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Politics of aid / Working Paper

Spanish development cooperation: right on track or missing the mark?

27/07/2007 By Stefan Meyer

Since 2004, Spanish development cooperation has undergone rapid reform. Spain has increased development funding in an unprecedented manner.

Based on the 2004 Government plans, this report documents the results three years later.

It starts by escribing the current shifts in international development policy, and shows that Spain has moved decisively towards the mainstream in development policy. The reports then ranks ten policy areas using a traffic light system.

Progress has been made in planning, building connections with the Spanish public, implementing a poverty-reduction focus in the handling of debt, and in international by leadership in linking migration and development. Yet, perhaps the most pressing task – the reform of aid delivery institutions – has been tackled too hesitantly.

Against this background, the report puts forward a number of recommendations. In general, it calls on the Government to move towards more measurable and operational planning.

Furthermore, Spain is urged to consider its comparative advantages and its position within a complementary European development cooperation system based on the division of labour. Moreover, the report stresses the need for a more open and consultative approach towards policy development.

To that end, the Development Council and the Parliamentary Commission should become the centrepieces for a strategic engagement with civil society and academia.

With the support of:

 

 

 

 

Download the full version of this publication, available in English (767 kB)
Spanish (789 kB)

Keywords

Aid effectiveness Aid management Development Humanitarian aid Poverty reduction Spain Spanish Aid

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• Division of labour among European donors: allotting the pie or committing to effectiveness?
• Donor harmonization and democratisation: new challenges for the development agenda

Bio author: Stefan Meyer

Stefan Meyer is a Political Scientist (FU Berlin) and holds a Masters degree of the IDS Brighton, U.K. He worked as a consultant on aid instruments and in conflict impact assessment for a number of NGOs and for the German Development Cooperation (GTZ and KfW).