ACROPOLIS Call Information session January 13, 2014

1. ACROPOLIS Call Information session January 13, 2014

2. ACROPOLIS • AcademicResearch Organisations • for • Policy Support

3. Programme Welcomeandprogramme of the day Overall context Objectives of the call Themes of the call Organisationalstructure How toapply? • Budget • Questions • Informal setting for matchmaking

4. Overall context • New : joint DGD, VLIR-UOS, CIUF-CUD call • Apologies : Delay • Reform withinDGD • Politicalcontext (2011-2013) : “usurperende bevoegdheden”, “compétencesusurpées”

5. Two “lost” years : 2011-2013

11. At last … the budget was released

12. What was at risk ? • Autonomy of the academic sector • Scientificfreedom – right toinitiate • Open calls, competitive peer basedselection • Cooperation model : beyond borders of countries, institutions, disciplines • Budget • VLIR-UOS as organisation

13. First priority for VLIR-UOS • Pacification, restauration of confidencewithin the entirenetwork • Return to “normal” cycles of calls, selections • Return tonormalambitiontocontinuouslyoptimizeconcepts, formats andframeworks, … throughconsultation, benchmarks, studies,….

14. Lessonslearned • Diversification of funds • Communication strategy

15. Overall formalframework • 2014-2016 : three-yearframework • Transitionperiod • Ongoingagreementsprolonged; mode of operationstill the same (the same 5 programmes, financial framework, annualapproval of programmesand budgets …) • Debate on the innovationstolaunch as of 2017

16. Formalframeworkfor the ACROPOLIS call • DGDwill list andevaluateallinstrumentsfor policy support, to feed into the new policy as of 2017 • New structurestobe set up • Overall development cooperation policy structure at Belgian level, involvingalso the communities (tbc) • “ANGS” : “Forum” forexchange of information and joint context analyses per country, at the level of all indirect actors

17. New forthis call • Joint call • Joint formalframework (budget, mode of operation, …) • Pleafor joint proposals: • Beyond borders of disciplines, institutions, language • Involving project partners, ANGS, … • Joint management structure (VLIR-UOS, CIUF-CUD) • Budgets willbepooled • One single contract

18. Demandsfrom VLIR-UOS andCIUF-CUD • Evaluation of existinginstruments • Clear country focus, wherepossible • Approval of research questions by both the academiccoordinatorand the DGDfocal point • Involvement of DGD “attachés” • Systematicinvolvement by DGD of ACROPOLIS groups in all relevant policy relatedmatters • Academicfreedom

19. VLIR-UOS and CIUF-CUD support partnerships between universities and university colleges in Flanders and the South looking for …

20. Innovative responses to global and local challenges

21. Objectives • Open toresearchersof French speaking and Flemish universities, • and Flemish university colleges • To support the Belgian authorities in their decision-making regarding Belgian development cooperation, on three well-defined topics

22. From KNOWLEDGE to APPLICATION => evidence-based POLICY SUPPORT

23. Themes • Financingfordevelopment (Pieter Vermaerke) • Integration of the environmentalandclimat change themes in the transitiontowardssustainabledevelopment (Renata Vandeputte) • Aideffectivenesswith a focus on fragile contexts (Johan Debar)

24. Financing for Development Context • ReviewMonterrey Consensus • Post 2015 – Means of implementation • Modernizationof ODA concept

25. Financing for Development Areas of work – Why? • Domesticresources • Taxes, illicitflows and debt • Social protection • Blending • ODA concept • Global Public Goods

26. Financing for Development ActivitiesDomesticresources • Taxes • Training and operational guidance note • Taxadministration assessmenttool • Contributions to positions • Illicitflows • Analysisand case studies • Training • Operationalguidance policycoherence • Contributions to positions • Debt • Training • Contributions to positions • Social protection • Case studies

27. Financing for Development ActivitiesBlending • Research(mapping, SWOT) • Policy coherence • Contributions to positions

28. Financing for Development Activities ODA concept • Research (Belgium / emerging countries) • Contribution to reflectionmodernization ODA concept (LIC vs MIC, Global public goods, concessionality, otherflows, etc.) • Contribution to positions

29. Financing for Development Activities Global Public Goods • Research • (Climate change / Biodiversity/ Finance) • Policy coherence • Contributions to positions

30. Integration of the environmentalandclimat change themes in the transitiontowardssustainabledevelopment

31. Aid effectiveness • Merge two workstreams, on aid effectiveness and on fragility. • Previous work: • GRAPAX (appuiaux politiques de paix) • GRAP-PA Santé • Research Platform on Aid effectiveness, Antwerp IOB

32. Aideffectiveness • Background: 1. the international aid environment has changed (is changing) Increasing share of countries in fragile situations. Fragility: lack of political commitment and of capacitytodeliverkey public goods.

33. Aideffectiveness • Background: 2. donor hangoverfrom the Paris Declaration • Donors naive about their capacity to take on more fiduciary risks • The limits to accelerating policy reforms through incentive systems and policy dialogue • Selectivity and changing donor portfolios

34. Aideffectiveness • Scope • Policy tools on aideffectiveness: • Plan on Harmonisation andAlignment • Guidelineson National Execution • Vademecum on Budget Support • Policy tool on Fragility: • Strategyon Fragile situations • Toolboxon fragility (under construction) • Focus mainly on five partner countries: DRC, Burundi, Rwanda, Mali, Niger Call for proposals launched (mid February) Finalisation in May (DGD-days)

35. Aideffectiveness • Possible research topics: • Test toolbox on fragility • Budget support and corruption • PEFA • EU Joint programming • Flexibility and predictability • Structural and humanitarian aid in protracted crises • Donors compete on labour market

36. Through mutualbeneficial partnerships • Policy Makers (DGD-BTC/CTB) NETWORK SUPPORT COMMITTEE BTC/CTB Researchers Cabinet VLIR-UOS CIUF-CUD BIO, field staff of governmentalagencies, media, municipalities, communities, NGOs, practitioners, partners in the South, …

37. Partners in the Southand research missions

38. Timetable

39. Budget • One budget holderamongacademics • Mandatory budget proposition • International travelcosts • Operationalexpenses • Personnelcosts • Coordinationcosts

42. Julie Poppe Julie.poppe@vliruos.be www.vliruos.be Fabian Kabashi Fabian.kabashi@cud.be www.cud.be

43. Johan Debar Johan.Debar@diplobel.fed.be Pieter Vermaerke Pieter.Vermaerke@diplobel.fed.be Renata Vandeputte Renata.Vandeputte@diplobel.fed.be