SEPTEMBER 2013
Where next for the development agenda?
With only days before the UN General Assembly debates the post-2015 development agenda, DACnews explores key related issues: a “ZEN” approach to post-2015, as well as the limitations of the current MDG framework and key ways to move forward (feature article). This issue of DACnews also covers important discussions of tax and development at the G8 Summit in Lough Erne, as well as the Fourth Global Review of Aid for Trade. Finally, it looks at the “how” of building resilience on the ground.
G20 and G8 endorse OECD work on tax and development
G20 logoAt the G20 Leaders' Summit in St. Petersburg (5-6 September 2013), leaders “fully endorse(d) the ambitious and comprehensive Action Plan – originated in the OECD – aimed at addressing base erosion and profit shifting” (paragraph 50). They also endorsed OECD’s work on tax transparency (para 51), calling on the global community to work with OECD to help developing countries benefit from these initiatives. Tax Inspectors without Borders initiative, a new OECD initiative aimed at sharing knowledge and increasing domestic capacities in developing countries in the tax area was highlighted (para 52).
The G20 Foundation is an independent platform formed to help develop a framework for better global governance.
As an intermediary platform, the G20 Foundation positions itself as process enabler and a facilitator between governments, business, and academia within the G20 process.
We add value through encouraging broader public consensus and understanding of the G20 commitments which leads to higher accountability and raises effectiveness of a governance process.
As a non-partisan think tank, we stimulate constructive and effective discussions within “Outreach Dialogue” in order to support the implementation of the G20 commitments on a national level.
Thereby we foster the development of innovative solutions to global challenges, such as economic stability and sustainable growth.
G20 Foundation Lecture on Green Growth, Sustainability and Climate Change at ...G20_Foundation
G20 is a group of 20 major economies which represent 90% of the world’s overall GDP, 80% of world trade and 2/3 of the world’s population. As a result of a G20 Summit, the heads of state produce a leaders declaration, where they agree to a number of macro economical reforms and regulations.
Since Green Growth, Sustainability and Energy Efficiency were significant agenda topics through past G20 presidencies, the first part of this lecture will evaluate the success of the governance process and identify key obstacles for implementation. The second part will deal with governance innovation and dialogue facilitation between governments, businesses, academia and civil society. Inclusions will be underlined as an important measure for improvement of quality and acceptance of the governmental decision making process.
http://www.g20foundation.org/
The G20 Foundation is an independent platform formed to help develop a framework for better global governance.
As an intermediary platform, the G20 Foundation positions itself as process enabler and a facilitator between governments, business, and academia within the G20 process.
We add value through encouraging broader public consensus and understanding of the G20 commitments which leads to higher accountability and raises effectiveness of a governance process.
As a non-partisan think tank, we stimulate constructive and effective discussions within “Outreach Dialogue” in order to support the implementation of the G20 commitments on a national level.
Thereby we foster the development of innovative solutions to global challenges, such as economic stability and sustainable growth.
G20 Foundation Lecture on Green Growth, Sustainability and Climate Change at ...G20_Foundation
G20 is a group of 20 major economies which represent 90% of the world’s overall GDP, 80% of world trade and 2/3 of the world’s population. As a result of a G20 Summit, the heads of state produce a leaders declaration, where they agree to a number of macro economical reforms and regulations.
Since Green Growth, Sustainability and Energy Efficiency were significant agenda topics through past G20 presidencies, the first part of this lecture will evaluate the success of the governance process and identify key obstacles for implementation. The second part will deal with governance innovation and dialogue facilitation between governments, businesses, academia and civil society. Inclusions will be underlined as an important measure for improvement of quality and acceptance of the governmental decision making process.
http://www.g20foundation.org/
Responsible Gold Mining and Value Distribution | The World Gold Council World Gold Council
In an industry first, member companies of the World Gold Council have collaborated to combine data which provides a comprehensive, country by country view on how value generated by the formal gold mining sector is distributed and how much of that value remains with host nations. This data covers expenditure in 2012 and includes payments to suppliers, employees and governments.
