the ROME – The system reform of the French Cooperation, apparently in the pipeline, it can be a useful opportunity to review how the different donors organise their activity; in particular, the comparison of Italy and the timing could not be more appropriate, given the stage that runs through our Cooperation, on which it is worth spending a few words.
A law widely disregarded . The new Italian Cooperation, which was inaugurated with the law no. 125 of 2014, it soon arrived in a phase of stagnation. Do not miss the initiatives of which you are loading the different actors of the system of Cooperation, from the Ministry of Foreign affairs to the Agency (AICS), from private sector to civil society. But also, this activism fails to resolve the issues in relation to which the provisions of the law is widely disregarded.
The chronic shortage of resources. The lack of resources is a weakness chronically, which does not pay more particular attention even of the international institutions of reference; a weakness with which we did the math for a long time. The fact that it is much less understandable is that even the mechanisms of participation provided for by the regulations of reference are not taken fully into account; it is sufficient to think of the fact that the National Council of Cooperation has not met for two years: it is difficult to appeal to the lack of resources in this case. There are some more issues that are out of place; this can roundup I’ll just have to consider the fact that you’re seriously arguing to apply the code of contracts in the world of international Cooperation, with a logical leap that it would be worthwhile to investigate.
The bleak comparison with France. If we turn our gaze to our French cousins, we can suppress the consideration that we are talking about a reality very different from our own. The most obvious aspect is the amount of resources invested, that, according to data collected by the OECD DAC reached approximately $ 13 billion, or more than 0,40% of the national wealth. But what must be noticed is also the mix of resources: according to the same authoritative source, about 6 billion are to categorize as a loan; in the same period, Italy has mobilized a little less than 90 million in loans. In support of this geometry, there is also the wide range of human resources (several thousand), compared to those available for our Cooperation (in the hundreds).
The strategic objective of reducing poverty. From the elements that emerge from the path to the reform of French Cooperation, we can grasp the reference to the inequalities in the global, that speaks directly to the Agenda 2030 united Nations, in particular goal number 10, to this theme. We can also expect greater clarity on the resources available and on the priorities to follow, both in terms of Countries and sectors. Also in this case, you need to look at the details and the voice of civil society can be of great help, starting from the real goals of the French development Cooperation will be able to follow: it is necessary to confirm the centre of the new architecture, the reduction of poverty, namely the strategic objective around which the whole system must turn.
A point not to lose sight of. Concerns more than legitimate if we look at how the discussion on the future of the Cooperation is evolving is with the politicization of aid, and with repeated references to the role that you would like to give to the private sector, business and finance, should have their own to achieve the ambitions of the Agenda of the United Nations. In this sense, from the observer of the politics of Cooperation, I would like to close by recalling both France and Italy, never to lose sight of the fact that the only Cooperation that has no chance of success is the one that corresponds to the needs of Countries and partner communities, from their set and with their instruments verified and measured. The summons to both recognize and implement the principle of responsibility and leadership in the development of the Partner Countries; to say that we share the same common destiny can not become a convenient alibi.
* Luca De Frai, deputy Secretary-General of Action Aid
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