As part of their Ownership in Practice series, Oxfam America has this week released the report ‘Information: Let countries know what donors are doing’. The report highlights the urgent need to address the lack of aid information which, if available in an accessible, comprehensive, timely and comparable format, would increase donor- recipient coordination and more effective aid.

The U.S. National Security Strategy was released yesterday by the White House. The document demonstrates an awareness of the need for transparency both domestically and in foreign assistance.

Publish What You Fund has put together an analysis of the leaked draft of the Presidential Study Directive on Global Development (PSD-7), "A New Way Forward on Global Development". Please find below.

Strengths:

Dr. Rajiv Shah, Administrator of USAID, gave a town hall speech yesterday at the US Global Leadership Coalition. Later described as a "meat and potatoes" speech, Dr. Shah’s words resonated with the audience long after the event.

The Cable has obtained and published a leaked copy of the Presidential Study Directive on Global Development (PSD-7). "A New Way Forward on Global Development" highlights the importance of donor coordination in order for aid to be transparent and accountable

‘Capacity for Change: Reforming U.S. Assistance Efforts in Poor and Fragile Countries’ describes the context for reform and examines the key issues for decision by policymakers in an effort to inform a coherent and effective national approach to both stabilization and broader development. It concludes with a set of recommendations and practical next steps, with the points referring to aid transparency below (bolding added).

p.35 – From ‘Aligning Strategy and Capacity – Key Questions’.