IATI and UNDP – working together to strengthen country systems

IATI is...A single, common, electronic formatfor thetransparent, accurate, timely and comprehensivepublishing of data onall activities by all participantsin the delivery ofdevelopment cooperation and humanitarian aid

• Established in 2009• Voluntary, multi-stakeholder initiative• Busan Common Standard (2011) alongside DAC

CRS/FSS• 68 members (including 22 partner countries)• 216 publishers

Brief history of IATI

Aid Information Before IATI: Worst of all Worlds

IATI: Efficiency and re-use: Publish once, use often

Common Standard Format

Who is publishing?

How we got to 216 publishers

Publish information once, rather than responding to multiple, ad-hoc data requests, including under Freedom of Information legislation

Improved understanding by citizens and parliamentarians in donor countries – helps make the case for aid

Demonstrates commitment to tackle corruption and ensures that aid is well spent

Improves information sharing by donors at country level and between HQ and country levels within donor agencies

Publication can help to ensure better quality information; Better information facilitates higher quality research and evaluation

Benefits

Stronger focus on results – helps to understand what works and what doesn’t

Potential for greater automation of reporting over time (and reducing associated transaction costs)

Meeting information needs of line ministries, not just finance and planning

Strengthens mutual accountability through improved information on donor performance

Consistent use of Common definitions – E.g., what US calls a disbursement is what others call a commitment.

Improves internal management for donors (UNDP’s own experience)

Further benefits..

Since September 2013, IATI Steering Committee is co-chaired by the Netherlands and Bangladesh.

IATI Secretariat is hosted by UNDP in collaboration with UNOPS, Ghana, Sweden and Development Initiatives

Under the guidance of the Steering Committee , IATI Secretariat works towards:i)making development cooperation spending information easier to access, use and understand; ii)increasing and diversifying IATI membership; iii)sharing IATI’s objectives with other development cooperation transparency initiatives.

IATI Governance structure

UNDP hosting of IATI Secretariat

• Twice annual Steering committee meeting• Back to back with Partner Country Caucus meeting• Forum for candid exchange of experiences

• Some problems identified:• Too much focus on SUPPLY side of data, and

not on DEMAND• Perception of donors on quality of data

provided• Insufficient detail provided at country level• Infrequent updating of AIMS by DPs

IATI feedback from Partner Countries

• Call for analysis on actual state of use of IATI data at country level – Madagascar, Bangladesh• Country survey• Country tracker (by April)

• Feedback from this group?

Measures to address use of data

• Encouraging the use of IATI data at the country level

• Advocating for the application of the IATI standard to cover more forms of development cooperation

• Seeking ways to update the IATI standard • Promoting IATI to potential new members• Pilot work – DAD – Automatic data exchange

Next steps for IATI

• Since September 2013 UNDP has led the IATI Secretariat

• Strengthens country support work• LTA with AIMS providers• Packages of support including capacity

development

UNDP’s role in IATI

Thank you

IATI website: www.aidtransparency.net

IATI Secretariat: info@iatistandard.org