The main findings of the 2013 Global Innovation Index (GII) were presented by Daniela Benavente, Lead Researcher of the 2013 GII,to an audience of international trade experts and business representatives at the Bali Trade and Development Symposium (TDS) held in conjunction with the Ninth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Bali, Indonesia, from 3 to 5 December 2013 Read more: http://owl.li/uJxg1
Investing in the SDGs: An Action Planx Structurally weak economies saw mixed results. Investment in the least developed countries (LDCs) increased, with announced greenfield investments signalling significant growth in basic infrastructure and energy projects. Landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) saw an overall decline in FDI. Relative to the size of their economies, and relative to capital formation, FDI remains an important source of finance there. Inflows to small island developing States (SIDS) declined. Tourism and extractive industries are attracting increasing interest from foreign investors, while manufacturing industries have been negatively affected by erosion of trade preferences. Inflows to developed countries resume growth but have a long way to go. The recovery of FDI inflows in developed countries to $566 billion, and the unchanged outflows, at $857 billion, leave both at half their peak levels in 2007. Europe, traditionally the largest FDI recipient region, is at less than one third of its 2007 inflows and one fourth of its outflows. The United States and the European Union (EU) saw their combined share of global FDI inflows decline from well over 50 per cent pre-crisis to 30 per cent in 2013. FDI to transition economies reached record levels, but prospects are uncertain. FDI inflows to transition economies increased by 28 per cent to reach $108 billion in 2013. Outward FDI from the region jumped by 84 per cent, reaching a record $99 billion. Prospects for FDI to transition economies are likely to be affected by uncertainties related to regional instability. INVESTMENT POLICY TRENDS AND KEY ISSUES Most investment policy measures remain geared towards investment promotion and liberalization. At the same time, the share of regulatory or restrictive investment policies increased, reaching 27 per cent in 2013. Some host countries have sought to prevent divestments by established foreign investors. Some home countries promote reshoring of their TNCs’ overseas investments. Investment incentives mostly focus on economic performance objectives, less on sustainable development. Incentives are widely used by governments as a policy instrument for attracting investment, despite persistent criticism that they are economically inefficient and lead to misallocations of public funds. To address these concerns, investment incentives schemes could be more closely aligned with the SDGs. International investment rule making is characterized by diverging trends: on the one hand, disengagement from the system, partly because of developments in investment arbitration; on the other, intensifying and up-scaling negotiations. Negotiations of “megaregional agreements” are a case in point. Once concluded, these may have systemic implications for the regime of international investment agreements (IIAs). Widespread concerns about the functioning and the impact of the IIA regime are resulting in calls for reform. Four paths are becoming apparent: (i) maint
Responsible Gold Mining and Value Distribution | The World Gold Council World Gold Council
In an industry first, member companies of the World Gold Council have collaborated to combine data which provides a comprehensive, country by country view on how value generated by the formal gold mining sector is distributed and how much of that value remains with host nations. This data covers expenditure in 2012 and includes payments to suppliers, employees and governments.
The main findings of the 2013 Global Innovation Index (GII) were presented by Daniela Benavente, Lead Researcher of the 2013 GII,to an audience of international trade experts and business representatives at the Bali Trade and Development Symposium (TDS) held in conjunction with the Ninth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Bali, Indonesia, from 3 to 5 December 2013 Read more: http://owl.li/uJxg1
Investing in the SDGs: An Action Planx Structurally weak economies saw mixed results. Investment in the least developed countries (LDCs) increased, with announced greenfield investments signalling significant growth in basic infrastructure and energy projects. Landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) saw an overall decline in FDI. Relative to the size of their economies, and relative to capital formation, FDI remains an important source of finance there. Inflows to small island developing States (SIDS) declined. Tourism and extractive industries are attracting increasing interest from foreign investors, while manufacturing industries have been negatively affected by erosion of trade preferences. Inflows to developed countries resume growth but have a long way to go. The recovery of FDI inflows in developed countries to $566 billion, and the unchanged outflows, at $857 billion, leave both at half their peak levels in 2007. Europe, traditionally the largest FDI recipient region, is at less than one third of its 2007 inflows and one fourth of its outflows. The United States and the European Union (EU) saw their combined share of global FDI inflows decline from well over 50 per cent pre-crisis to 30 per cent in 2013. FDI to transition economies reached record levels, but prospects are uncertain. FDI inflows to transition economies increased by 28 per cent to reach $108 billion in 2013. Outward FDI from the region jumped by 84 per cent, reaching a record $99 billion. Prospects for FDI to transition economies are likely to be affected by uncertainties related to regional instability. INVESTMENT POLICY TRENDS AND KEY ISSUES Most investment policy measures remain geared towards investment promotion and liberalization. At the same time, the share of regulatory or restrictive investment policies increased, reaching 27 per cent in 2013. Some host countries have sought to prevent divestments by established foreign investors. Some home countries promote reshoring of their TNCs’ overseas investments. Investment incentives mostly focus on economic performance objectives, less on sustainable development. Incentives are widely used by governments as a policy instrument for attracting investment, despite persistent criticism that they are economically inefficient and lead to misallocations of public funds. To address these concerns, investment incentives schemes could be more closely aligned with the SDGs. International investment rule making is characterized by diverging trends: on the one hand, disengagement from the system, partly because of developments in investment arbitration; on the other, intensifying and up-scaling negotiations. Negotiations of “megaregional agreements” are a case in point. Once concluded, these may have systemic implications for the regime of international investment agreements (IIAs). Widespread concerns about the functioning and the impact of the IIA regime are resulting in calls for reform. Four paths are becoming apparent: (i) maint
GUIDEBOOK Abu Dhabi Summit 2014 Co-hosted by: United Nations and the Ministry...Dr Lendy Spires
H.E. Ban Ki-moon UN Secretary-General I thank the United Arab Emirates for hosting the “Abu Dhabi Ascent” and I extend a warm welcome to all participants. This meeting is a critical milestone on the path towards the Climate Summit on 23 September, which aims to catalyze ambitious action on the ground and mobilize political momentum for a meaningful global legal climate agreement in 2015.
