The Paris Declaration commits both donors and partner countries to managing their resources so as to maximise development results.  This means having systems in place to monitor the impact of development initiatives, and using the information to improve decision making and programme performance.  Specifically, donors and partner countries agree to establishing common reporting and assessment frameworks for more effective results monitoring, and donors agree to invest in capacity development and rely on country monitoring systems.

Most countries have gone to considerable lengths to produce performance assessment frameworks with elaborate lists of indicators, in support of their national development strategies.  Many have also tried to rationalise the multiple monitoring mechanisms for development assistance into a single, national monitoring system. 

However, experience suggests that this managing for results is one of the hardest principles of implement.  The quality of administrative and financial data tends to be very poor.  Fragmented government administrations are reluctant to share information.  Many PRSPs are intrinsically difficult to monitor because of their “missing middle” – the lack of an explicit theory on how the programmes are supposed to affect poverty outcomes.  Most difficult of all, information on development outcomes is rarely used by policy makers to improve their policies.

There is now a considerable volume of guidance and information available to assist countries with managing for results.  This Working Table is likely to focus on practical lesson learning and overcoming obstacles.