Aid Effectiveness and Accountability Newsletter - October 2008
Highlights
- Governments Response to IDC Enquiry on Aid Effectiveness.
- EvD’s Latest Country Programme Evaluations now published.
- New DFID-wide Evaluation Policy & Strategy. Mutual Accountability
Aid Effectiveness
Government response to IDC enquiry on aid effectiveness published: The UK Government's response to the recommendations made by Parliament's International Development Committee in their enquiry on 'Working together to make aid more effective' has been published on the IDC website. For further information contact Jackie Peace in CLEAR Team, AEAD.
Evaluation
New DFID-wide Evaluation Policy & Strategy: The Independent Advisory Committee on Development Impact met with Evaluation Department on 07 & 08 October. The Committee welcomed the first draft of the new evaluation policy. EvD will invite comments on the policy through external consultation. A launch event for the consultation process will take place on 10 November in 3W11 in Palace Street. This will be followed by a roundtable event in January. Additionally, external comments will be invited via the DFID website and the IACDI website. A new IACDI website has been established and will go live on 01 November. All IACDI information and meeting minutes will be available from this site.
Evaluation Department’s (EvD’s) recently published documents: EvD's latest country programme evaluation looks at DFID's work in Sierra Leone over the period 2002-2007, a period which followed ten years of instability and civil war, ended with the help of military intervention by UK forces. DFID is the largest donor and has worked within a Long Term Partnership Agreement (MOU) signed in 2002, and its bilateral programme has remained relatively stable at £40m pa during the evaluation period. The evaluation found that DFID has made a significant contribution to the restoration of peace and stability across Sierra Leone.
The country programme started with three pillars:
- Consolidating the peace by resolving conflict and reforming the security sector.
- Rebuilding the state; and
- Delivery of service to citizens.
There were several innovative features about the programme. The commitment to consolidate peace led to substantial financial allocations to security sector reform that was linked to a large UK military advisory presence. Also, efforts to rebuild the state concentrated on governance reforms and a bold decision was taken to use budget support, although out of step with DFID thinking about work in fragile states at the time, it has provided the country with macroeconomic stability and a platform to reintroduce the delivery of basic services in the immediate aftermath of a prolonged conflict.
- Security sector reform (SSR) work has been described by reviewers as "cutting edge", learning lessons and developing policy that has since been applied elsewhere. Major investments were made in demobilisation of combatants from the civil war, new security architecture has been developed and budget support has helped restore the Government's presence throughout the country. Cross Whitehall coordination has developed and worked well according to officials from FCO, MOD and DFID.
- Support to improve good governance and accountability focused on strengthening public financial management systems (PFM) and support for civil service reform. PFM systems now compare relatively well with those of other low income countries. There has been a notable improvement in political participation after the conflict, with the holding of free and fair elections and the peaceful transfer of power. Progress has been slower in other areas. Building capacity within government has not yet been effective and no real improvement in tackling corruption since the end of the conflict.
- Much less attention in terms of funding was given to pro-poor sustainable growth and human development. Growth focused on supporting private sector development. DFIDSL supported a number of small projects in the health sector with a third of this commitment for malaria and support to orphans and vulnerable children.
- Despite working in a poorly harmonised aid environment, DFIDSL can take credit for improving aid effectiveness. The major potential gains have come in terms of increased harmonisation with other donors and the move into the use of pooled funding and multi-donor trust funds.
DFID Sierra Leone is pleased to report that steps have already been taken to implement or respond to many recommendations. The evaluation has been particularly welcomed as they compile the evidence base to identify issues and develop choices to shape Sierra Leone's next business plan and country programme over the next three years.
Evaluation Department’s (EvD’s) forthcoming publications: A joint evaluation was undertaken in Bangladesh during September involving the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, JBIC/JICA and DFID. This was to evaluate the Joint Assistance Strategy between the four partners, focussing on issues of harmonisation and alignment. A Joint Evaluation Paper will be published in early 2009 and key findings and lessons will feed into the development of the next joint strategy. In addition, a short paper examining the process of the joint evaluation will also be published. For more information contact Lynn Quinn.
Public Financial Management
CAPE Public Finance Conference 12th and 13th November 2008: “Reforming for Results: Can PFM Reform Uplift Government Performance?”
The 2008 CAPE PFM Conference will investigate how PFM reforms can be better targeted towards delivering improved performance in public service delivery, with particular emphasis on improvements to allocative and operational efficiency. It will examine the interplay among different actors in cases of successful reform, and the contribution of sector-level, decentralised and demand-side PFM reforms to improving strategic resource allocation and operational efficiency. The conference will consider how to achieve better outcomes from PFM reform efforts through approaches which extend beyond primary engagement with ministries of finance and which attempt to deepen reforms. It will ask whether current trends towards more holistic system-wide PFM reform programmes are the solution, or whether more targeted approaches to PFM reform might lead to more effective and sustainable reform outcomes. For further information contact David Gray.
Other Aid Effectiveness
Website on DANIDA aid management policies: Danida have placed all of their guidelines, policies and strategies on their “Aid Management Guidelines” website. Upcoming Seminars and Events
Upcoming Seminars and Events
Should donors cap aid to Africa?: Aid, if properly delivered and well used, can be enormously beneficial, but one can have too much of a good thing. Adrian Wood, Professor of International Development at Oxford University and Alan Winters, DFID Chief Economist will discuss this topic at a lunchtime seminar on Tuesday 4th November from 12.30 to 14.00 in room 3W12. Space is limited. Please contact Paulette Campbell if you wish to attend or require a VC connection.
Recent Seminars and Events
Making it Happen Results seminar: Measuring results – what can we learn from the rest of Whitehall?
Sam Sharpe introduced Tony O’Connor from the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit, who spoke about his experiences of measuring impact right at the heart of Government.
Making it Happen Results seminar II: Why data matters to the poor, vulnerable and excluded. Judith Randel presented this seminar which demonstrated the importance of better data for greater accountability, increased ownership, more effective aid and therefore greater impact on poverty. Both presentations are available on the Results Network. For further information please contact Penny Innes.
The co-ordination of the Aid Effectiveness and Accountability network, including the AE&A newsletter, is undertaken by Catherine Ferry and Mary Smith on behalf on the Aid Effectiveness and Accountability Department.
To keep abreast of the latest in aid effectiveness, please e-mail Nikki or Mary who will add your name to the mailing list. Please also let Nikki or Mary know of any news you have which relates to Aid Effectiveness for publishing in the newsletter.
Catherine Ferry
Mary Smith