I count on representatives of governments, the private sector and civil society gathered here in Abu Dhabi to explore international and multi-stakeholder initiatives with high potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and strengthening climate resilience. This Guidebook highlights a number of innovative, practical actions that can be expanded and strengthened with additional partners. I encourage you to participate in the various presentations and break-out sessions that are most relevant to your government, business or organization. The initiatives focus on high-impact areas identified by the United Nations Environment Programme 2013 Emissions Gap Report.
They include adaptation, resilience and disaster risk reduction, agriculture, cities, climate finance, energy efficiency, forests, renewable energy, short-lived climate pollutants and transport. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has documented how transforming to a low-carbon economy will be significantly less costly than failing to act, and many of those costs would be further mitigated by the economic and other benefits of reduced climate change. The initiatives showcased in Abu Dhabi demonstrate that affordable solutions are already available to cut emissions, strengthen adaptation and improve people’s well-being. Acting to meet the climate challenge is an unprecedented opportunity to build a safer, healthier, more prosperous and resilient world for all.
Let us seize the moment now in Abu Dhabi and at the Climate Summit this September in New York. Success in these meetings can pave the way for the agreement we need in Paris in 2015 and a sustainable future for all humankind. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Minister for Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates It is a pleasure to welcome you to the “Abu Dhabi Ascent.” This meeting has brought together the world’s leading actors to further develop concrete, ambitious actions to address climate change.
JUNE 2014
DACnews is designed to help development practitioners keep abreast of DAC work so that we can increase its reach and impact. We would very much appreciate your helping us to reach as wide an audience as possible by forwarding this sign-up link to people you feel may be interested.
Anything new in development?
Innovation is a frequently used word in development circles. And indeed, finding new ways of working – and creating broader partnerships – is increasingly important. This DACnews looks at several ways in which the DAC is innovating: by welcoming new members such as Iceland and the Czech Republic; by intensifying the dialogue on triangular co-operation; by looking at development co-operation from the receiving end and factoring in the e-revolution; and by deepening understanding of how to green development. It also celebrates 30 years of the DAC Evaluation Network.
HLEG thematic workshop on Measurement of Well Being and Development in Africa...StatsCommunications
HLEG thematic workshop on Measurement of Well Being and Development in Africa, 12-14 November 2015, Durban, South Africa, More information at: www.oecd.org/statistics/measuring-economic-social-progress
Over the past three decades, global trade has grown and many new exporting countries, particularly in Asia, have been incorporated into the global economy.
The Global Value Chain (GVC) literature emerged as an attempt to describe how multinational firms have integrated production activities in Asia into their global strategies and what the consequences might be for the newly-integrated economies.
The GVC analysis is a useful tool to trace the shifting patterns of global production, link geographically dispersed activities and actors within a single industry, and determine the roles they play in developed and developing countries alike.
This course provides competency sets (mind set, tool set, knowledge set, and skill set) used for analyzing and synthesizing a new value chain system in order to extend the current value chain and to promote participation and upgrading in global value chains.
Quarterly newsletter with information on economic cooperation and integration in Asia from the GIZ programme Regional Economic Cooperation and Integration in Asia (RCI). In our newsletter we share information about our programme activities, and further input on the programme’s focus areas such as regionalism, trade facilitation and port cooperation in Asia.
Many ways to support street children.pptxSERUDS INDIA
By raising awareness, providing support, advocating for change, and offering assistance to children in need, individuals can play a crucial role in improving the lives of street children and helping them realize their full potential
Donate Us
https://serudsindia.org/how-individuals-can-support-street-children-in-india/
#donatefororphan, #donateforhomelesschildren, #childeducation, #ngochildeducation, #donateforeducation, #donationforchildeducation, #sponsorforpoorchild, #sponsororphanage #sponsororphanchild, #donation, #education, #charity, #educationforchild, #seruds, #kurnool, #joyhome
Understanding the Challenges of Street ChildrenSERUDS INDIA
By raising awareness, providing support, advocating for change, and offering assistance to children in need, individuals can play a crucial role in improving the lives of street children and helping them realize their full potential
Donate Us
https://serudsindia.org/how-individuals-can-support-street-children-in-india/
#donatefororphan, #donateforhomelesschildren, #childeducation, #ngochildeducation, #donateforeducation, #donationforchildeducation, #sponsorforpoorchild, #sponsororphanage #sponsororphanchild, #donation, #education, #charity, #educationforchild, #seruds, #kurnool, #joyhome
A process server is a authorized person for delivering legal documents, such as summons, complaints, subpoenas, and other court papers, to peoples involved in legal proceedings.
