Mikaela Gavas analyses the two latest reports on EU development aid, the UK’s House of Commons International Development Committee (IDC) inquiry published on 27 April, and the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) peer review published three days earlier. She finds that although the main findings of the evaluations were not dissimilar, the key takeaways from both reports are rather different and there are some stark contrasts between the two reports.
Blog
Archived Posts from this Category
May 14, 2012
Evaluating EU aid: A booming business!
Posted by edcsp under Article, Blog, Blog by Mikaela Gavas | Tags: "EU aid", DAC Peer Review, IDC, IDC inquiry, Mikaela Gavas, OECD-DAC |Leave a Comment
April 30, 2012
Where are the biggest gains in aid effectiveness –practically speaking?
Posted by edcsp under Article by Simon Maxwell, Blog, Blog by Simon Maxwell | Tags: "Simon Maxwell", aid effectiveness, development aid, Paris Agenda |Leave a Comment
Simon Maxwell examines the practical implications of the benefits of measures to improve aid effectiveness at the European level, by analysing the European Commission funded report on the subject by Bigsten, Platteau and Tengstam and an EDCSP commentary by Prizzon and Greenhill.
April 20, 2012
Time to end ambiguity in European policy-making
Posted by edcsp under Blog, Blog by Simon Maxwell | Tags: "Simon Maxwell", development policy, European Commission, policy-making, trade and development policy |Leave a Comment
On 27 January 2012, the European Commission published a Communication on ‘Trade, Growth and Development: Tailoring trade and investment policy for those countries most in need’. On 12 March, this was discussed in the Council of Ministers, which adopted Conclusions on the subject. Simon critically analyses the ambiguity of European policy-making, taking the Commission’s Communication as a case study in this EDCSP blog.
April 19, 2012
Sustainable Energy for All: Milestone on a road to where?
Posted by edcsp under Blog, Events | Tags: Andrew Scott, Andris Piebalgs, Ban Ki Moon, development, energy, EU Sustainable Energy for All Summit, International Year for Sustainable Energy for All |Leave a Comment
Four months old, the International Year for Sustainable Energy for All seems well down the road to successfully ensuring energy poverty has higher priority in development policy and programming. The EU Sustainable Energy for All Summit this week, brought together development ministers from the EU and Norway, energy ministers from developing countries, the Commission President, the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, and three or four hundred others, to express support for the three objectives of the Sustainable Energy for All Initiative: to achieve by 2030, universal access to modern energy services, a doubling of the rate of improvement in energy efficiency, and a doubling of the share of renewables in the global energy mix.
ODI Research Fellow Andrew Scott analyses the initiative in this EDCSP blog.
March 29, 2012
Global growth and the environment: two issues, one solution?
Posted by edcsp under Blog | Tags: development, Dirk Willem te Velde, environment, ERD, European Report on Development, growth, resources |Leave a Comment
The planet is under pressure – a whole conference is devoted to the topic this week. Global growth is under pressure - full debt deleveraging has not yet taken place in Europe, and every day brings new evidence of a growth slowdown in China and India. The normal course of action is to see these as separate issues and discuss solutions in separate fora.
What if we argue that this is no longer considered efficient because short-term welfare and long-term planetary boundaries are increasingly linked? In what ways could environmental and growth thinking in the G20 and Rio+20 reinforce each other?
Building on findings from the forthcoming European Report on Development, Dirk Willem te Velde asks is it time address the crises facing global growth and the environment as one issue?
March 8, 2012
EU budget surprise: Member States proposing budgetisation of the EDF
Posted by edcsp under Blog, News | Tags: "Simon Maxwell", EDF, EDF budgetisation, European Development Fund, European development policy, Sian Herbert |1 Comment
Out of the blue a significant number of EU Member States have begun advocating for the European Development Fund to be incorporated within the main EU budget – not in 2021, as previously discussed, but as early as 2014, when the new Multi-Annual Financial Framework comes into force. Is this some kind of conversion to rational analysis? A device to reduce spending through Brussels? Or a clever negotiating strategy designed to achieve something else entirely?
Read Simon and Siân’s analysis in this EDCSP Opinion.
