African development experts have expressed disappointment over conditions set by donor countries before getting aid. The call was made in a joint statement after a two-day workshop that ended last week at Kigali Serena Hotel. The workshop had brought together delegates from over 40 African states and it was aimed at reviewing the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness. In regard to aid effectiveness in Africa, the experts stated that there was frustration among African countries on the terms that donors tie to their aid. A certain amount of frustration isn’t all bad, it is normal and is a result of diverse experiences between givers and receivers, a joint statement released after the workshop reads in part. Our different approaches stem from different mandates, different legal frameworks, different histories, and different roles, It adds This was seconded by Finance Minister James Musoni in a recent meeting with Rwanda’s Development Partners, when he urged donors to align their aid to the development programmes of the benefiting countries. Because many donors participate in several projects, we are looking at which sector each donor can handle, that way we can benefit from comparative advantage depending on the sector they fund, Musoni said. The experts at the meeting also concluded that aid was not effective as was agreed in the 2005 Paris Declaration. They called upon donors to make substantial changes to improve the effectiveness of aid for bigger impact. The workshop was hosted by the African Development Bank and the governments of Rwanda and Ghana. It was designed to ensure consultation and prepare an African position on the High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness, a global event to be held in Accra Ghana from September 2 - 4. The Forum will discuss global progress on the Paris Declaration. Ends
