Comments on: Aid to Ethiopia (Le Monde) http://www.owen.org/blog/47 Thoughts from Owen in Africa Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:49:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Owen http://www.owen.org/blog/47/comment-page-1#comment-91 Owen Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:02:08 +0000 http://www.owen.org/blog/47#comment-91 I'm tempted to think that if we don't think that minimum standards and results will be delivered unless we play a checks and balances role, then we probably should not be giving it budget support at all. I’m tempted to think that if we don’t think that minimum standards and results will be delivered unless we play a checks and balances role, then we probably should not be giving it budget support at all.

]]> By: AJ http://www.owen.org/blog/47/comment-page-1#comment-89 AJ Wed, 13 Aug 2008 08:57:18 +0000 http://www.owen.org/blog/47#comment-89 I don't think there's any way for Donors to avoid playing a 'checks and balances' role anywhere where they're providing direct budget support and where the government has an oversight monopoly. The reason is that if there's no domestic opposition then the chance of decent oversight is small, so we shouldn't be giving budget support if we're not prepared to put pressure on the government to achieve minimum standards and results. I agree that playing a role that domestic actors should be playing is dangerous; but if we agree we shouldn't do it, then direct support should be off the agenda. I don’t think there’s any way for Donors to avoid playing a ‘checks and balances’ role anywhere where they’re providing direct budget support and where the government has an oversight monopoly. The reason is that if there’s no domestic opposition then the chance of decent oversight is small, so we shouldn’t be giving budget support if we’re not prepared to put pressure on the government to achieve minimum standards and results.

I agree that playing a role that domestic actors should be playing is dangerous; but if we agree we shouldn’t do it, then direct support should be off the agenda.

]]>