Up the Ratios Bylaws - a Comprehensive Process of Our Organizationuptheratios
Up the Ratios is a non-profit organization dedicated to bridging the gap in STEM education for underprivileged students by providing free, high-quality learning opportunities in robotics and other STEM fields. Our mission is to empower the next generation of innovators, thinkers, and problem-solvers by offering a range of educational programs that foster curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking.
At Up the Ratios, we believe that every student, regardless of their socio-economic background, should have access to the tools and knowledge needed to succeed in today's technology-driven world. To achieve this, we host a variety of free classes, workshops, summer camps, and live lectures tailored to students from underserved communities. Our programs are designed to be engaging and hands-on, allowing students to explore the exciting world of robotics and STEM through practical, real-world applications.
Our free classes cover fundamental concepts in robotics, coding, and engineering, providing students with a strong foundation in these critical areas. Through our interactive workshops, students can dive deeper into specific topics, working on projects that challenge them to apply what they've learned and think creatively. Our summer camps offer an immersive experience where students can collaborate on larger projects, develop their teamwork skills, and gain confidence in their abilities.
In addition to our local programs, Up the Ratios is committed to making a global impact. We take donations of new and gently used robotics parts, which we then distribute to students and educational institutions in other countries. These donations help ensure that young learners worldwide have the resources they need to explore and excel in STEM fields. By supporting education in this way, we aim to nurture a global community of future leaders and innovators.
Our live lectures feature guest speakers from various STEM disciplines, including engineers, scientists, and industry professionals who share their knowledge and experiences with our students. These lectures provide valuable insights into potential career paths and inspire students to pursue their passions in STEM.
Up the Ratios relies on the generosity of donors and volunteers to continue our work. Contributions of time, expertise, and financial support are crucial to sustaining our programs and expanding our reach. Whether you're an individual passionate about education, a professional in the STEM field, or a company looking to give back to the community, there are many ways to get involved and make a difference.
We are proud of the positive impact we've had on the lives of countless students, many of whom have gone on to pursue higher education and careers in STEM. By providing these young minds with the tools and opportunities they need to succeed, we are not only changing their futures but also contributing to the advancement of technology and innovation on a broader scale.
Canadian Immigration Tracker March 2024 - Key SlidesAndrew Griffith
Highlights
Permanent Residents decrease along with percentage of TR2PR decline to 52 percent of all Permanent Residents.
March asylum claim data not issued as of May 27 (unusually late). Irregular arrivals remain very small.
Study permit applications experiencing sharp decrease as a result of announced caps over 50 percent compared to February.
Citizenship numbers remain stable.
Slide 3 has the overall numbers and change.
Russian anarchist and anti-war movement in the third year of full-scale warAntti Rautiainen
Anarchist group ANA Regensburg hosted my online-presentation on 16th of May 2024, in which I discussed tactics of anti-war activism in Russia, and reasons why the anti-war movement has not been able to make an impact to change the course of events yet. Cases of anarchists repressed for anti-war activities are presented, as well as strategies of support for political prisoners, and modest successes in supporting their struggles.
Thumbnail picture is by MediaZona, you may read their report on anti-war arson attacks in Russia here: https://en.zona.media/article/2022/10/13/burn-map
Links:
Autonomous Action
http://Avtonom.org
Anarchist Black Cross Moscow
http://Avtonom.org/abc
Solidarity Zone
https://t.me/solidarity_zone
Memorial
https://memopzk.org/, https://t.me/pzk_memorial
OVD-Info
https://en.ovdinfo.org/antiwar-ovd-info-guide
RosUznik
https://rosuznik.org/
Uznik Online
http://uznikonline.tilda.ws/
Russian Reader
https://therussianreader.com/
ABC Irkutsk
https://abc38.noblogs.org/
Send mail to prisoners from abroad:
http://Prisonmail.online
YouTube: https://youtu.be/c5nSOdU48O8
Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/libertarianlifecoach/episodes/Russian-anarchist-and-anti-war-movement-in-the-third-year-of-full-scale-war-e2k8ai4
ZGB - The Role of Generative AI in Government transformation.pdfSaeed Al Dhaheri
This keynote was presented during the the 7th edition of the UAE Hackathon 2024. It highlights the role of AI and Generative AI in addressing government transformation to achieve zero government bureaucracy
This session provides a comprehensive overview of the latest updates to the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (commonly known as the Uniform Guidance) outlined in the 2 CFR 200.
With a focus on the 2024 revisions issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), participants will gain insight into the key changes affecting federal grant recipients. The session will delve into critical regulatory updates, providing attendees with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate and comply with the evolving landscape of federal grant management.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the rationale behind the 2024 updates to the Uniform Guidance outlined in 2 CFR 200, and their implications for federal grant recipients.
- Identify the key changes and revisions introduced by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in the 2024 edition of 2 CFR 200.
- Gain proficiency in applying the updated regulations to ensure compliance with federal grant requirements and avoid potential audit findings.
- Develop strategies for effectively implementing the new guidelines within the grant management processes of their respective organizations, fostering efficiency and accountability in federal grant administration.