February 9, 2012
How will EU trade policy respond to new challenges in the coming decade?
Posted by edcsp under Blog | Tags: Dirk Willem te Velde, European development policy, ODI, trade |Leave a Comment
Following the release of the European Commission’s communication on trade, growth and development, Dirk Willem te Velde examines how the policy plans to respond to a growing differentiation amongst countries and a growing list of global challenges in this ODI blog.
February 3, 2012
Too much aid to middle income countries? The EU’s aid allocation conundrum
Posted by edcsp under Blog | Tags: "Simon Maxwell", development, differentiation, EU Development Policy, European Commission, MICs, Poverty focus |Leave a Comment
The high share of aid provided to relatively better-off middle income countries is one of the biggest challenges to the aid record of the European Commission. But what are the reasons behind this?
Simon Maxwell sets out to explore the issue in this EDCSP Opinion.
January 11, 2012
Reflections on the Durban outcome and the EU’s role in brokering a deal
Posted by edcsp under Blog, News | Tags: "Simon Maxwell", climate change, Connie Hedegaard, Durban, EU |Leave a Comment
Over on his website, Simon Maxwell looks at the outcome of the climate talks in Durban, focusing on the central role played by the EU. Simon notes:
“The most interesting aspect for me is the role of the EU in brokering this deal, first by developing the idea of a ‘road-map’ to a post-Kyoto framework, and second by stitching together an alliance across the traditional dividing lines of Annex 1, Annex 2 and non-Annex 1 countries, as well as large and small emitters. I can’t say that I have studied the internal EU processes in any detail, nor been able to disentangle the role of European institutions versus Member States, but at first sight Connie Hedegaard, the EU Climate Commissioner, deserves a great deal of credit. There are a couple of implications.
First, Durban may well provide a case study of why it is sensible for Member States to work together through the EU, and of how to do it. At a time of political crisis in Europe, there are valuable lessons about the benefits of developing an EU-wide vision and set of targets, as well as specific instruments like the European Emissions Trading Scheme, however flawed (but NB worth celebrating and defending, especially given the current row with the Chinese, Americans and others about bringing airline emissions into the Scheme). Are there implications for development ministers working on climate change, but also more widely?
Second, it is interesting to speculate whether and how EU momentum will be sustained. Is it sensible to think, for example, that the global public good would be served if EU Member States concentrated more of their climate change energy through Brussels institutions rather than bilaterally – giving Connie Hedegaard more bargaining power in the negotiations over a new treaty? From a development angle, there might be implications for the funding of the EU’s Global Climate Change Alliance, so far very poorly funded, and for the allocation of bilateral funds, like the UK’s International Climate Fund.”
To read more, click here.
December 20, 2011
Re-thinking Europe: what development can offer
Posted by edcsp under Blog | Tags: "Simon Maxwell", development, eurozone crisis, policy |Leave a Comment
In development circles, we often ask what ‘Europe’ can contribute to our development objectives. However, with Europe in financial and perhaps even political crisis, isn’t time we asked what development can contribute to our European objectives? Simon Maxwell sets out three answers to this question in his latest EDCSP blog.
December 6, 2011
Attention, MEPs: The future of EU external action is up for grabs
Posted by edcsp under Blog | Tags: "Simon Maxwell", Agenda for Change, development, European development policy, European Parliament, MEPs, Mikaela Gavas, Sian Herbert |Leave a Comment
As the European Commission is on the eve of releasing legislative proposals on the future financial instruments and regulations for external action, researchers from the European Think-Tanks Group identify six key points for Members of the European Parliament to keep an eye on.
Read more here.
Also published by EurActiv.
October 31, 2011
EU budget support: both a ‘name changer’ and a ‘game changer’
Posted by edcsp under Blog | Tags: aid, budget support, development, EU, European Commission, European development policy, Heidi Tavakoli, ODI |Leave a Comment
In this ODI blog, Heidi Tavakoli analyses the European Commission’s new strategy for budget support.
