Future of aid at stake in Busan

Ian Wishart, Plan CEO.

This week Australia will join with the US, Britain, Canada and other nations to encourage rising powers China, India and Brazil to play by the rules: the rules of aid.

The Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan, South Korea, (Tuesday 29 November – Thursday 1 December)  will attempt to forge an international agreement between nations, including new donor countries like China, India and Brazil, on the conditions needed to deliver foreign aid and make a real difference for the world's poor. 

Practices like giving aid in return for diplomatic favours and making aid a 'state secret' will be called in to question as commitments to transparency and accountability are championed. 

Along with the Australian Government, two locals will be representing Australian NGOs at the High Level Forum.

Marc Purcell, Executive Director of the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) will be part of a 300-strong delegation made up of civil society representatives from around the globe. This is the first time that civil society representatives have been given a seat at the table along with Governments and multilateral organisations at such a high level OECD development forum.

Ian Wishart, CEO of Plan International Australia and ACFID Vice President, will be the NGO representative on Australia's official government delegation, in recognition of the strong partnership needed between governments and civil society to achieve real development outcomes around the world. 

Ian and Marc will be joining other civil society representatives to call on governments to respect human rights.

"No country can come out of poverty entirely without treating its citizens as equals and giving them a say in the way things are run," Mr Purcell said. 

"But this year, countries like Cambodia and our close neighbour Fiji have gone backwards. They have cracked down on their citizens, making laws that mean NGOs and community organisations can’t easily help people and can’t criticise the actions of governments.”

Mr Wishart said "The time has come for everyone to play by the rules. Respecting human rights, being transparent and being accountable for how aid is delivered can no longer be considered optional extras."

"The mettle of Australia, the US, Britain and other traditional aid donor countries will really be tested as they try to bring new players like China into the tent this week," he concluded.

Media contacts for comment & interviews:

For Marc Purcell   
Joy Kyriacou       
0412 084 782
jkyriacou@acfid.asn.au

For Ian Wishart       
Dave Cook       
0448 816 900
david.cook@plan.org.au
Susanne Legena
0421 612 848
susanne.legena@plan.org.au

Notes for media:

We are calling on the Australian Government;

• To endorse the Istanbul Principles and encourage other Governments to do the same. The Principles are set of globally agreed standards between civil society organisations for effective aid and development, including respect for human rights, gender equality and democracy.
• Along with other Governments, to secure a time-bound commitment to increased aid transparency in the Busan Outcome Document.
• Along with other Governments, to support the inclusion of specific commitments in the Busan Outcome Document to basic minimum enabling standards for civil society organisations in line with international human rights guarantees, including freedom of association, freedom of expression, the right to operate free from unwarranted state interference, the right to communicate and cooperate, the right to seek and secure funding, and the state’s duty to protect.
• The Australian Government and AusAID have shown that forming partnerships with civil society organisations and supporting them to do their work is a vital part of an effective aid program. This is a great example to all other nations attending the Busan Forum.
• Targeting the development needs of children is one of the most effective ways that aid money can be spent, helping children to develop to their full potential. It is much cheaper than dealing with development issues at later stages. Two of the key ways that Plan is doing this is through an emphasis on quality early childhood programs, and Plan’s global campaign for gender equality for girls, called Because I am a Girl.
• The official website for the Forum is http://www.aideffectiveness.org/busanhlf4/