thirdhighlevelforumonaideffectiveness.docVIP

THIRD HIGH LEVEL FORUM ON AID EFFECTIVENESS Accra, Ghana, 2-4 September 2008 UNDG REPORT Executive Summary The Third High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness was held in Accra, 2-4 September 2008. The Forum was jointly sponsored by the OECD/DAC, the World Bank, the African Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Inter-American Development Bank and UNDP on behalf of the United Nations Development Group, in cooperation with developing country partners. Over 1,200 people attended the Forum representing governments, foundations, parliaments, civil society and multilateral organisations. A joint UNDG delegation was led by Kemal Dervi? in his capacity as Chair of the UNDG, the heads of UNICEF, UNIFEM, UNAIDS, IFAD and WFP participated and a total of 16 UNDG members, the Peacebuilding Support Office and DOCO were represented. Key elements of progress in the Accra Agenda for Action (AAA) are a stronger focus on development results as the overarching objective of aid, including references to the MDGs and the MDG High Level Event, to the ECOSOC Development Cooperation Forum and to the Doha Financing for Development Review Conference; there is also reference to the catalytic role of aid; acknowledgement that gender equality, respect for human rights and environmental sustainability are cornerstones for achieving enduring impact on the lives and potential of poor women, men and children; together with a call to address these issues more systematically; stronger language on capacity development and other commitments/indicators made in Paris (2005) including on use of country systems, predictability, mutual accountability; language on allocation of funds within countries, within sectors and across countries, with the latter being particularly important for achieving MDGs; a separate section on the role of CSOs and different actors in development assistance; strong language on South-South collaboration; recognition