As one of the biggest providers of budget support, any policy changes by the EC will not only affect the budget support landscape, but may also drive changes in many of its member states. Heidi notes that the new proposal introduces two significant changes: firstly, the EC proposes that budget support becomes a political instrument; and secondly, as with DFID, the EC will change the name of its budget support instruments to better reflect its objectives. Read more here to see how this could be both a ‘name changer’ and a ‘game changer’.
October 28, 2011
EU development policy: ambitious agenda for change or the same old story?
Posted by edcsp under Blog | Tags: Agenda for Change, aid, development, DIE, European development policy, German Development Institute, Mikaela Gavas |Leave a Comment
Following the Commission’s launch of its latest mission statement on development policy – ‘An Agenda for Change’ – the EDCSP’s Mikaela Gavas, with German Development Institute’s Svea Koch and Dr. Mark Furness, have written an article questioning is it really an Agenda for Change? Is it ambitious enough to equip the Commission to tackle global challenges such as poverty, the food crisis, the economic slump, climate change, and insecurity? And will it be able to deliver greater impact?
Read their analysis here (English) and here (German).
October 18, 2011
An Agenda for Change for EU Development Policy
Posted by edcsp under Blog | Tags: "Simon Maxwell", Agenda for Change, aid, development, EU Development Policy, European Commission, Mikaela Gavas, Sian Herbert |Leave a Comment
After more than a year and a half of consultations, Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs has released a new proposed strategy for EU development cooperation – in a document called ‘An Agenda for Change’.
The new policy directly descends from the European Consensus on Development, however also signals four important shifts:
- a higher profile for good governance and human rights, linked to greater conditionality;
- a higher profile for growth, with a strong focus on leveraging in private sector money;
- the introduction of the concept of differentiated development partnerships, with new allocation criteria for aid; and
- an attempt to boost EU joint work.
Read our response to the Commission’s proposal here
August 31, 2011
Budget support is becoming an endangered species: what Busan must do to save it
Posted by edcsp under Blog | Tags: "Simon Maxwell", aid, aid effectiveness, budget support, Busan, development |Leave a Comment
Developing country Finance Ministers arriving at the Busan High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in November may be surprised to discover that their favourite way of receiving aid – budget support – is fast becoming an endangered species: swept away by donor scepticism about good governance and budget accountability; and swallowed by the contemporary need to demonstrate that every dollar or pound of aid delivers demonstrable development results. In this EDCSP Opinion, Simon Maxwell sets out a way forward for Busan to help shape future policy on budget support.
Register your vote on whether the EU Development Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs, was right in setting a target of 50% of EC aid as budget support.
July 11, 2011
The future of the ACP
Posted by edcsp under Article, Blog | Tags: ACP. development, aid, Cotonou Agreement, ECDPM, EDF, European development policy |Leave a Comment
The future of the ACP was the topic of an e-discussion organised by the European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM) and at ECDPM’s 25th anniversary conference. In his contribution to the debate, “A challenge to the ACP“, Simon Maxwell argues that the ACP as a grouping does not make much geographical sense, but that it does offer partnership modalities that should be preserved.
May 31, 2011
Why the EU’s aid effort must escape the budgetary axe!
Posted by edcsp under Article, Blog | Tags: "Simon Maxwell", EDF, EDF budgetisation, EU budget, European development policy, Europe’s World, MFF, multi-annual financial framework |Leave a Comment
As European development aid undergoes a policy re-think, and looks set to emerge leaner and stronger, Simon Maxwell assesses the factors at work and points to reforms and new measures that are still needed. The EU’s Financial Perspectives offer an opportunity to build a handsome new Eiffel tower of development policies. A lot of rivets will be needed, but all the hammering will be worth it for the view. Europe’s World, June 2011 ”Why the EU’s aid effort must escape the budgetary axe!“
April 28, 2011
European Aid: Aspiring to the Gold Medal
Posted by edcsp under Article, Blog | Tags: "Simon Maxwell", aid, comparative advantage, development, donor, European Commission, European development policy, GIZ Magazine, UN, World Bank |Leave a Comment
In the Olympic Games of development cooperation, the European Commission (EC) stands among the top three in the table of medal winners – boasting more medals than the World Bank and about as many as the whole of the United Nations (UN). But can it continue to hold its position in the next Olympic Games? The challenge will certainly be fierce. The victory medal will go not just to the most efficient, nor to the athlete with the widest range of sports. Four big problems need to be solved by all hopeful contenders; four hurdles need to be jumped.