What is the point of small housing associations.pptxPaul Smith
Given the small scale of housing associations and their relative high cost per home what is the point of them and how do we justify their continued existance
Presentation by Jared Jageler, David Adler, Noelia Duchovny, and Evan Herrnstadt, analysts in CBO’s Microeconomic Studies and Health Analysis Divisions, at the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists Summer Conference.
Effects of Extreme Temperatures From Climate Change on the Medicare Populatio...
DAC News Sept 2013
1. Development Co-operation Directorate (DCD-DAC) - Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
http://www.oecd.org/dac/dacnewsseptember2013.htm[12-Sep-2013 7:08:18 PM]
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SEPTEMBER 2013
Where next for the development agenda?
With only days before the UN General Assembly debates the post-2015 development
agenda, DACnews explores key related issues: a “ZEN” approach to post-2015, as well as
the limitations of the current MDG framework and key ways to move forward (feature
article). This issue of DACnews also covers important discussions of tax and
development at the G8 Summit in Lough Erne, as well as the Fourth Global Review of Aid
for Trade. Finally, it looks at the “how” of building resilience on the ground.
G20 and G8 endorse OECD work on tax and
development
At the G20 Leaders' Summit in St. Petersburg (5-6
September 2013), leaders “fully endorse(d) the
ambitious and comprehensive Action Plan – originated
in the OECD – aimed at addressing base erosion and
profit shifting” (paragraph 50). They also endorsed
OECD’s work on tax transparency (para 51), calling
on the global community to work with OECD to help
developing countries benefit from these initiatives. Tax
Inspectors without Borders initiative, a new OECD
initiative aimed at sharing knowledge and increasing domestic capacities in developing
countries in the tax area was highlighted (para 52).
The OECD Task Force on Tax and Development, a joint undertaking of OECD’s
Development Co-operation Directorate (DCD) and Centre for Tax Policy and
Administration (CTPA), works to ensure that the possible benefits derived from OECD-led
work in areas such as base erosion and profit shifting extend to developing countries. The
Task Force is helping to make it easier for developing countries to collect taxes fairly and
effectively, and has become an international reference point on tax and development. The
Task Force has already made considerable progress, including:
Colombia — Transfer pricing adjustments made as a result of audits of multinational
enterprises have increased revenues from USD 3.3 million in 2011 to USD 5.83
million in 2012 (a 76% increase).
Kenya — The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) successfully negotiated a transfer
pricing adjustment resulting in additional tax revenue of USD 12.9 million.
Viet Nam — A recent audit of large multinational enterprises increased tax
revenues by USD 3.9 million.
These endorsements from the G20 echo the findings of this year’s G8 summit (Lough
Erne, 17-18 June 2013), which also focused on tax and transparency. In the Summit
Communiqué, G8 leaders gave wide recognition to OECD work in the areas of tax
Go directly to:
> G20 and G8 endorse OECD work on
tax and development
> Global value chains strengthen Aid for
Trade
> DAC Development Debates
> Point of View
> Feature Article
Also in this issue:
> News in brief
> Peer reviews
> Publications
> Vacancies
For recent news and articles about the
DAC, visit our scoopit page
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2. Development Co-operation Directorate (DCD-DAC) - Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
http://www.oecd.org/dac/dacnewsseptember2013.htm[12-Sep-2013 7:08:18 PM]
avoidance and evasion (para 3), base erosion and profit shifting (para 24), tax reporting
systems (para 25), multilateral exchange of information (para 26), Tax Inspectors Without
Borders (para 28), transfer pricing (para 29), Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible
Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas (para 40) and aid
transparency (para 49).
Tweet #DACnew
Global value chains strengthen aid for trade
Aid for trade is helping developing countries reduce trade costs, improve competitiveness
and plug into regional and global value chains – but much more can still be done,
according to a new joint report from the OECD and the WTO, Aid for Trade at a Glance
2013: Connecting to Value Chains.
“Aid for trade works, and it is making a difference,” said OECD Secretary-General Angel
Gurría in his plenary address at the Fourth Global Review of Aid for Trade (8-10 July
2013, World Trade Organization, Geneva). “Mobilising aid flows to boost trade and help
connect developing countries to global value chains is a good investment. The challenge
today is maintaining momentum, fulfilling commitments, boosting results and making value
chains accessible to all. An important next step would be the agreement of a
comprehensive package of trade reforms, with a focus on trade facilitation.”
The report analyses the strategies, priorities and programmes used by developed and
developing countries to connect their suppliers to value chains. It suggests that future aid
for trade flows should be targeted at reducing trade costs through trade facilitation,
standards setting and compliance, and improvements to trade-related infrastructure.
Frameworks for results-based management of aid for trade programmes – based on a
menu of trade-related targets – are also important, as are indicators to measure
performance. The new study assesses tangible results of aid for trade.
