Paris and Accra themes

The following pages provide detailed information on key themes within the Paris Declaration and the Accra Agenda for action, as well as other key areas for aid effectiveness.

Capacity Development

Capacity Development has been prioritised by partner countries and donor agencies as a key area for discussion at Busan. Although there is no universally accepted definition, it is generally agreed that it is about helping people, institutions and societies better manage development for themselves.

Country Systems

For development, maximum impact means a lasting impact. If duplicate aid management systems are created by donors, useful knowledge and skills may be lost when aid projects end. If donors use partner countries systems the shared knowledge and skills are more likely to stick. 

Fragile States

The Principles for Good International Engagement in Fragile States and Situations – often referred to as the Fragile States Principles (FSPs) – provide a set of guidelines to improve involvement of the international community in situations of conflict and fragility. They were approved in 2007 by ministers of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Gender equality and women’s empowerment

The 2008 Accra Agenda for Action laid out an agenda to accelerate global progress in implementing the Paris Declaration. The AAA includes a strong commitment on gender equality, yet more specific actions are needed to ensure further progress on the ground.

Managing for Development Results

Managing for Development Results is about maintaining a clear, practical focus in all development activities on the end result; improving lives. The Paris Declaration calls for aid to be managed through focusing on improving decision making to achieve development results. The Accra Agenda for Action reiterated the importance of improving managing for results and called for greater transparency and accountability of the use of all development resources

South-South Cooperation

South-South Development Cooperation is about the power of peer learning, ownership and diversity of development choices. It is about knowledge and skills exchange among developing countries. It complements development cooperation between North and South.