High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness

HLF4 The Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness (HLF4) took place in Busan, South Korea in November 2011.

Around 2,000 delegates reviewed global progress towards improving the impact and value for money of development aid.

Bond's Jo Rea reported and tweeted from the Summit. Read news and reactions below or take a look at the official HLF4 website.

Important progress

Following 11th hour negotiations, China agreed to join the new 'global partnership on development effectiveness', established in Busan at the 4th High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness (HLF4).

The Forum also delivered important progress on aid transparency, with both the USA and Canada signing on to IATI alongside the main negotiations. Unfortunately, the agreement reached in Busan did not go far enough on crucial aid effectiveness issues such as the use of country systems and the untying of all aid.

Reactions

Links to reactions by Bond members and other civil society organisations to the outcomes of HLF4 can be found on the right-hand side of this page.

Bond Chief Executive Lyndall Stein said:

"HLF4 was dominated by uncertainty about China and other new donors joining the agreement. It is positive that, in the end, the final outcome was endorsed by both new and traditional development actors. This creates an opportunity for ongoing dialogue.

"For the first time, civil society organisations were part of the negotiation progress. We welcome their inclusion as equal partners in development and urge that this continues after Busan.

"The next six months are critical and are a real opportunity to put a robust and meaningful monitoring system in place, ensuring that citizens and civil society organisations can hold their governments to account for the commitments they have made in Busan. All members of the new global partnership must ensure that aid delivers real results for people living in poverty."

EU common position for HLF4

The EU's common position for HLF4 was launched on 14 November. The EU Council conclusions reveal that European member states have weakened their ambitions on the international aid effectiveness agenda just before the HLF4 Summit.

Bond continues to work with the UK Aid Network and with AidWatch in Europe to influence the official UK and EU policy positions for Busan.

UK NGO joint position on the future of aid

Over 40 Bond members attended the launch of the joint UK NGO position for the 4th High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness.

Shaping the future of aid outlines UK NGO priorities, including six recommendations to the UK government.

At the event, Secretary of State for International Development, Andrew Mitchell, delivered a keynote address outlining the UK vision and priorities for Busan: results, value for money, transparency and new actors/donors.

For more information please contact Joanna Rea, Bond International Advocacy Officer.