Development Aid Statistics, Reporting and Aid Effectiveness Misha Belkindas Development Data Group World Bank May 2008

2 Presentation outline  Global development efforts and countries ’ drive for improved statistics  Why are aid statistics important?  How can we improve aid statistics?

3 Millennium Development Goals - Progress by region (2008)  The eight MDGs build on agreements made at United Nations conferences in the 1990s  The MDGs represent commitments by all countries to tackle poverty, hunger, ill- health, gender inequality, lack of education, lack of access to clean water, environmental degradation, etc.

4 Millennium Development Goals - Progress by region (2008) Are countries on track for achieving MDG?  Green: achieved  Light green: on track  Orange: off track  Red: seriously off track  Gray: no data

5 Source: World Development Indicators 2008

6 How can countries/development partners accelerate progress?  Increase productivity and growth  Improve the delivery of public services  Better measurement, monitoring, and management  Increase aid and aid effectiveness

7  Good quality national statistics are needed to “manage for results” Developing countries ― manage their poverty reduction strategies/MDGs and report progress to their citizens Development partners ― increase the effectiveness of their aid programs and report progress to their citizens Measuring, monitoring and managing for development results

8  Building national statistical capacity to monitor national development goals  Strengthening the international statistical system  Disseminating information on development outcomes

9 Marrakech Action Plan for Statistics  Specific plan adopted in 2004 to address data needs by 2010/2015  Focus on both country capacity and strengthening international cooperation  Concerned with both short-term data needs and longer-term reform and capacity building

10 Marrakech Action Plan for Statistics  Six key actions Strategies for better statistics (National Strategies for the Development of Statistics) Participation in the 2010 Census Investment in statistical systems Better household surveys Measuring key topics and the MDGs Harmonizing effort  Reaffirmed in Hanoi in early 2007

11 National Strategies for the Development of Statistics  Prepared by countries based on wide consultation  Covers the whole statistical system and involves assessment, setting goals, deciding priorities and identifying actions  Many countries, developed and developing, have some type of statistical strategy, corporate plan, etc.  More than 75% of developing countries have an NSDS or are developing one  Russia’s state statistical system is implementing the Federal Targeted Program approved by Government

12 Aid in perspective

13 Aid in perspective

14 Aid in a good policy environment is more effective

15 Lessons learned from aid statistics  Aid has contributed strongly to development progress  The productivity of aid has grown over time  More aid and better policies are needed  Important to report development aid and outcomes correctly to measure and improve aid effectiveness

16 Improving ODA Statistics  ODA statistics are produced through administrative data systems as part of the statistical system  Aid flow data should be disaggregated (by sector, recipient, etc) so as to inform the public about: What sectors/activities the country is supporting Which countries the country is supporting

17 Improving ODA Statistics  Countries new to providing ODA need to set up an appropriate reporting system  Often sources of ODA statistics are fragmented: Ministry of Finance Ministry of Foreign Affaires, etc  There should be a lead agency consolidating these data which reports to OECD/DAC  ODA statistics should be disseminated (especially through national publications) to inform the general public

18  World Bank has the expertise and can help countries improve statistics including ODA statistics: Strengthen administrative data systems in line ministries Increase coordination among data producing agencies Define dissemination policies in line with international recommendations Improving ODA Statistics