At the Fourth Global Review, DAC Chair Erik Solheim joined ministers from China and
Indonesia in a discussion on the future of Aid for Trade in a changed environment for
trade and development. The OECD also presented Aid for Trade and Development
Results, based on case studies of national management systems in Bangladesh,
Colombia, Ghana, Rwanda, the Solomon Islands and Viet Nam. In addition, OECD and
WTO have recently published a range of complementary sectoral studies (see
Publications).
Tweet #DACnew
TOP
DAC Development Debates
The ZEN approach to post-2015
The 13th DAC Development Debate
(12 June 2013) welcomed
Guanghua Wan, Principal
Economist of the Asian
Development Bank (AsDB) and co-
author of “A ZEN approach to Post-
2015”; Olivier Consolo, Director of
CONCORD, the European NGO
confederation for relief and
development; and Aldo Aldama
Breton of the Mexican Delegation to
the OECD. The debate took place a
few weeks after the release of the
Report of the High-Level Panel of
Eminent Persons on the Post-2015
Development Agenda (HLP).
Follow @OECDdev
PEER REVIEWS
Development Co-operation Peer
Review: France 2013 – France’s Official
Development Assistance (ODA) was
USD 12.1 billion in 2012, making it the
4th
largest member of the DAC in terms
of volume of development co-operation.
This represents, however, 0.46% of
French Gross National Income (GNI) –
below France’s international
commitment. The review recommends
that France plan to reach the 0.7%
ODA/GNI ratio as soon as possible.
OECD’s review of French aid
commends the country’s overall
strategic vision for development and its
engagement at the global level to
promote development, including
innovative ways of financing. The review
recommends, however, that France do
more to support civil society
organisations and gender equality, to
build stronger capacity for developing
countries to manage their own futures,
and to monitor the results of its
development efforts.
Tweet #DACnew
Evaluating Development Activities: 12
Lessons from the OECD DAC – As
development co-operation faces ever
increasing pressures to demonstrate
results, donors and partner
governments need credible, timely
evidence to inform their programmes
and improve performance. Evaluation
has a critical role to play in providing
such evidence. New methodologies
and ways of working are being
developed to better understand what
works, why and under what
circumstances and improve mutual
accountability. The 12 Lessons on
Evaluating Development Activities are
aimed at strengthening evaluation for
better learning and decision-making.
Tweet #DACnew
PUBLICATIONS
“A post-2015 information system for
international development and climate
finance” This paper provides emerging
insights and lessons learned from
monitoring climate finance, including
using the “Rio markers”. It also outlines
future work to improve tracking of
climate finance and provides lessons for
future financing frameworks. Finally, the
paper proposes ways forward for
measuring broader external
3. Development Co-operation Directorate (DCD-DAC) - Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
http://www.oecd.org/dac/dacnewsseptember2013.htm[12-Sep-2013 7:08:18 PM]
Although Asia has achieved remarkable success in poverty reduction, noted Mr Wan, the
region still faces major challenges: it is home to two-thirds of the world’s extreme poor and
is experiencing rising inequalities. The paper “A ZEN approach to post-2015: Addressing
the range of perspectives across Asia and the Pacific” (“Z” for zero extreme poverty; “E”
for Epsilon, or country-specific challenges and benchmarks; and “N” for nature, i.e.
environmental sustainability) presents a conceptual framework for addressing these
challenges, based on global goals and national voluntary targets.
Mr Consolo expressed his disappointment with the HLP Report for: rephrasing the
challenges rather than changing the paradigm; and overlooking issues of crucial
importance for NGOs, such as inequalities, human rights, democracy, alternative economic
approaches and changes in production and consumption patterns. “Putting people and
planet first” addresses these issues, outlining the recommendations of CONCORD’s
Beyond 2015 European Task Force for the Post-2015 framework.
The importance of ensuring policy coherence, adopting a broader definition of poverty,
promoting green growth and putting in place stronger measures against tax evasion (see
article on tax and development) were stressed by Mr Aldama Breton. He also emphasised
the importance of peer reviews and sharing experiences through efforts such as the OECD
Knowledge Sharing Initiative
Tweet #DACnew
TOP
Point of View:
Resilience for Donors
By Rachel Scott, Senior Humanitarian Advisor
I attended the UN Economic and Social Council’s annual
humanitarian segment in July, where I gave a
presentation on resilience for donors. I wasn’t the only
one talking about this – in nearly every panel and side
event, and in countless discussions over coffee,
resilience – what it is and how to “do” it – was the
theme.
Humanitarians are convinced of the need for a better
way to deal with today’s crises, as these escalate in
number, cost and human impact; of the massive USD
12.9 billion requested for crisis response in 2013, over
USD 5.1 billion – a huge amount – has already been
received. But certainly there is a better way to use this money to save lives, limit losses
and empower people to deal with the risks they face every day. That is where resilience
comes in.
There is already substantial political commitment to resilience, although it is not always
clear how this translates into better working practices on the ground, or what all this
means for the people providing the funding. The OECD-DAC Experts Group on Risk and
Resilience – now with over 100 members, from OECD-DAC member countries, UN
agencies, the Red Cross/Red Crescent family, Multilateral Banks, NGOs and think tanks –
has set out to answer these questions. The group draws on work across the OECD, where
issues around risk and resilience are big topics in the context of the global financial crisis.
