Workshop on the Paris Declaration: Implications and Implementation, Bamako, Mali, March 27-29, 2006
Source: SARPN
The participants in the Bamako workshop were a diverse group, representing middle- and low-income countries, fragile states, donor headquarters and country offices, civil society organizations, Francophones and Anglophones, large and small countries, and countries that had long been involved in the harmonization, alignment, and results agendas as well as those that are relatively new to the work.
Countries shared experiences—for example, on developing a national action plan or collaborative assistance strategy, using budget support, strengthening a results focus, introducing independent assessments, building capacity. Small countries, fragile states, and middle-income countries shared their own perspectives on the challenges of this work. Many countries urged donors to support the country in exercising leadership, align their aid with country priorities, harmonize their approaches at the country level, and delegate more decision-making power to their local offices.
The greatest value of the workshop was in raising the awareness of the Paris Agenda and its implications for those countries in the region that have not yet been engaged with their partners on aid effectiveness issues. Some of these countries declared that they plan to commit formally to the Paris Declaration and also take part in the monitoring exercise. Participants that are further along the line in this area found value in the experiences of other participants, which they can reflect in the plans for their own ministries, countries, and institutions. Some countries declared that they will develop national or sectoral strategies and action plans; and some will engage more with stakeholders, pursue capacity building, strengthen their monitoring and evaluation systems, or conduct independent assessments—again, selecting actions appropriate to their particular circumstances.
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