Accra, 20 September 2008 – The Third High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness took place from 2-4 September 2008 in Accra, Ghana. Over 100 donor countries and recipient countries were present to review progress made in the implementation of the 2005 Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness.

At the Accra summit, significant steps were taken to increase Aid Effectiveness. While donor countries agreed to end the fragmentation of aid, developing countries on their part expressed their commitment to account for the way they spend aid, for instance in terms of improving healthcare and education.

An important outcome of this third HLF is the ‘International Aid Transparency Initiative’, signed by donors to improve transparancy in the management of aid.
Dutch Embassies, for example, will publish information about development aid on their websites, with government support. This information will also be presented to parliaments in developing countries. This will be a first step to better inform development countries but also the Dutch public about the aid that is given.
 
Over 100 donor countries and recipient countries were present at the HLF. To achieve inclusion in this dialogue between governments, 325 (inter) national Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) organised a forum prior to the formal forum. SNV participated actively at this international meeting, together with three partner organizations: Social Watch, l’Association Nigérienne de Défense des Droits de l’Homme (ANDDH) and Confédération Paysanne du Faso (CPF).

One of the recommendations at the unofficial forum was transparency and accountability in services from donors and CSOs.  SNV played an advocacy role and, together with CSOs, formulated recommendations on the progress of the Paris Declaration. The focus of SNV was on mutual accountability and ownership; important issues in our advisory practices.

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