Accountable and Transparent Development Cooperation: Towards a More Inclusive Framework – DCF Vienna High-level Symposium

The first High-level Symposium to prepare for the 2010 DCF, organized by UN/DESA jointly with the Government of Austria, took place in Vienna on 12-13 November 2009. As a true multi-stakeholder event, the Vienna Symposium on “Accountable and Transparent Development Cooperation: Towards a More Inclusive Framework” brought together Southern and Northern policy-makers to identify key challenges in making mutual accountability mechanisms more effective at the global and at the country level and to discuss possible common principles in mutual accountability and aid transparency. The interactive discussions also identified steps to strengthen global and national mutual accountability mecahnisms as well as to improve information sharing and make aid more transparent. The Vienna HLS also had a first exchange of views on the upcoming work of the DCF on South-South development cooperation and policy coherence.

The discussions and key messages of the Vienna Symposium will be captured in a report to inform the ongoing consultative process and analytical preparations towards the 2010 DCF.

Background documentation

For more details on the background and objectives, please refer to the following documentation:

Opening Statements

Michael Spindelegger, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Austria [English]
Sylvie Lucas, President of ECOSOC [French]
Sha Zukang, Under-Secretary-General, UNDESA [English]
Ruth Picker, Global Responsibility - Austrian Platform for Development and Humanitarian Aid [English]

Presentations

The symposium featured a number of presentations to facilitate discussions:

Accountable and Transparent Development Cooperation: Next Steps and the DCF Role, Matthew Martin, Development Finance International
Key challenges in mutual accountability - Citizens' and CSO's Imperative in Accountability, Antonio Tujan, jr., International Director and Research Director of IBON Foundation, Co-Chair of Better Aid
Joint Initiative on Mutual Accountability - Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam, Somchith Inthamith, Director-General, Department of International Cooperation, Ministry ofPlanning and Investment, Lao PDR
Review of Trends and Progress to Make Aid More Transparent: Gender Perspectives, Patricia B. Akakpo, NETRIGHT/Women's Working Group on Financing for Development
Statement: Lessons Learned and Key Gaps in National Mutual Accountability Mechanisms, Victor Bernardo, Vice Minister, Ministry of Planning and Development, Mozambique
International Aid Transparency Initiative - Progress since Accra, Judith Randel & Tony German, Co-Directors, Development Initiatives
Aid Accountability and Transparency: Indonesia's Experience, Dedi M. M. Riyadi, Deputy Minister, National Development Planning Agency (BAPPENAS), Indonesia (Statement)
Key Messages to Increase the Transparency and the Predictability of Aid, Henri Valot, CIVICUS - World Alliance for Citizen Participation
South-South and Triangular Cooperation: Improving Information and Data, Alison Johnson, Development Finance International
Policy Coherence - The New Development Frontier, Robert Picciotto, Professor, King's College, London
Enhancing Coherence in Policies Affecting Development Cooperation - The Case of a Reforming Economy, Gerard Bussier, Deputy Director, Development Cooperation Directorate, Ministry of Finance and Economic Empowerment, Mauritius

Other Statements Submitted

Statement on the Occasion of the Vienna Symposium, Government of Ghana
Draft Submission from the Articulating Voice in the Asia-Pacific Peer-to-Peer Initiative, Capacity Development for Development Effectiveness (CDDE) for Asia and Pacific
Making Governments Accountable and Aid Transparent for Women's Rights and Gender Equality, Statement of the Women's Working Group on Financing for Development

Closing Statements

Sylvie Lucas, President of ECOSOC [English] [French]
Sha Zukang, Under-Secretary-General, UNDESA