Whither EC Aid? Towards a new approach for the assessment of development cooperation

1. Whither EC Aid? Towardsa new approach for the assessment of development cooperation Introduction to the process and Key emerging issues Gwénaëlle Corre ECDPM

2. Project background • Global agenda: from Accra meeting to the Reform Treaty and Doha • The EC plays a crucial role in EU development cooperation • As a sizeable donor in its own right • As a facilitator • But it is not systematically reviewed as a one-of-a-kind donor whose performance also highly depends on MS’ decisions

3. C O N S U L T A T I V E P R O C E S S D Y N AM I C Phase 3: Final Report Audience: initially 500 stakeholders directly associated Multiplying effect of the e-consultation Dissemination of information by participants to the roundtables PHASE 2 : Consultation Key recommendations Reactions on roundtables & workshops European roundtables e-Consultation weca-ecaid.eu Southern debates & workshops Bibliography Key events calendar Initial Discussion Note Audience: limited to key stakeholders Comments on discussion note Interviews with 30 key stakeholders Literature Review of 40 sources PHASE 1: Research

4. Consultation Phase • Opportunity to get views from various groups of stakeholders in informal setting about EC performance and Aid Effectiveness • How can Spain contribute to the discussions with other MS, the EC and other EU institutions? • How could this process most efficiently feed and fit into the EU preparations for Accra?

5. Initial Discussion Note • Result of limited stocktaking of views • Statements hereafter reflect (recurring) opinions of interviewees and authors – not ECDPM/Action Aid views • A basis for discussion

6. Structuring the issues • Key issues on EC aid: 5 clusters • Main concepts & policy priorities • Aid architecture and management support priorities? • Added value of EC aid • Accountability • Ownership and partnership >> summarised under 4 topics for further discussion

7. Added value and comparative advantages of EC Cooperation • Significant differences of perspective between stakeholders • Questions about the potential advantages and how they turn out in practice • EC capacity under constraint: facing unrealistic or contradictory demands from stakeholders?

8. Institutional architecture of EC Development Cooperation • Finding the right balance between poverty reduction and policy mix: how can the task division amongst services, budget structure and geographic policy split further adjust? • To what extent will setup of the Common External Service support a stronger consistency for EC Cooperation?

9. Policy reform and Implementation • Implementation of major policy developments • Adjusting skills to the vision, the role of political interface and the meaning of partnership • What space conceded by Member States? • What space for partners in strategic choices?

10. Accountability and monitoring for impact • Taking into account a multi level accountability and addressing tensions emerging from diverse expectations of different stakeholders • Moving from accountancy to accounting for impact • Paris targets and beyond: what can help to move the system forward?

11. Implications • Lack of common understanding on concepts and priorities hampers assessment of EC aid effectiveness • EC as a federator and catalyst of EU development cooperation – how much space given by MS? • Reflection needed on how to enable in practice broad-based partner ownership

12. Discussing arising issues • What could/should be a common European position in Accra? • How can the new modalities of outcome-based conditionality and forms of political dialogue improve impact? • What is the Spanish position towards the EU code of conduct on division of labour? • What is expected from the new set-up of RELEX, DGDEV and the External Action Service “after Lisbon”? • and others to be brought up by the participants. • Your ideas about the follow up of the WECA process.

13. To participate further: weca-ecaid.eu Your comments are welcome