Call for Researchers to conduct country case studies in South Africa, Nigeria, and Uganda to assess the progress made in the implementation of the Paris Declaration and Accra Agenda for Action.
Introduction
AFRODAD seeks three researchers, respectively in South Africa, Nigeria, and Uganda to assess the progress made in the implementation of the Paris Declaration and Accra Agenda for Action. The focus of the study will be on the thematic areas of the relationship between mutual accountability, economic governance, ownership and domestic accountability on aid. The studies will provide evidence on the commitment of African governments to mutual accountability.
All proposals must be sent via email to Tirivangani Mutazu: tirim@afrodad.co.zw by close of business on the 30th of September 2010.
Background and problem statement
Aid is important and likely to remain so in the foreseeable future as a means to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Commitment made at the G8 Summit in Gleneagles (France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, Russia) to increase the levels of aid to Africa to USD130 billion by 2010 are unlikely to be met partly due to the global financial and economic crises. As donor countries pour more resources into the management of the crisis through different mechanisms to kick start their economies, the levels of resources available for development aid have reduced.
Since the commitment was made to double aid, there have been a number of new entrants in the donor community such as China, India, Brazil and South Africa. As early as 2003 (High Level Forum 1), there was recognition that the aid arena had become crowded and chaotic. The donors signed a commitment to improve the harmonization of aid in Rome that year and in 2005 (High Level Forum 2) the Paris Declaration (PD) on Aid Effectiveness was agreed and it set out five basic principles for donors concerning ownership, alignment, harmonization, management and accountability.
The PD also recognized that for aid to be effective, it was not only the actions and behaviours of the recipient that are important, but collective actions including donors. Hence one of the objectives of the PD was for donors to systematically support recipients-owned plans for the attainment of development results; increased use of national administration systems; and will strive for a more coordination and predictability in aid delivery. The PD was followed by the Accra Agenda for Action (AAA) which was crafted at the High level Forum on Aid Effectiveness (High Level Forum 3) in 2008.
The AAA among other things emphasizes development effectiveness as the measure of aid effectiveness in terms of respect and adherence to internationally accepted human rights standards and sustainable development. Furthermore it emphasized for a change in behaviour of Donors and Partner Countries to make Aid more effective. The AAA also recognised the need to improve the capacity of the recipient countries in aid management and to that effect they committed to address the capacity limitations to ensure that aid management function of operate effectively.
The PD and the AAA are the most comprehensive frameworks for the aid effectiveness agenda. However, the problem with these two instruments is that they are highly technical for most African Civil Society Organisation (CSOs) and as a result very few have engaged in the monitoring, follow up and evaluation of these instruments which have a deadline of 2010. The upcoming High Level Forum 4 in 2011 is therefore an opportunity to assess the implementation of the Paris Declaration and its contribution to achieving development effectiveness.
AFRODAD will conduct country studies in Tanzania, Nigeria, and Uganda to assess the PD/AAA implementation. The focus of AFRODAD research will be on the thematic areas of the relationship between mutual accountability, economic governance, ownership and domestic accountability on aid. The countries were selected on the basis of the commitment to PD/AAA, aid policies on the ground and volume of aid inflows since 2005. The studies will provide evidence on the commitment of governments to mutual accountability.
Purpose of the study
It is hoped that these studies will demonstrate good practices using specific country evidence which contribute to more effective benefits of aid on the citizens of these countries. The result will feed into the efforts to create awareness and appreciation to political and policy leaders in the donor countries as well as the recipient countries of the importance of aid effectiveness and a means to deliver more accountable and effective development.
Specific Objectives
i) To give a country context interpretation and awareness of Paris Declaration (PD) and Accra Agenda for Action (AAA) among stakeholders.
ii) To assess the importance of mutual accountability in development and aid effectiveness.
iii) To demonstrate the linkages between accountability and democratic ownership in the aid delivery processes.
iv) To document mechanisms, processes and structures that demonstrate CSO involvement in aid effectiveness and PD/AAA implementation.
v) To develop practical recommendations on how donors and recipient countries can improve accountability and domestic ownership throughout the aid system.
Expected outputs
- A comprehensive report with recommendations on how to promote public dialogue within Africa on how aid policies and practice have promoted or hindered mutual accountability and domestic ownership of the development process.
- The report should be a maximum 25 pages.
- Proposed methodology
- The research should include a combination of primary and secondary data collection methods. As part of the primary data collection, the researchers should engage relevant government ministries responsible for aid coordination, parliamentarians and civil society organizations working on PD/AAA
Below is the indicative schedule for the submission of research outputs:
30/09/10 Submission of applications with a detailed country case study proposal, work and financial plans. To enable selection
04/10/10 Selection of Researchers and signing of contracts.
22/10/10 Submission of first draft
29/10/10 Review and address comments
07/11/10 Submission of Final report
Interested Consultants
All interested individuals must submit their proposals (Maximum of five (5) pages) outlining their understanding of the assignment, proposed methodology, consultancy fees and work plan. The consultants should also attach their detailed CVs. Applications will be evaluated against the following criteria:
i) Experience in designing and conducting research of this nature.
ii) Experience in analyzing and presenting information from research projects of this nature.
iii) Understanding of this subject (and the issues to be dealt with).
iv) Proposed methodology and budget.
v) Capacity to perform on time.
vi) Value for money.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Tirivangani Mutazu - Programme Officer
Dr. Fanwell Bokosi – Policy Advisor
African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD)
31 Atkinson Drive, Hillside
PO Box CY1517, Causeway
Harare, Zimbabwe
Tel: +263 4 778531/6
Fax: +263 4 747878
Mobile: +263 91 2 243 718
Emails: tirim@afrodad.co.zw
More information here.
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