In an article published in the GIZ Magazine, Simon Maxwell puts forward four big challenges facing EU development cooperation.
February 13, 2011
The European Commission one year in. How is it doing?
Posted by edcsp under Blog | Tags: "Simon Maxwell", Andris Piebalgs, EEAS, European Commission, European Commissioner for Development, José Manuel Barroso |Leave a Comment
The current European Commission, headed by Jose Manuel Barroso, took office on 10 February 2010. One year in, how is it doing?
That’s a good question, but not one I am qualified to answer. The question I might be qualified to answer is much narrower, namely how is Andris Piebalgs doing? (more…)
February 2, 2011
An EU-12 perspective on European development cooperation
Posted by edcsp under Blog, Events | Tags: "Simon Maxwell", Cyprus, EU-12, European development policy, Hungary, Mikaela Gavas, Poland, Rotating Presidency |Leave a Comment
This year and next will be years of leadership in Europe for new Member States. Hungary is currently in charge. Poland is next. Cyprus has the Presidency in the second half of 2012. The new Member States, the EU-12, are a diverse group, but share perspectives which are likely to shape European development policy in different ways.
November 18, 2010
European Commission launches a debate on EU development policy
Posted by edcsp under Blog, Research | Tags: "Simon Maxwell", development, EU development policy in support of inclusive growth and sustainable development, European development policy, growth, policy, sustainable development |Leave a Comment
On 10th November, the European Commission launched a public consultation on ‘EU development policy in support of inclusive growth and sustainable development’. Although the paper covers a broad range of issues, it seeks to answer four key questions:
- How to ensure high impact on EU development policy;
- How to facilitate more, and more inclusive, growth in developing countries;
- How to promote sustainable development as a driver for progress;
- How to achieve durable results in the area of agriculture and food security.
Simon Maxwell has published his initial thoughts on the Green Paper in an opinion piece titled “Playing poker with development policy”. Do you agree with his analysis? Add your thoughts by commenting on his piece. (more…)
November 17, 2010
Playing poker with development policy
Posted by edcsp under Blog | Tags: "Simon Maxwell", development, EU, European development policy |[2] Comments
Andris Piebalgs is playing poker with development policy – but, do you know what, there’s a mirror behind him, and we can see his hand. Furthermore, it’s not such a bad hand. Why doesn’t he just put his cards on the table and scoop the pot? (more…)
October 21, 2010
What’s happening in Europe this autumn?
Posted by edcsp under Blog by Elizabeth ColebournLeave a Comment
The month ahead is due to be a busy one for the European Union with a packed agenda for Ministers, Parliamentarians and the Commission. For those of us with an interest in Europe’s development cooperation there is lots to look out for.
October 13, 2010
A U-Turn on the European External Action Service? Where is development?
Posted by edcsp under Blog | Tags: Catherine Ashton, development, EEAS, European External Action Service, Lisbon Treaty, Mikaela Gavas |[2] Comments
The new European External Action Service (EEAS) is slowing coming alive. The recruitment process is in full swing, with the appointment of 28 ambassadors charged with representing the European Union’s interest abroad. Twelve of them were selected from the Member States, and sixteen from the Commission.
The next step is the selection of the senior managerial team, however, the European Parliament is yet to approve the staff and financial legal base for the service which would allow the service to become fully operational. The EU’s High Representative for Foreign Policy, Catherine Ashton, would like the EEAS to be launched in December, marking the first anniversary of the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty. The Parliament, however, refuses to be held down by the deadline. (more…)
July 7, 2010
It’s time to articulate the Commander’s Intent
Posted by edcsp under Article, Blog | Tags: "Simon Maxwell", Europe's World, European development policy, leadership |Leave a Comment
In a newly published article in Europe’s World, Simon Maxwell argues that the key to leadership is to communicate strategic intent in simple words. European development policy appears to be following precisely the opposite advice. Never mind three things being too many. The European Union appears to believe that thirty things are too few.
Click here to read the full article.
