Regional: Support for Implementing Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation Principles

Public sector management / Public administration

This regional small-scale research and development technical assistance (R-S-RDTA) will help selected Asia Pacific developing member countries (DMCs) and ADB in meeting their commitments under the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation (GPEDC). The R-S-RDTA will enable ADB to serve as a two-way link between the international fora, ADB and its DMCs on the GPEDC developments and the evolving agenda, especially in the context of the post-2015 development goals. It will ensure that ADB DMCs and ADB Board and staff are kept updated on the recent developments on the GPEDC, and that ADB influences the GPEDC principles and priorities to reflect the needs and perspectives of its DMCs and ADB strategies and priorities. Mainstreaming GPEDC principles and improving the development impact of their operations, has been a part of the continuing commitments of all multilateral development banks (MDBs), including ADB.

The R-S-RDTA will (i) support ADB's DMCs in implementing GPEDC principles and their participation in international high-level meetings,; (ii) enable ADB to mainstream the principles in ADB's policies and operations, and bring Asia-Pacific perspectives on development effectiveness to the global level;, and (iii) support partnerships between MDBs and other partners on specific priority themes of the GPEDC.

Despite the rapid economic growth in Asia and the Pacific, and the progress on the Millennium Development Goals, poverty remains high, inequalities and vulnerabilities are increasing, significant infrastructure gaps remain, and climate change threats are increasing along with the risk of natural disasters, among other challenges. In addition, the development finance landscape and aid architecture are also changing. Official development assistance is decreasing and a number of new sources of finance are emerging.

These developments are among the issues that the international development community discussed at the Fourth High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness (HLF-4) held in Busan in 2011. The HLF-4 shifted the focus of global aid effectiveness agenda from delivering _effective aid_ to achieving _effective development cooperation._ GPEDC was established to serve as a _forum for shared advice, shared learning and shared action to support the implementation of the principles that form the foundation of effective development cooperation._ The first High-Level Meeting of the GPEDC in Mexico in 2014 upheld the following HLF-4 principles: (i) country ownership of development priorities; (ii) focus on results; (iii) inclusive partnerships; (iv) transparency and accountability; and (v) support for fragile and conflict-affected states. The GPEDC also agreed on priorities to sustain progress toward effective development cooperation: (i) South South cooperation, triangular cooperation, and knowledge sharing; (ii) domestic resources mobilization; (iii) middle-income countries; and (iv) business as a partner in development.

As an active member of GPEDC, ADB remains committed to those principles and priorities, and needs to continuously engage in the global partnership agenda at various levels. At the country level, ADB needs to continue to keep its DMCs informed of the global partnership initiatives and help enhance their capacity in implementing the Busan principles. At the corporate level, ADB needs to continue mainstreaming the Busan principles into its policies and business processes in line with the Strategy 2020 midterm review's strategic directions. At the global level, ADB needs to ensure that that Asia-Pacific perspectives are reflected in high-level GPEDC discussions, while contributing to the global development agenda.

ADB has been carrying out its commitment to the global partnership agenda under the RETA 7494: Technical Assistance for the Fourth High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness, which will be completed shortly. The RETA supported preparatory and post-forum activities for HLF-4, including participation of ADB DMCs in the HLF-4, and the first GPEDC forum in the Asia-Pacific region. It also supported major outputs on related specific themes of the GPEDC, including support in developing innovative modalities such as ADB's results-based lending, operational plan for fragile and conflict-affected situations, preparing publications and updates on the global partnership, and consultancy inputs for developing a systematic approach to the use of country systems in ADB operations. This proposed R-S-RDTA enables ADB to provide continued support to the global partnership agenda.

DMCs' participation in the 2nd High-Level Meeting of the GPEDC in 2016 and at the annual international workshops in Republic of Korea supported and preparatory and post-event materials produced.

GPEDC principles mainstreamed in ADB's policies and operations and Asia-Pacific perspectives on development effectiveness highlighted at the global level.

Partnerships among MDBs enhanced and joint analytical work and events organized for high level international meetings.