Practitioners Network for European Development Cooperation

Key messages from the workshop on Post-Busan implications for Practitioners (20 March)

Paul Engel/Jean Bossuyt, European Centre for Development Policy Management

I. Major contextual and policy changes require adapted responses

II. Five key messages

This presentation

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New global context, actors and coalitions

Aid alone cannot address global challenges

Busan: focus on country ownership and inclusive partnerships

The Agenda for Change: towards a more “political” form of cooperation (focus on fundamental values)

Renewed emphasis on “joint EU action” (e.g. in policy/political dialogue and programming)

I. Contextual and policy changes

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22 practitioners from 11 Agencies

Focus of the workshop 1) Overall context for development

cooperation (with particular focus on situation in various EU countries)

2) Implications of Busan and Agenda for Change agendas for practitioners?

3) Future priorities Network?

The Workshop in Brussels (20 March)

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Some of the issues considered on Busan agenda

Busan’s commitment to Country and

Democraticownership

Are we ready to become facilitators of partner-led change?

Can we support home grown reform processes through the right mix of aid modalities?

Will the use of country systems be compatible with more demanding eligibility criteria (in budget support)?

Are we well equipped to do this and are the right institutional incentives in place?

What does a more political approach to cooperation mean?

Can we reconcile the results and risk agenda with country ownership?

EU Agenda for change in practice

EU Agenda for change in practice

Move forward with PCD, what role can development agencies usefully play?

Move forward with PCD, what role can development agencies usefully play?

Enhanced focus on (in-county) policy and political dialogue, but how will it work out in practice?

Enhanced focus on (in-county) policy and political dialogue, but how will it work out in practice?

Differentiation = sophistication in risk taking and indicator setting

Differentiation = sophistication in risk taking and indicator setting

Take joint EU action further… yes but what is being done to address current constraints and disincentives?

Take joint EU action further… yes but what is being done to address current constraints and disincentives?

Integrating development instruments in new global agenda, but how can development agencies join hands with emerging economies, multinationals, banks and private sector?

Integrating development instruments in new global agenda, but how can development agencies join hands with emerging economies, multinationals, banks and private sector?

Engage with private sector, but are we and the private sector equipped?

Engage with private sector, but are we and the private sector equipped?

Some of the issues considered with regard to Agenda for change and implications for PN

II. FIVE KEY MESSAGES

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New agendas require sustained political leadership

Crisis obliges us to “to do more with less” and to work together, yet the incentives are not yet in place

Need for realistic implementation strategies, practitioners need to be listened to

As cooperation becomes more “political” need for closer links between “political actors” and “technicians”

Message 1: Windows of opportunity for positive change in development practice exist

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New agendas bring “politics” closer to operational level

Link budget support and fundamental values: implications for programme-based approaches?

Renewed focus on “governance” in Busan agenda (e.g. State-society relations, multi-actor dialogue, domestic accountability)

Lines between development and diplomacy more blurred

Message 2: Development cooperation is increasingly political

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New skills and working methods required to combine “political” and “technical” work

New skills and working methods required to combine “political” and “technical” work

Country-led partnerships present major opportunities

Yet they also require major adaptations in donor practices (e.g. synchronizing programme cycles)

Can we deliver on this? Can we overcome own institutional interests?

How to deal with potential clashes with partner country?

Message 3: focus on country ownership but beware of conflicting interests

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No shortage of oportunities for joint EU action (joint programming, sector specialisation, delegation, DoL, flexible regulation)

Yet major implementation constraints along the road to effective joint EU action

Institutional bottlenecks and disincentives to country-led partnerships and joint EU action

Many grey zones: is it the ambition to also move towards “joint implementation”?

Message 4 : Right incentives for joint action at EU level not in place

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1) Becoming more visible and instrumental to policy-makers

2) Improving access to higher levels of decision-making

3) Better marketing of Network (small steering committee + focal point)

4) Focus on core business (negotiate joint positions with EU)

5) Old and new topics to focus on

Message 5: Preparing the Network for the future

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