Author : CONCORD Europe
Date : April 19, 2010
Figures released today by the OECD show a reduction(1) in EU overseas development aid in 2009. At current levels the European Union will not meet commitments to provide 0.7% of GNI in aid by 2015 to reach the Millennium Development Goals. The news represents yet another broken promise by EU governments and delivers a further blow to the MDGs, which will be reviewed in New York this September.
Germany and Italy, two major European economies, cut aid to 0.35% and 0.16% of GNI respectively, taking a big chunk out of the total EU aid budget. Several other EU countries, including Austria, Ireland and Portugal also reduced their aid expenditure in 2009, with all DAC EU countries’ contributions(2) falling by a total of 0.2%.
The UK and Belgian governments have demonstrated leadership by increasing aid in line with their promises, whilst many countries continue to blame the financial crisis for their cuts. This suggests a lack of political will, not resources. Despite feeling the effects of the financial crisis, the UK and Belgium increased aid expenditure to 0.52% and 0.55% of GNI respectively. Among the top performers are Denmark and Sweden, who spent 0.88% and 1.12% of GNI respectively.
“We’ve spent billions bailing out the banks but where’s the bail out for the world’s poor? By not paying up, EU countries are delivering a fatal blow to the MDGs”, said Luca De Fraia, Deputy Secretary General of ActionAid Italy.
With EU leaders meeting on 17-18th June in Brussels to agree the EU’s position for September’s MDG review summit, the EU and its member states needs to make good on its obligations to fight for the eradication of extreme poverty.
“EU Member States must deliver on their aid promises, the lives of the most vulnerable people in the world depend on it”, said Heinz Hödl, Vice-President of CIDSE. “In order to get back on track on the MDGs it is imperative EU member states demonstrate how they plan to meet the 0.7% target by 2015 and hold themselves to account”.
CONCORD calls on EU Member States to publish legally-binding timetables showing how they will meet their aid commitments, submitting them to the European Commission during 2010. An annual review of aid targets should take place at Council level with a discussion of its results in the European Parliament.
“Poverty and hunger are rising worldwide with up to 90 million more people now living in extreme poverty than before the crisis. One billion people – a sixth of the world's population – go to bed hungry every night. Leaders must keep their promises to increase aid to the world's poorest people”, said Justin Kilcullen, President of CONCORD.
1 From US$70,974 million (2008) to US$67,135 million (2009); this, however, represents an increase of 0.01% in EU aid as a proportion of EU GNI, which shrunk in 2009 as a result of the financial crisis.
2 The 15 countries of the Development Assistance Committee of the OECD (DAC) are: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.
OECD figures : http://www.oecd.org/document/11/0,3343,en_2649_34487_44981579_1_1_1_1,00.html
CONCORD will launch its 2010 AidWatch Report on June 10th, which provides detailed analysis of how the EU and its member states are performing on development aid. To read the AidWatch report 2009 and the AidWatch position paper on European Union aid in 2010, visit www.concordeurope.org
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Date : July 15, 2010 11:08
Dear participants in the FORUM
We worry about national DEBT
Recently time in the mass media we see the new that the General Director VINASHIN company Pham Thanh Binh and team will be send to the Judge.
They badly manage the State money in company. Some years ago Vietnam calls from New Yooc Stock market 750 millions US D for VINASHIN company .
People worry about national Debt .They see the Greece example.
Hanoi will celebrate 1000 years .People committee Hanoi wants to build 5 gates with proposal about 60 billions VND .To days I read in Newspaper that many people do not agree .
Economy in using national money is important factor for achieving MDG .,.
Date : July 8, 2010 05:37
Dear managers and participants in the FORUM
Water is important factor for health .
I think here is problems in procurement and tecnical weakness, community work is weak .ODA please send to us Consultants and experts in water supply ?
It so sorry money :
http://www.thanhtra.com.vn
Daknong
The water‘s supply station 3,4 billions VND do not work.
(Government Inspector 6/7/2010 ) –After district Daknong ( old ) divided in to 2 parts city town Gia Nghia and district Dak Glong in 2005, State budget invested to Dak Glong many billions VND of 134 Government programme help ethnic minority,and build water supply station.The monitoring small projects in water supply , we find big mistakes.
Monitoring 7/8 stations, they find 5 stations STOP forever . 3 stations working under communal management can’t work because the PUMS are not work .In 3 communes people do not give money for electricity for water PUMP and the pipelines to villages destroyed by people in the villages .
Total investment to 5 water stations in 2008 in DakGlong district is 3,4 billions VND –but now it not work .People still use polluted water
Ngoc Pho
S& T by CThN
Date : July 6, 2010 11:29
Dear participants in the FORUM .
From planning management system to market management system : BIG GAPS in our country .
Here is example :
Waste billions VND to buy water and can’t use water
Lao dong 5/7/2010
Lao dong ( 5/7/2010 ) : date 2/7, the Join stock company BOO Dong Tam – do not give water .This is written in agreement between company and people committee Tien Giang
Tien Giang do not have equipment and customers to use 50.000 m3 /day and nigh .If the company give water, people committee have to pay 400 millions VND for waster water.
The Tien Giang do not have clean water for 600.000 citizens.Many industrial zones Regis rated to Tien Giang let the clean water is big problem.
