Inter-regional multi-stakeholder dialogue on aid effectiveness

This paper presents an overview of the inter-regional consultation on aid effectiveness and the Paris Declaration (PD) held in Lusaka, Zambia. The workshop was convened to discuss progress on aid effectiveness in the region and recommendations for improving the PD – in preparation for the forthcoming high-level meeting in Ghana.

There were concerns that the PD is not legally binding – with implications for the commitment of parties, and that key development issues for Africa like gender, HIV & AIDS, and human rights are not included. It was also argued that the agenda of the PD concentrates more on processes than on poverty reduction, making the model more like an advanced Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP).

Focus then shifted on to examples of progress and aid effectiveness by Africa member states, including:

• Ethiopia has created good relations with donors, while Kenya’s budget is only 10% supported by donors
• Zambia has formulated an aid policy to reduce donor dependency, encourage Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and encourage sustainable development
• in order to reduce donor dependency, the Government of Mozambique seeks to manage its own ‘natural disasters’ – despite pressures from donors for it to declare ‘national disasters’, so that they can assist
• the Kenya Joint Assistance Strategy (KJAS) is an impressive donor initiative, which seeks to harmonise and coordinate their support to the country. It also promotes alignment, easy monitoring and evaluation, accountability and dialogue between CSOs, Government and donors.