Initial findings from this work have confirmed that we are on the right track. Numerous
types of risks – from violence, to social unrest and conflict, climate change, natural
disasters and global economic shocks – are inter-connected. Working in silos no longer
makes sense - if we are to deal with these risks properly, experts in climate change,
development, governance and humanitarian action will need to work together, and to co-
ordinate better with states.
In July, we published a set of preliminary findings: What does resilience mean for donors?
What are the right incentives to help donors support resilience? How should donors
communicate about risk and resilience? There is now consensus that the first step in
resilience programming is to forge a common understanding of the risk landscape; to do
this we propose a methodology for joint risk analysis based on the G20/OECD risk
assessment tool. This methodology will be tested in field locations in the second half of
development finance post-2015.
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Aid for trade and value chains: Sector
studies – In preparation for the 4th
Global Review of Aid for Trade (see
article on “Global value chains and aid
for trade”) , the OECD and the WTO
collaborated with several other
institutions to prepare a series of
sectoral studies on agrifood, tourism,
textiles and apparel, transport and
logistics and information and
communication technology.
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“Making growth green and inclusive:
The case of Cambodia” –This report
presents a case study on Cambodia
designed to answer some key questions
for development planning, including:
Can developing countries strike a
balance between economic growth,
societal well-being and environmental
protection? Can inclusive, green growth
be a way forward?
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“Making growth green and inclusive:
The case of Ethiopia” – The paper
reflects on green growth policy in
Ethiopia, explores green growth already
in action through a range of on-the-
ground activities and begins to assess
the country’s enabling framework,
offering preliminary recommendations
on how to strengthen those policies,
instruments and mechanisms currently
used.
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VACANCIES
Governance Specialist – Political
Economy of Institutional Reform
(Job number: 08782): The Governance
For Development and Peace (G4DP)
Team (within the Global Partnership and
Policies Division of the Development
Co-operation Directorate [DCD]) is
looking for a Governance Adviser
who can lead thinking on innovation in
institutional reform and accountability,
making available to partners their
substantial knowledge and experience.
Tweet #jo
Policy Analyst – Tax and
Development (Job number: 08801):
The Tax and Development Programme
is currently seeking to recruit a Policy
Analyst to contribute to our work on
domestic resource mobilisation, aid,
development and statebuilding issues,
4. Development Co-operation Directorate (DCD-DAC) - Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
http://www.oecd.org/dac/dacnewsseptember2013.htm[12-Sep-2013 7:08:18 PM]
Sakiko Fukuda-Parr is a development economist
currently working on human rights and poverty, conflict
prevention, and global technology. From 1995 to 2004,
she was lead author and director of the UNDP Human
Development Reports. She is the author of a chapter on
“Delivering the vision of the Millennium Declaration” in
this year’s Development Co-operation Report: Ending
Poverty (to be released in November 2013).
Simplicity, numerical targets and consensus have been
frequently cited as key strengths of the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs). Nonetheless, before
formalising the post-2015 development agenda, we
must fully assess the MDG experience.
Surprisingly little systematic research has been conducted on the strengths and
weaknesses of the MDGs. To address this research gap, Alicia Yamin and I initiated a
research project with an international network of scholars – The Power of Numbers: A
Critical Review of MDG Targets for Human Development and Human Rights. We
conducted eleven case studies on the effects of selected MDG goals/targets. This
included both the empirical effects on policy priorities and strategies, and the normative
effects on development discourses around priorities, objectives and the means to
achieve them. Our conclusions? The MDGs’ key strengths – simplicity, numerical
targets and consensus – are also their key weaknesses.
Simplicity or reductionism?
The MDGs were powerful because, unlike many vaguely worded and overloaded UN
development agendas, they were simple and clear. Simplicity's downside, however, is
reductionism. It is now acknowledged that the MDGs were too narrow in scope and left
out many priorities, such as employment, climate change, inequality and discrimination.
Reductionist goals can distort the planning and programming of development resources
and efforts, and can also lead to agendas that do not reflect national priorities.
Simplicity also leads to reductionist
thinking about causes and
solutions. In the 1990s, lessons
from development experience,
research and consultations led to
the adoption of broad agendas for
conferences and symposia. Yet
when confronted with the MDGs,
this breadth was condensed into
one or two targets. For example,
the MDGs’ simple education goal
reduced the education challenge to
individual completion of primary
education. This created perverse
incentives, such as neglecting other
levels of education – or other forms
of skills acquisition – as well as inequalities in access to education. Similarly, while the
Beijing Conference on Women and Development agreed on a thirteen-point platform of
action, the MDGs included only the goal of gender equality in primary and secondary
school enrolment. As the OECD papers on development and the Programme for
International Student Assessment (PISA) and gender equality beyond 2015 help to
demonstrate, applying these simple goals has meant side-lining other important
objectives.
