CAFOD welcomes transparent aid

Staff from our partner, Caritas Haiti distribute emergency supplies. [Caritas]

CAFOD welcomes the Secretary of State's announcement that Britain’s aid is to become more transparent

Dr Amy Pollard, CAFOD’s aid effectiveness policy analyst said, "Whilst it is not a silver bullet, transparency is a vital condition for improving aid. Proper information on aid funds is critical in the fight against corruption and essential for promoting accountability in development work.

"Transparency underpins the effort to make aid better – it is impossible to co-ordinate aid, assess results or build real partnerships between donors and developing countries without it.

"We welcome the UK’s Aid Transparency Guarantee, especially the pledge to publish summaries of project information in local languages.

"In terms of maximising the impact of aid, the greatest priority is to involve citizens from developing countries in the decisions that affect their lives. Open, accessible information is where this process begins.

"The Independent Aid Watchdog has great potential to improve the quality of DFID’s monitoring and evaluation. Non Governmental Organisations have long campaigned for more independent assessment of Britain’s aid, and we are pleased that these concerns are being addressed.

"Andrew Mitchell clarified to CAFOD personally that the standard of independent scrutiny will apply not only to DFID spending, but also to the £1.5 billion spent in other UK government departments. At nearly 17 per cent of Britain’s total aid budget, it is critical that these funds are also subject to independent evaluation."

For further information please contact: Debbie Wainwright on: 0207 095 5457 or 07785 950 378 or dwainwright@cafod.org.uk

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