A side event entitled “The Reality of Aid 2008 Report: Aid Effectiveness, Democratic Ownership and Human Rights” was organised by the Reality of Aid secretariat during the CSO Forum on Financing for Development on 27 November 2008 in the Ramada Plaza Hotel in Doha, Qatar.

The two-hour forum-launch aimed at highlighting the findings of the Reality of Aid (RoA) report and supplement discussions in the CSO forum on technical and financial assistance as a modality of financing for development.

The session was facilitated by Roberto Pinauin of IBON/Reality of Aid- Asia Secretariat. The panelists were: Charles Mutasa, Executive Director of African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD); David Culverhouse, Director of the Center for International Development (CID) in New Zealand; and Don Marut, Director of International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development (INFID).

Charles Mutasa discussed the AFRODAD contributions to the report. He highlighted that the principle of ownership comes with the assumption of the capacity of developing countries to exercise ownership, citing that most countries do not even have an aid policy. Mr. Mutasa observed that while donors are ‘gentle’ to each other, they are harsh to partner countries.

David Culverhouse presented the provided some updates on the contribution from CID to the report. He explained that NZAID exercises autonomy from government in that aid coming from NZ are grants and not loans and there is very little tied aid. He discussed the shift from the emphasis from poverty eradication to economic development, the threats to the autonomy of NZAID and the likelihood of aid remaining at 3.5% of the NZ GNI.

Don Marut discussed INFID’s contribution to the report. He cited that in most cases in Indonesia, donors categorise CSOs and marginalise those perceived as radical, they establish their own NGOs to implement their programme or otherwise contract multi-national private firms. He also explained that donors prefer working with international NGOs. This led him to the observation that donors say one thing at the global level but do something else at the national level.

Around 25 participants coming from different CSOs including international and national NGOs, think-tanks, peoples organizations and representatives from various networks working in the development sector attended the side event some of whom expressed their opinion and asked questions during the open forum that ensued after the initial discussions of the panelists.

Key points that came from the floor include the lack of fixed approach on direct budgetary support which is often dictated by real or perceived level of corruption in partner country government, due diligence and extraterritorial obligation as the dimension of human rights that is relevant to aid and an observation that Paris Declaration has failed in its commitment. Reality of Aid was also asked to clarify its position vis-à-vis AAA, since it was referenced in the discussion a number of times that may be construed to wholesale endorsement. The facilitator clarified that RoA recognises the modest gains in Accra and but wants to elevate the discussion from aid effectiveness to development effectiveness with development outcomes such as poverty eradication, environmental sustainability and gender justice at the core of development cooperation. It was further clarified that despite its limitations, the AAA - much like many international instruments – can be used to leverage many of the CSO advocacies.