harmonization

‘Aid Effectiveness’ gone astray?  Imagine official multilateral and bilateral donor aid agencies holding high level meetings for years to agree on ‘harmonized’ aid strategies for recipient developing countries whose governments are expected to fully 'own' them.

Don't look in this space for formal definitions of donor aid ‘harmonization’.  They are in official reports from aid organizations; there you can also read about efforts to 'harmonize' the timetable and frequency of official visits by donors to recipient countries.

Instead, in this blog space let me spur debate, as I just did in a panel on ‘Aid Effectiveness’.  Let me start by echoing a panel member in advancing an unorthodox interpretation for donor ‘harmonization’:  lowest common denominator agreement among donors regarding their strategy towards a recipient country.  Spineless strategies, devoid of innovation, and skating over the toughest challenges for development.