This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development-professionals-network/2012/nov/27/aid-transparency-uk-development

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Aid transparency is UK's top priority Aid transparency is UK's top priority
(2 days later)
I have said many times since taking office in September that I want Britain and our development budget to be a real force for good in the world. Next year, for the first time ever, the government will meet the target for 0.7% of the UK's gross national income to be spent on development.I have said many times since taking office in September that I want Britain and our development budget to be a real force for good in the world. Next year, for the first time ever, the government will meet the target for 0.7% of the UK's gross national income to be spent on development.
But with this commitment comes a huge responsibility to ensure the money is spent wisely. We have a duty to ensure British taxpayers can see how funds are being used. This means continuing the drive for value for money, transparency and results started by my predecessor Andrew Mitchell.But with this commitment comes a huge responsibility to ensure the money is spent wisely. We have a duty to ensure British taxpayers can see how funds are being used. This means continuing the drive for value for money, transparency and results started by my predecessor Andrew Mitchell.
In the past two years DfID has changed the way it approaches development, reviewing every country's aid programme, as well as multilateral bodies like the UN, to target what offers best value. Direct funding has been refocussed on 28 countries, down from 43, including ending our aid programmes to China and Russia and I recently announced an end to any financial grants to India. We have also stopped funding multilateral bodies that didn't deliver good value for money.In the past two years DfID has changed the way it approaches development, reviewing every country's aid programme, as well as multilateral bodies like the UN, to target what offers best value. Direct funding has been refocussed on 28 countries, down from 43, including ending our aid programmes to China and Russia and I recently announced an end to any financial grants to India. We have also stopped funding multilateral bodies that didn't deliver good value for money.
We need to carry on this work, but also speed up its pace. This has meant introducing new measures, such as new financial controls. We've reduced the level at which programme spending decisions would need my approval from £40m down to £5m.We need to carry on this work, but also speed up its pace. This has meant introducing new measures, such as new financial controls. We've reduced the level at which programme spending decisions would need my approval from £40m down to £5m.
The DfID will also give ministers far greater oversight and control of spending decisions and get the most out of the development budget we have.The DfID will also give ministers far greater oversight and control of spending decisions and get the most out of the development budget we have.
This means improving the way we work, whether it's by using new technology and research or transparency to improve our programmes.This means improving the way we work, whether it's by using new technology and research or transparency to improve our programmes.
We know that transparency of aid flows is critical to good aid delivery. It means proper tracking of all donor money so citizens, parliamentarians and experts can hold both governments and donors to account. Transparency helps reduce waste and makes sure money gets to the people who need it most.We know that transparency of aid flows is critical to good aid delivery. It means proper tracking of all donor money so citizens, parliamentarians and experts can hold both governments and donors to account. Transparency helps reduce waste and makes sure money gets to the people who need it most.
DfID already includes transparency in multilateral assessments and country plans. The UK has introduced initiatives such as the aid transparency guarantee, which has seen us publishing significantly more details of development spend to make our aid fully transparent to citizens both here and in recipient countries.DfID already includes transparency in multilateral assessments and country plans. The UK has introduced initiatives such as the aid transparency guarantee, which has seen us publishing significantly more details of development spend to make our aid fully transparent to citizens both here and in recipient countries.
Last month, DfID topped the Publish What You Fund list of 72 aid organisations around the world for transparency performance, including NGOs, government aid agencies, and private foundations. We will continue to improve and extend our aid data.Last month, DfID topped the Publish What You Fund list of 72 aid organisations around the world for transparency performance, including NGOs, government aid agencies, and private foundations. We will continue to improve and extend our aid data.
Our commitment can also been seen in the leading role that the UK has taken internationally, such as driving faster progress with the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI). The UK helped to launch IATI in 2009, and this week saw UN Women become the 100th organisation to publish data in an open, electronic format.Our commitment can also been seen in the leading role that the UK has taken internationally, such as driving faster progress with the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI). The UK helped to launch IATI in 2009, and this week saw UN Women become the 100th organisation to publish data in an open, electronic format.
I am also pushing the international transparency agenda through the co-chairmanship of the new Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation. This will drive improvements in the way development co-operation is delivered globally – including commitments on transparency made at the Busan High Level Forum last year.I am also pushing the international transparency agenda through the co-chairmanship of the new Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation. This will drive improvements in the way development co-operation is delivered globally – including commitments on transparency made at the Busan High Level Forum last year.
But we can all do more.But we can all do more.
Last week at the Open up! Conference co-hosted by the Omidyar network, I launched a new tool, the Open Aid Information Platform, to improve access to our aid data and open up the chain of aid delivery, from DfID right through to the end beneficiary. Earlier this month at the Open up! Conference co-hosted by the Omidyar network, I launched a new tool, the Open Aid Information Platform, to improve access to our aid data and open up the chain of aid delivery, from DfID right through to the end beneficiary.
The next step will be to go beyond the UK Aid Transparency Guarantee by launching a challenge to all of our funding partners and aid intermediaries to commit to publishing full information on their disbursements of DfID funds.The next step will be to go beyond the UK Aid Transparency Guarantee by launching a challenge to all of our funding partners and aid intermediaries to commit to publishing full information on their disbursements of DfID funds.
DfID will require, over time, any organisation we work through to deliver our aid programmes to adhere to IATI's standards of transparency and accountability for DfID funds. I would urge all donors – bilateral, multilateral and non-traditional – to do the same.DfID will require, over time, any organisation we work through to deliver our aid programmes to adhere to IATI's standards of transparency and accountability for DfID funds. I would urge all donors – bilateral, multilateral and non-traditional – to do the same.
We need to encourage the governments, NGOs and companies in the countries where we work to also be more transparent. This is the best way to fight corruption and monitor progress. By giving ordinary people access to information, they can and will hold those in power to account. We will continue to challenge all actors to go faster and to share our best practice to help them to do so.We need to encourage the governments, NGOs and companies in the countries where we work to also be more transparent. This is the best way to fight corruption and monitor progress. By giving ordinary people access to information, they can and will hold those in power to account. We will continue to challenge all actors to go faster and to share our best practice to help them to do so.
Justine Greening is the UK secretary of state for international developmentJustine Greening is the UK secretary of state for international development
This content is brought to you by Guardian Professional. To get more articles like this direct to your inbox, sign up free to become a member of the Global Development Professionals Network This content is brought to you by Guardian Professional. To get more articles like this direct to your inbox, sign up free to become a member of the Global Development Professionals Network