already struggling with meagre resources, skills gaps and
governance weaknesses. The outcome is that sought-after “development
results”—often not clearly-defined at the outset—are disappointing to all
concerned, deepening the scepticism that already surrounds development aid.

In Accra, donors and developing countries hammered out an agenda for action
that aims to change this. They promised to “take bold steps to reform the
way aid is given and spent,” focusing on country ownership of programs, more
effective partnerships, achieving results and openly accounting for them.

So what are the prospects for these “bold steps”? In this issue of *Development
Outreach*, we asked experts from diverse perspectives to consider specific
examples of how issues raised in the Accra Agenda have surfaced in their
experience. What is needed, we asked, for the Accra principles to become
reality in practice?............”  *Christopher Neal, Executive Editor*

*
CONTENT:*

*After Accra: Delivering on the Agenda for
Action*<http://www1.worldbank.org/devoutreach/articleid521.html>
*—Guest Editorial *Jeffrey Gutman
What is needed to deliver on the Accra Agenda for Action (AAA), and what the
international donors and the World Bank Group need to do.

* *

*Committing to Effective Aid: Why can't donors walk their
talk?*<http://www1.worldbank.org/devoutreach/articleid522.html>
* *Eckhard Deutscher
Why has harmonization among donor-countries been elusive?
The article discusses attempts by the DAC of the OECD to get donors aligned
and sustain the alignment.

* *

*The Struggle for Ownership of Assistance: Health and HIV/AIDS in
Rwanda*<http://www1.worldbank.org/devoutreach/articleid523.html>
* *John Rwangombwa
Aid earmarking reflects donor priorities more than those of the recipient
country.
Rwanda has sought to reform its health care system, while donor funding was
focused on fighting HIV/AIDS.



*AID REFORM: A TALE OF TWO DONORS
*
The U.S. and Germany each undertook a major effort to reform their
respective development aid programs.
Their paths were different, but both programs incorporate principles present
in the Accra Agenda for Action (AAA).
To what extent have these reform efforts succeeded?"

*The Millennium Challenge Account: Making U.S. foreign assistance more
effective? <http://www1.worldbank.org/devoutreach/articleid524.html>*
Sheila Herrling and Steve Radelet

*Germany Seeks Influence by Setting Example of Being a Multilateral Team
Player on Aid Effectiveness<http://www1.worldbank.org/devoutreach/articleid525.html>
*
Hans Dembowski



*Brazil as an Emerging Donor: Huge potential and growing
pains*<http://www1.worldbank.org/devoutreach/articleid526.html>
*   - *Paulo Sotero
This article offers an examination of Brazil's experience as a new donor:
its purposes, goals, and the effectiveness of its approach.

* *

*Partnering for Progress: A new approach to capacity development after Accra
* <http://www1.worldbank.org/devoutreach/articleid527.html>
Mark Nelson and Ajay Tejasvi
Much technical assistance aimed at building capacity has failed to deliver
the results sought.
The article examines the causes and the possible solutions.

* *

*Aid Effectiveness and Governance: The Good, the Bad and the
Ugly*<http://www1.worldbank.org/devoutreach/articleid528.html>
* - *Daniel Kaufmann
Good governance and political corruption should be considered when aid flows
to governments.

* *

*Development Marketplace Helps Scale up Grassroots Innovation that Reduces
Poverty* <http://www1.worldbank.org/devoutreach/articleid529.html>
Elena Altieri and Christopher Neal
This article presents examples of grassroots aid projects and programs that
deliver results, within the framework of the Development Marketplace.
It discusses the extent to which such community-based efforts can be
replicated.

* *

*Promoting Aid Effectiveness from the Bottom Up with
ICTs*<http://www1.worldbank.org/devoutreach/articleid530.html>
Caroline Figuères, Denise Senmartin, Hilde Eugelink
The article offers examples of projects sponsored by IICD in Africa and
Latin America that confirm the lasting impact of ICT on poverty alleviation.


* *

*Multi-Donor Trust Funds: Instruments of first choice for post-crisis
situations?* <http://www1.worldbank.org/devoutreach/articleid531.html>
Leonie Guder
MDTFs can enhance aid effectiveness by reducing transaction costs and by
mitigating the high risk levels inherent in post-crisis situations.





* *

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