At the end 2007 , the projects BOO Dong Tam ( Binh Duc commune , Chau Thanh district ) expanding .The capacity for first time is 50.000 m3 /day and night , second time add 10.000 m3 /day and nigh .The last capacity 90.000 m3 day /night .The investment capital 1400 billions ( Provincial budget 168 billions –as meeting fund ) .The agreement is date 1.6 the BOO Dong tam give water in I period , Now postpone to 2.7 /2010
Clean water is ready , but do not have pipelines
In June .2009, people committee Tien Giang signed the BT with Company Golden Resources (Hồng Kông) build pipelines 340 billions VND
But now this they don’t have pipelines. So water of Dong Tam BOO can’t sell .They still don’t have exit for using 50.000 m3 /water /day and nigh of BOO Dong Tam
Now in all Tien Giang province the system use 35.000 m3 /day and nigh from water company Binh Duc ( Chau Thanh district ) – Water’s factory of City town Go cong .If the water of BOO Dong Tam sell Tien giang can’t use 50.000 m3 /day and nigh .The Binh Duc is build by ODA fund
The agreement between Tien Giang people committee and BOO Dong Tam , price of water 8000 VND / m3 .The budget have to pay to BOO Dong Tam 400 millions VND .per day for 50.000 m3 ( use or waste water ) .The total Tien Giang people committee have to pay to BOO Dong Tam 72 billions VND in 6 months 2010 .
The Tien Giang people committee and BOO do not want take water and not use it .They consider to buy all projects.
S& T by CThN
Date : June 29, 2010 05:30
Dear participants in the FORUM .
In think : save money, good technology are conditions to achieved the MDG.
How is happen in this investment in Hatinh –Vietnam ?
The water’s supply station about 700 millions do not work
( Dan tri 26/5/2010 ) : water’s supply station in Thach Xuan commune ,Thach Ha Ha tinh , working 1 year, now it STOP . The people sorry investment’s money
Investment from Central budget, with 685 millions VND, 8 km pipelines with 29 water’s tanks.
Now people use the water PUMP from Well.
Mr Nguyen Huy Ha, Vice Chairman of Commune Thach Xuan said “ the pipelines are too small, 50 m is lost in flood, the road project 92 broke the pipelines “
The cooperative manage this station, they don’t have money to repairs.
Now communal people committee submit to district level to ask money .But they still Waite
1300 households are facing epidemic because the water is polluted.
QTuan –CMao –D Thao
S& T by CThN
Thank you
Date : June 17, 2010 17:06
La non atteinte des OMD est déja une certitude.Mais avant 2015 est nécessaire d'accélérer le Rythme.
l'une des solutions à mon avis serait d'accorder plus de crédit aux organisations de la société civile. Aux cotés du gouvernement, ces osc peuvent initier si la possibilité leur est donner des projets dont la conduite peuvent permettre d'avancer dans l'atteinte des OMD.
Un autre facteur qu'il convient de ne pas ignorer est le fait que les OSC contrairement aux Etats se doivent de gerer efficacement les fonds qui leurs sont alloués .il y va de leur crédibilité et de la possibilité pour elles d'obtenir de nouveaux financements pour leurs activités.
d'autres part et comme le décrie olivier les rapports des activités financées ne sont pas produits ou ne le sont pas à temps. un des atouts des OSC reste leurs capacités du Reporting et ce lorsqu'il ya des délais à respecter.
il est donc impératif si nous voulons avancer dans l'atteinte des OMD de lancer une grande opération de financements de projets accordés aux pays concernées et sous des critères de sélections les plus rigoureux.
En somme faire un jouer un plus grand rôle aux OSC dans l'atteine des OMD
Date : April 26, 2010 11:33
Dear All,
Good day!
Allocation of fund is one thing--but utilization of fund is another. Regional disparity is another thing should be looked into. Similarly, capacity building is important and so is the follow up. I have detailed the importance of capacity building with role play in one of my blog post in EVOKE (http://www.urgentevoke.com/profiles/blogs/capacity-building-with-role).
Proper governance is also the key to achieve MDGs. Many of the African food problems are mainly due to poor governance besides other factors.
Thanks and regards.
Date : April 20, 2010 09:22
To participants in the Forum .
Yes, global financial crisis, natural disaster... every country have their difficulties.
In our language we have proverb:” teach people how to do fishery, it better than give them Fish ready for eating "
Yesterday I saw in television : small group ethnic minority in our country receive rice from Government .Now they start drink wine , and wait rice from government .They do not do their work .Now the policymakers seek the way how to stimulate them work more and more .
Money can be reduces, but knowledge increasing with Internet interaction.
This is cheaper way to get MGD objectives .This is why we need this forum for development of Idea for development.
We will learn how to do fishery instead of waiting the fish given by other.
I read in the previous suggestion (In this ID4I forum) if apply new economy way, EU can save 3,5 billions EURO.Let it starts.
Thank you.
Date : April 20, 2010 05:59
Bonjour,
Le probleme ne reside pas uniquement dans les chiffres.
Mais aussi dans ce qu'il en est fait.
Le Laos a reçu 100 millions d'euro en 10 ans de la part de l'Europe, la delegation europeenne n'est pas en mesure d'expliquer à quoi ces fonds ont servi, ni d'en demontrer l'utilité.
Par ailleurs les rapports des projets financés ne sont pas rendus public, ce qui ne permet pas de construire une memoire des erreurs à ne pas faire pour les prochains appels à projets.
Une veritable strategie de l'echec, invitant à reproduir ce qui ne fonctionne pas ou mal.
Avec ou sans argent, il est naif de croire pouvoir atteindre les MDGs avec de telles bureaucraties.
Et en toile de fond, c'est la credibilité de la democratie, en tant que concept, qui est en jeux...
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