Development Partners Meeting - Monday 30th - Tuesday 31st January 2012

Development Partner Meeting was hosted at the Rarotongan this year. It was announced by the Cook Islands Government and many Development Partners as a success in moving the Cook Islands a step closer to its goals. All documents and meeting details are available on the Cook Islands Government website hosted by the Office of the Prime Minister.

www.cook-islands.gov.ck/round_table_meeting_2012/index.php

It's is said (by Center for Global Development) that traditional aid is more effective when

• channeling aid through recipient countries’ own budgets and systems;
• making recipient governments primarily accountable to their own citizens for measured results (and not just to donors for tracking money);
• full transparency to both taxpayers in donor countries and citizens in recipient countries including timely publication of disbursements and systematic reporting of results;
• and multilateral funding whenever possible to reduce the high transactions costs and the lack of predictability associated with more politically driven bilateral programs.

Applying such learning from development experience in the Cook Islands and internationally is driving changes to the Cook Islands ODA policy and informing action to improve aid and development effectiveness. Currently we are working hard with partners to improve national systems, develop national indicators and broaden the dissemination of development information and results.

The main systems for partners to be aware of are the National Sustainable Development Commission (ODA allocation), annual development partners meetings (usually late January/early Feb leading into the budget) and the national budget process (July to June FY). The links below provide more information.

Development Effectiveness - From Policy to Practice

National Sustainable Development Commission

Development Partners Meetings

Official Development Assistance

• ODA 2012 - 2015 Budget and Projections Published
• ODA Coordination and Upcoming Activities

Development Effectiveness - from Policy to Practice

In order to develop an implementation plan for the ODA policy MFEM has formed a working group to reach out to organisations with interests in national development and capacity. This is important as the form of the plan will have implications for the structures and processes that frame development assistance in the Cook Islands. The members are expected to provide and assess options to inform the implementation plan.

National Sustainable Development Commission

Official Development Assistance (ODA)

• ODA 2012 - Budget and Projections published
• ODA Coordination Upcoming Activities

Development Partners Meeting Monday 30th - Tuesday 31st January 2012

In June 2008, The Cook Islands Government (Cabinet and Caucus members) highlighted their concern about the delay in implementing infrastructure projects. As a result of this concern, a new entity called the National Sustainable Development Commission was formed as per Cabinet Minute CM(08) 312. 

The main role of this NSDC is to provide sound strategic advice to Cabinet on the proper allocation of all developmental aid to all sectors of the economy and to ensure that such allocation is aligned to the successful implementation of the National Sustainable Development Plan 2007 – 2010.

Furthermore, this entity is to ensure that the fulfillment of the Budget Policy Statement and the Mid term Budgeting framework is successfully implemented and accomplished.

Objective

• Systematic allocation of budget and aid resources[1][1], in line with national plan directions/strategies/programs & projects.
• Top end policy advice to Cabinet on sustainable development and resource allocation decisions and implications.

Memberships

Chiefs of Staff or Heads of Ministries of:

• Office of the Prime Minister (Chair, NSDP and policy advice)
• Crown Law (legal implications)
• MFEM/DCD (resource advice)
• Foreign Affairs (aid and foreign relations advice)
• Public Service Commission (public service implications)
• Ministry of Education for Human Resource Development (capacity and upskilling implications)

Secretariat

Central Planning and Policy Office will be responsible for:Preparing and distributing meeting briefs suitably in advance of regular meetings

• Providing advisory support to the Chair and members on NSDP matters;
• Following up outcomes
• Recording meeting decisions and outcomes and preparing relevant papers for Chairs submission to Cabinet, Ministries, and related stakeholders.
• Prepare media releases for the Chair and Commission.

[1][1] Resources in this context means Aid and Local Funding

NSDC Term of References