Numerical targets: prioritisation or distortion?
Numerical targets were a core strength of the MDGs because they represented a
means of “firming up” commitments. Performance could be measured and governments
2013.
Going forward, we will build on the initial findings and good practices to develop simple
guidance on how to “do” resilience on the ground. More research is required in numerous
areas – measuring resilience, extensive (everyday) risk, the role of the private sector, risk
transfer, risk financing, the governance of risk and its ownership by the different layers of
society – so the group has its work cut out for it. In the process, we will continue to look at
identifying and transferring good practices to field operations – and above all at ways of
empowering people, communities, and states to make themselves more resilient.
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FEATURE ARTICLE:
The Power of Numbers and the MDGs
by Sakiko Fukuda-Parr, Professor of International Affairs, the New
School
including: i) Global Partnership for
Effective Development Co-operation; ii)
monitoring aid flows; iii) financing for
development.
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5. Development Co-operation Directorate (DCD-DAC) - Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
http://www.oecd.org/dac/dacnewsseptember2013.htm[12-Sep-2013 7:08:18 PM]
could be held accountable. Yet the MDG targets have come under heavy criticism from
economists for the arbitrary methodology used, the unrealistic levels set for the poorest
countries, and the resulting bias against Africa.
Faulty target setting is compounded when “meeting the 2015 goals” is applied to
country – versus global – performance. Being “on track” to meet the MDGs is seen as
evidence of good government performance, and “not being on track” as evidence of
incompetence and neglect. Yet a country's progress depends as much on its starting
point as its effort. A more appropriate metric would measure the pace of progress. In
those terms, the best performers to date are countries that are far from achieving the
MDGs, mostly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Additionally, many targets create perverse
incentives, such as feeding calorie-laden foods to children to meet the hunger goal.
Consensus or status-quo thinking?
The MDGs built unprecedented consensus around ending poverty as the over-arching
purpose of international development co-operation. Yet here again, there is a
downside: privileging consensus favours the lowest common denominator and status-
quo thinking. Not surprisingly, the MDGs are criticised for lacking ambition and not
aligning with the transformative vision of the United Nations Millennium Declaration:
commitments to solidarity, equality, and the respect for human rights and democracy.
At the same time, a consensus agenda unavoidably reflects existing power structures,
and is, therefore, not necessarily in the interests of the global South. This is clearly
reflected in MDG 8 (“Develop a global partnership for development”), which lacks
accountability and quantitative targets for the global North. I would expect that
discussions during the first Ministerial-level meeting of the Global Partnership for
Effective Development Co-operation, set to take place in Mexico in 2014 (see News in
brief), will centre around how to better address this issue within the post-2015
development agenda.
Avoiding misuse of the power of numbers
Because of their scientific concreteness, numbers have power. They allow us to reduce
complex and contextually-specific concepts such as gender equality to universally
applicable measurements, and to raise awareness and galvanise support for urgent but
neglected priorities.
Yet these strengths also become weaknesses when the MDGs are used beyond their
purpose as a communication tool and are converted into a planning framework. The
confusion around the purpose of the goals (campaign slogans versus global
development strategies) is a crucial issue to be addressed by the post-2015
development agenda and calls for important conceptual differentiation: goals should not
only be quantitative and outcome-driven, but also qualitative, to tackle institutional
arrangements.
In moving towards post-2015, there are numerous other challenges – among these
ensuring data availability. I welcome the positive signs of progress from PARIS21 in
bolstering national statistical capacity, as well as the calls for a “data revolution” from
the High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Agenda as well as
participants in the OECD’s 2013 Global Forum on Development.
Ultimately, we must recognise the limitations of global goal setting. The post-2015
agenda needs to go beyond goals to achieve greater consensus on the priority actions
that are needed to produce real social and economic change.
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NEWS IN BRIEF
Mexico to host first Global Partnership Ministerial meeting
During the third Global Partnership Steering Committee
meeting (hosted by the African Union Commission in Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia, 25-26 July 2013), Luis Campuzano, Mexican
Ambassador to Kenya, confirmed that Mexico will host the
Global Partnership’s first Ministerial-level meeting in 2014. “We
regard the responsibility of hosting the first Ministerial-level
meeting as a great honour and as a challenge. The
development world is on the eve of a major crossroads. We
need common and inclusive action, based on our successful
experiences and lessons learned to improve our approach and
identify areas of opportunity in order to shape the post-2015
development co-operation agenda,” said Ambassador Campuzano in his opening remarks.
For more information on the Steering Committee meeting, visit the Global Partnership
website.
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INCAF focuses on post-2015 agenda, New Deal
The Fifth Director-Level Meeting of the DAC International Network on Conflict and Fragility
(5-6 June 2013) focused on assessing progress towards implementing the New Deal and
positioning conflict and fragility issues within the post-2015 global development framework.
The meeting found that overall, progress in New Deal pilot countries has been mixed.