More effective donor cooperation to fight rural poverty and hunger

Canadian International Development Agency, Ottawa

February 3-6, 2008

More effective donor cooperation to fight rural poverty and hunger

Canadian International Development Agency, Ottawa

February 3-6, 2008

2

The Global Donor Platform on Rural Development (GDPRD)

Is a strategic alliance

Includes like-minded donors, development agencies and international finance institutions, all of which agreed to establish the Platform to increase aid effectiveness (AE) in agriculture and rural development (ARD) efforts.

Acts as a mechanism for greater development assistance impact through its three main pillars:

Advocacy and outreach

Knowledge and innovation

Aid effectiveness  

3

WBG

OECD

IADB

IFAD

FAO

Danida

ADB

KfW

USAID

SDC

Sida NMFA MFAN

MFAF

MAE Lu

MFA

MFE

MAE

AFD

DFID

CIDA

GTZ

NoradADA

29 members at present(bi- and multilateral)

Board/Steering Committeeis the decision-making body (6 members)

The Platform Secretariat is hosted by the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

FAO BMZ

EC

WBDFID

CIDADGDC

UNODCIA

Organization and Governance

Civil Society and Aid Effectiveness in Agriculture and Rural

Development

A summary of country consultations

Mushtaq Ahmed

5

BackgroundConsultations from Nov 2007 – Jan 2008

13 countries, 600 participants 250 CSOs50 government ministries

30 donor organizations

Three outcomes

6

Findings

Outcome 1: Recognition and voiceNeed for greater recognition and voice for CSOs in ARD – special challenges of the sector

Outcome 2: Applying and enriching the AE agenda

Low awareness among CSOs about PD, AECSOs acknowledge need to strengthen AELimited capacity and challenges to overcome in the rural settingConsultations did raise awareness

7

Findings

Outcome 3: Improved understanding of good practice

Collaboration with community is strong but needs more inclusive consultation processes

Collaboration with other CSOs at times hindered by competition, poor leadership

Collaboration with governments requires clarification of roles and openness to dialogue collaborate

8

Findings (cont’d)

Outcome 3 (cont’d)

North-South CSO collaboration needs more consultation and mutual appreciation of respective roles between partners

Relations with donors are mainly donor/recipient or CSOs are seen as implementing agencies; CSOs often more accountable to donors than to community; not enough engagement with smaller ARD CSOs

9

A focus on good practice

Policy dialogue: legal protection for Andean producers

Influence of national policies: free trade and food security in Peru

Exploiting market failures – Mozambique

Strategic network building – fish sanctuaries in Bangladesh

Innovative approaches – Egypt canal project

10

Recommendations: some highlights

Southern CSOs – should be consulted, strengthen networks and promote AE

Northern CSOs – should strengthen attitude of mutual respect, ensure full participation of community

11

Recommendations: some highlights (cont’d)

Governments – should provide enabling environment

Donors – should involve CSOs in project/policy design, monitoring; support adequate voice for CSOs; provide flexible funding; promote participatory processes; support work of smaller local CSOs

12

Conclusions

CSOs play major role in AE in ARD:

Development agents/implementing agencies

Promoting member participation

Empowering specific social groups

Defining the rights of citizens

Monitoring the use of public resources

The nature of ARD in itself exacerbates the challenges faced by CSOs