Negotiations on Aid Reform Stall as Southern Governments Are Blocked By Donors

Thursday, 04 September 2008 17:38

PRESS RELEASE – 3rd September 2008

CONCORD Calls for Concrete Actions from European Governments

Negotiations over donor promises to reform aid are seeing Southern governments proposals blocked in closed door meetings to agree a forward looking agenda for action on aid effectiveness promises.

Over 1000 representatives from governments of the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) and developing countries have gathered in Accra, Ghana, to report on their progress and agree a plan of action, but on day three of the conference, talks have stalled as the US, Japan and the World Bank block agreements on timetables for action.

On the table are key demands from Southern governments to reduce harmful economic policy conditionality which damages democratic processes in-country, untie aid so developing countries are not forced to purchase goods and services from donor countries, and increase predictability of aid such as health and education.

The European Union, the world's largest aid provider has played a leading role on improving aid quality, but Civil Society Organisations are concerned that without concrete targets on moving forward, aid commitments hang in the balance.  Ministers begin arriving today to agree a final agenda for action at tomorrow's ministerial meetings, and it will be crucial that they recognise the poor progress reflected in donors' own assessments of the commitments and agree concrete actions for ensuring aid has a impact of aid on the lives of the poor.

"More than half-way to the Millenium Development Goals what we see is rich country governments backing off from commitments on aid quantity and quality. The agenda on aid effectiveness being discussed here in Accra is crucial for reducing poverty in poor countries, and it is unforgiveable that governments from the OECD are allowing their concrete actions on promises to fall off the agenda." says Justin Kilcullen, President of CONCORD.

CONCORD is calling for European Ministers to agree concrete actions and timebound commitments when they meet tomorrow in Accra that mean EU aid is effective in meeting the needs and the rights of the poor.

CONCORD contacts:
In Accra: Jasmine Burnley: 00 233 240 291 15 74
In Brussels: Agnès Philippart: 00 (32) 2 743.87.77