Policy Coherence for Development Agency and Government Wide AFD’s Perspective Laurent Duriez, Director of strategic planning, Agence Française de Développement Beijing 27 March 2008

Presentation outline What is policy coherence for development Presentation outline What is policy coherence for development? How AFD tries to ensure a coherent approach for improved aid efficiency (Internal coherence) How France as a whole tries to ensure a joined up approach at the policy and institutional level (Intra-country coherence) Conclusions and Recommendations

What is Policy Coherence for Development What is Policy Coherence for Development? Definitions (OECD) “ policy coherence for development involves the systematic promotion of mutually reinforcing policy actions across government departments and agencies creating synergies towards achieving the agreed objectives” International and European commitments The different dimensions to policy coherence for development - Internal coherence - Intra-country coherence - Inter-donor coherence - Donor-recipient coherence

A short introduction to AFD… The French Bilateral Development Agency The main Operator for French bilateral Development Assistance operating under the supervision of the Finance and Foreign Ministries Active in over 60 emerging and developing countries: Africa, Mediterranean, Asia, Caribbean Total commitments in 2007: €3.3bn (main sectors, education 23%, water sanitation, 18%, health, 16%, environment 14%) Comprehensive Range of Financial and non financial Tools Diversified partnerships

Internal Coherence How AFD tries to ensure a coherent approach for improved aid efficiency via the strategies it puts in place (e.g. policy of social and environmental responsibility) its partnership approach (e.g. with other donors and beneficiary) and at the programme/project level (e.g. environmental and social impact analysis)

Intra-country coherence How France tries to ensure intra-country coherence and a whole of government approach At the Policy level as illustrated by the example of trade and development At the institutional level – clear leadership and coordination between government departments But there’s still room for improvement

Conclusions/Recommendations Incoherence has an economic cost to the poor in the developing world and to taxpayers in OECD countries. Aid alone cannot reduce poverty. Need to promote mutually reinforcing actions and avoid polices that undermine each other. Institutional coordinating mechanisms are indispensable to improving policy coherence.

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