'Architecture of Aid' Workshop Gives Asian Countries a Say in How International Aid Should Be Distributed

2005 was a landmark year in terms of international aid.

2005 was a year when there was a sharp increase in the volume of international aid. It has been noted, however, that beneficiary countries, and developing countries in particular, have had no opportunity to express their views as to how this money should be disbursed.

The topic of a recent two-day workshop organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat and La Francophonie, therefore, could not have come at a more relevant time. Entitled 'The Future of Aid: User Perspectives on Reform of the International Aid System', the workshop, held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on 20-21 March 2006, was intended to give Asian government officials and civil society representatives an opportunity to make specific recommendations on reforming the architecture of international aid.

"2005 was a landmark year in terms of international aid," said Dr Indrajit Coomaraswamy, Director of the Economic Affairs Division at the Secretariat. "This conference was important in discussing the Asian perspective on what reforms are needed to make the international aid architecture more effective."

Representatives from six Asian countries -- Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka -- attended the workshop. Issues discussed included: the role of aid in Asia; the appropriate balance between bilateral and multilateral assistance; and the relative merits of assistance from multilateral sources, such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the United Nations and the European Union.

The Dhaka workshop was the second in a series of three seminars on the future of aid. It was facilitated by the UK Overseas Development Institute. The first workshop was held at Marlborough House in London in January 2005. The third workshop is due to take place in Cameroon in May 2006.

Also discussed were the roles the Commonwealth and La Francophonie can play in facilitating the voices of their member countries when dealing with multilateral organisations.

"Participants in Dhaka made specific recommendations that will be included in a report which will eventually draw on all three consultations," said Dr Coomaraswamy.

The report will be considered by senior Commonwealth officials when they meet in Colombo later this year, immediately prior to the annual Meeting of Finance Ministers.

 

CNIS - Commonwealth News and Information Service, Issue 278, 29 March 2006

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• Economic Affairs

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• International Francophonie (English Page)
• La Francophonie (Site in French)