Global coalition launches call for more transparent aid

At the centre of the campaign, whose members include Transparency International, the anti-corruption organisation, and eighteen groups from developing countries, is a petition aimed at donor governments to make their aid more transparent.

“Providing more and better information about aid isn’t hard, and it will help save lives, reduce corruption and waste and deliver lasting positive change in the world’s poorest countries,” the petition reads.

Alongside the petition, which will be hosted at http://www.makeaidtransparent.org/ and on a number of participating organisation’s websites, is an animation that explains why aid transparency is important.

“Donors must act now to let us know what they are spending and where. They pledged three years ago to open up their books and yet only a few are doing it. This information benefits everyone – the donors, their taxpayers and the people in the country they are helping. There is no excuse for stalling on aid transparency,” said Craig Fagan, Senior Policy Coordinator, Transparency International.

The campaign goes live online today and there will be a physical launch at the Tea Time for Change event in London on June 9 where the animation will be screened and visitors will have the chance to sign the petition.

The first petition handover is envisaged for early July in Paris, at a meeting of aid donors hosted by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. Other activities and actions will take place through the year, with the campaign culminating at the High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan, Korea from November 29 – December 1.

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To view the petition and the video visit: http://www.makeaidtransparent.org

Participating organisations: Access to Information Programme Bulgaria, ActionAid, Aid Watch Australia, Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC), Buddhism for Social Development Action (BSDA), Centre for Law and Democracy, Concord Sweden, Dalia Association, Development Initiatives, Earthsavers Uganda, Egyptians Against Corruption, Engineers Without Borders Canada, Féderation des Eglises Evangéliques des Frères (FEEF), FOHRD, Free Balance, Global Poverty Project, Global South Initiative, Global Witness, Gram Bharati Samiti, Groupe d’Action de Paix et de Formation pour la Transformation (GAPAFOT), Integrity Watch Afghanistan, International Budget Partnership, Lalenok Ba Ema Hotu (LABEH), MFAN, Research and Development Agency (NARDA), Network Movement for Justice and Development, Ocasa, One, Open Forum for CSO Development Effectiveness, Open the Government, Oxfam International, Partners for Health, Publish What You Fund, RWI, Save the Children, Sightsavers, Society Voice Foundation Palestine, Socio Economic Rights and Accountability Project Nigeria, Tearfund, TFAC South Africa, TIRI, and Transparency International.