WEBINAR RECAP
Overview:
On August 15, 2024, iDERA partnered with the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College and Rila Ltd. in hosting a webinar on Development Aid and Its Effectiveness. The event brought together high-level panellists and participants from various countries to discuss comparative approaches to making aid more effective for vulnerable developing countries.
Opening Remarks:
Hon. Edwin Laurent, Founder of iDERA, introduced the thinktank, which works to advance sustainable development in the most vulnerable developing countries and offers a safe space for original thought and debate that informs public understanding of issues surrounding sustainable development. This webinar, he said, would explore, from the standpoint of its recipient rather than the donor’s, how aid could better meet its ultimate objective of contributing to transformation and sustainable development.
Introduction:
Mrs. Rivera provided an overview of ODA, emphasizing outcomes like economic growth, sustainable development, and poverty reduction. She traced key global initiatives from 2000 to 2023, including the Paris Declaration and the Busan Partnership. She highlighted the four guiding principles of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation: ownership, results focus, inclusive partnership, and transparency with mutual accountability. Global challenges to aid effectiveness were discussed, including the widening financing gap for achieving the SDGs, the impact of climate change as a diversion from long-term development goals, and the persistent obstacles of ongoing conflicts and political instability. Country-level issues such as corruption, political instability, and inadequate capacity development were also identified as significant barriers to effective aid use.
Panel: Key Highlights:
- Gender and Inclusion in Aid: Using concrete examples, Esther Egohbamien assessed the use and impact of gender-responsive budgeting in aid projects. She shared insights from a successful USAID initiative in Tajikistan, emphasizing the need for aid initiatives to take account of gender concerns and the diverse needs of local communities.
- Aid Management and Delivery: Cletus Springer discussed the pitfalls of projectizing development aid, which in his experience, can lead to fragmented efforts and limit long-term impact. He advocated for more robust frameworks that allow greater ownership by beneficiaries. He highlighted the insufficiency of climate finance and the limitations of using GDP per capita as a sole metric for aid eligibility.
- Alternative Approaches to Aid: Carl Greenidge underscored the inadequacy of current aid processes, particularly in climate finance, and called for a more inclusive and evidence-based approach to measuring aid effectiveness. He recognised that, as the range of actors involved multiply, and the understanding of the role of development aid appears to be changing, at least in some quarters, the challenge of assessing aid effectiveness becomes much more complex. This means that methodologies and tools must adapt, and institutional processes be even more rigorous. He suggested the need for comprehensive growth and economic performance indicators and strengthening institutional arrangements and structures in donor and recipient countries.
- Rethinking Aid Frameworks: Dr. James Fletcher emphasized the necessity of aligning aid with national priorities, citing a donors’ conference that he spearheaded in Saint Lucia as a successful initiative for enabling such an outcome. He highlighted the limitations of short-term project-based aid and stressed the importance of inclusivity, particularly in climate finance, where aid delivery has fallen short of needs.
- Translating the Four Guiding Principles: Dr. Ginelle Greene stressed that effective country ownership does not require participation at all stages by all actors but rather a strategic focus on involving the right stakeholders at the correct times. She emphasized the need for creative solutions tailored to the unique challenges of small states and the need for capacity building and consideration of country circumstances to ensure that aid received is absorbed and utilised in a sustainable manner that is culturally sensitive and tailored to local contexts. In addition, she called for addressing governance issues in donor and recipient countries.
Q&A Session:Dr. Fletcher responded to a question on the limitations of GDP per capita, suggesting using a resilience index as a more appropriate metric for determining aid eligibility, though lamenting its underutilization. Additionally, Mr. Cletus Springer addressed strategies for ensuring that aid fosters self-reliance rather than dependency, emphasizing the importance of empowering recipient communities.
A notable contribution to the discussion was made by Hon. Alan Chastanet, the former Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, who provided a critical perspective on the inefficiencies of the current aid process for SIDS. He saw the constraints on their "policy space" as a major impediment and advocated for their greater autonomy in managing development resources. He also outlined other practical measures that would empower them to manage more effectively, the development assistance they receive.
Closing Remarks:The moderator, Amb. Ransford Smith emphasized the ongoing concerns about aid management and effectiveness, particularly in transitioning from aid dependency to resilience. He called for a focus on actionable solutions and thanked all participants for their contributions. The event concluded with a commitment to further disseminate insights and discuss practical policy measures to make aid more effective.
Next Steps:
- As requested, iDERA and its partners will seek to ensure that the insights from the webinar are widely disseminated and used to inform future discussions and policy development. A summary of the presentations will be available on the iDERA website.
- You are invited to provide your feedback and suggestions here:https://forms.gle/2PNhAmmQFFWFM6gU6
- To stay connected with iDERA for updates on upcoming events and initiatives.
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