What aspects of national plans are critical to DFID for the scale

and alignment of aid?

Emerging themes from the consultation process for DFID’s new White Paper

Paul Walters, Senior Economic AdviserEast Asia Forum on National Plans as Poverty Reduction Strategies 6th April 2006

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DFID South East Asia

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What aspects of national plans and related implementation policies are critical for aid and its alignment with country priorities, processes and

timetables?

Overall views on the role of National Plans Introduce DFID’s White Paper consultation

process Highlight implications for how DFID will view

national plans and implementation process. Key ingredients for national plans The Partnership

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Overall views on the role of National Plans

“Aspects" that need to be aligned will depend on country context and country processes. There is no one-size-fits-all model.

The implementation framework and systems are at least as important as the national plan. Government’s ability to plan, budget, monitor and allocate its financial and human resources is crucial.

The direction of change is more important than any absolute standards

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Later this year DFID will release a new White Paper

It will address three questions: What can we do to reduce poverty and deliver

development more quickly? What policies are needed in the UK and internationally to

create the conditions necessary for reducing poverty? How can the international development system be

reformed so that it delivers better development results?

I will focus on the first of these questions and highlight implications for how DFID view national plans and implementation processes.

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Delivering development: how can we make faster progress?

What is required for faster Growth and Poverty Reduction?

How to make donors more accountable for their promises to countries?

How to build more effective states that are accountable to their citizens?

How to increase access to quality basic services and tackle social exclusion?

How to put government in the lead?

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Faster development will require National Plans and accompanying implementation frameworks

that: provide for:

Government leadership And mechanisms to make donors more accountable for

their promises to countries;

And deliver: faster Growth and Poverty Reduction; more effective states that are accountable to their

citizens; increased access to quality basic services particularly for

the socially excluded;

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In addition key Ingredients for the PRS process could include:

Attention to implementation and financing  Performance framework

Transparency

State building and attention to building systems

Policy priorities

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The Partnership

2005 was an extraordinary year for development. 15 EU member states committed to reach the UN 0.7% target

by 2015. G8 leaders agreed that global aid will rise by $50 billion a

year by 2010. Therefore donors will increasing look for:

Increased focus on results Strengthened PFM, human resource, planning and

monitoring systems Firm action on corruption Commitment to Human Rights