The Paris Declaration Phase 1 evaluation concluded that most countries have experienced a strengthening of national ownership of development policy as a result of the Paris Declaration, but that in many cases it remains narrowly focused in central government.  While public consultations on national development strategies are now widespread, many countries are still struggling to achieve a sufficient engagement of broader society.  National governments often lack capacity to play an effective coordinating for multiple inputs into sectoral strategies and decentralised programmes.  The evaluation noted some tension between a narrow or technical understanding of ownership, based on ad hoc consultations, and a more political understanding based on strengthening democracy.