‘Beyond Aid’ for sustainable development

This project briefing starts by conceding that  prospects for developing countries are shaped by issues like domestic and regional politics and aid. However, it looks at 'beyond aid' issues like  trade, migration, investment, environmental issues, security and technology. It states that In the context of globalisation, it is these issues, rather than aid alone, that will shape the development prospects for many countries. The Beyond Aid agenda is about making sure that policies on these issues deliver for development.

The briefing argues that the agenda concerns efforts by developing countries to engage more effectively with these broader issues by putting in place appropriate, country-specific policies and institutions. The second aspect concerns efforts by powerful countries to ensure that their policies on Beyond Aid issues support progress towards the Millennium Development Goals, achieving win-wins between development and other issues. It emphasises that this aspect is what is referred to as Policy Coherence for Development (PCD). This paper focuses on the PCD angle, while emphasising that progress on the Beyond Aid agenda requires action by both developing and developed countries, at global as well as national levels.

The authors explore the progress made towards policy coherence and conceptualises a three-phase cycle as follows:

• Phase one includes setting and prioritising objectives which requires political commitment and policy statements. This involves educating the public, working with civil society, research organisations and partner countries, to raise awareness and build support for PCD

• Phase two looks at policy coordination and the implementation mechanisms - establishing formal mechanisms at inter-ministerial level for coordination and policy arbitration

• Phase three is about effective systems of monitoring, analysis and reporting.