The division of labour and the aid efficiency agenda

Angela Bax,Flickr

The international division of labour in development aid aims to ensure a better deployment of donors among southern partner countries. This is seen as a positive move for aid effectiveness. But one risk is that it may have a negative impact on leadership capacities and mutual accountability, both pillars of the partnership paradigm agreed in the Paris Declaration and the Accra Agenda for Action. Among donors, the importance of the division of labour has been made clear following its inclusion in the operational documents of many countries and international organisations (such as the EU Code of Conduct, or the recent Operational Framework on Aid Effectiveness)

The efficiency of aid among Spanish actors in development cooperation
The second phase of the project (November 2010), focuses specifically on the actors of Spanish cooperation. Spain has already acknowledged the importance of the aid effectiveness agenda and the division of labour, both included in its policy document Master Plan (2009-2012). At present, the main challenges refer to the elaboration of guidelines to help the successful implementation of these objectives, and to extract conclusions that can be used at the High Level Forum in Korea. Against this background, FRIDE organises a series of workshops, not only with members of AECID, but also with other actors of Spanish cooperation (Regional Governments, local authorities, NGOs and research centres). 

A first session (see event), will focus on the coordination among Spanish actors, and will seek to share experiences and promote a discussion that can assist the elaboration of guidelines and to identify good practices directed at improving the implementation of aid efficiency and coordination among donors. A second and third sessions (2011) will examine progress and challenges with input from partner countries and practitioners on the ground.

The international division of labour and exit strategies
The first phase of FRIDE’s investigation on aid efficiency (already concluded), has focussed on examining some of the aspects of the international division of labour, for example, the criteria used for decision-making. The division of labour is an important step towards greater aid efficiency, but there is a risk is that it may have a negative impact on leadership capacities and mutual accountability, both pillars of the partnership paradigm agreed on the aid efficiency agenda.

Also, one implication of this division of labour agenda is that donors are beginning to phase out aid from one country in order to concentrate in others. FRIDE’s project has looked at the example of Swedish aid, which is being phased out of a large number of countries. Five case studies were carried out (Bolivia, Honduras, Malawi, Mali and Vietnam) to explore the policy implications of such an aid withdrawal and identify good practices on phasing out.

Event:
Working breakfast
“Coordination among cooperation actors in Spain: key to the division of labour and aid efficiency". Read more

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