Liberals are now working on Parliament Hill to try to reverse the negative view they believe the world has taken of Canadian development assistance in Harper’s government. The meeting will be attended by representatiives of NGOs, academics and development groups.

The aim will be to improve the overall aid performance. This includes increasing their overall financial contribution to aid, and tackling issues of transparency:

On 15th January, the UK government released draft text of the legislation announced in November, to commit to dedicating 0.7% of gross national income on aid from 2013.  The 0.7% target has been an international commitment for forty years, and the legislation represents a historic opportunity to see this promise delivered.  For Non-Governmental Organisations in the UK, one of the longest standing advocacy goals in aid seems, at last, to be within touching distance.  

A timely, comprehensive practical guide for combating corruption in relief and reconstruction has been published yesterday by Transparency International (TI), the global anti-corruption organisation, in collaboration with seven major humanitarian agencies.

The guide, Preventing Corruption in Humanitarian Operations: A Handbook of Good Practices, gives aid workers facing immense pressure and challenging environments the tools to confront corruption, so that they can focus on saving lives and long-term recovery.

Alongside a welcome focus on greater accountability in G8 development promises and increased investments in child and maternal health, Canada will be ‘reinvigorating the global campaign against extreme poverty’ at this year’s G8 and G20 meetings.