International Development Select Committee The Effectiveness Of The Reforms Of European Development Assistance International Development Select Committee Second Report In 2 Volumes With Proceedings Evidence Hc 417 I Vi Not Printed Separately And Appendices PDF Download

European development assistance funds are provided through the EC aid programme for developing countries, mainly funded by Germany, the UK, France and Italy. In 2000/01, one quarter of the budget of the Department for International Development (DFID) was allocated to these funds. This report considers the impact of the reforms announced in May 2002 to improvement the management of these funds; and examines a number of key issues including the coherence of development policy with other EU policy areas, resource allocation priorities, and management practices. Overall, it finds that the reforms have been reasonably successful at the level of policy and institutional change, for example, the improvements made by the EuropeAid Cooperation Office. Concerns still remain however, such as the lack of transparency in which funds are intended for poverty reduction, and the Committee highlights the need to ensure resources are targeted effectively at low-income countries if poverty reduction targets are to be met. A separate volume is available containing the minutes of evidence and appendices to the report (HC 417-II, ISBN 021500289X).