Donors consider crisis package for Palestinian Authority
A donor meeting in Oslo did not resolve the financial crisis of the debt-ridden Palestinian Authority. But a USD 120 million crisis package is under consideration. Norway has indicated more funding if other donors come along. Islamic aid agencies will meet in mid-June in Jeddah to discuss a mechanism for providing support to Gaza.
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Danida consultancy pie grows for first time since 2001
Past Danida Annual Reports have shown how the Danish aid consultancy market has been shrinking since 2001 - from DKK 808 million to just DKK 421 million in 2007.
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World Bank investigation of Norconsult, two years on
The World Bank’s corruption investigation of the Norwegian consultancy company Norconsult in Tanzania is still not closed. The company has not been blacklisted and continues to bid on World Bank projects.
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More conflicts as SN Power invests in bigger dams, report warns
The average size of SN Power’s hydropower investments is set to quadruple in the coming years, according to a new report by the Dutch research institute SOMO. It predicts that as projects get bigger, conflicts over ecological impacts and affected communities are likely to increase.
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Danes push ahead Africa Commission agenda
The Danish aid adminstration is pushing to get initiatives proposed by the Africa Commission off the ground. Full implementation will depend on other donors joining in.
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Green Resources receives IFC, Norwegian support
The Norwegian forest carbon company Green Resources has received USD 18 million in loans from IFC for its Sao Hill tree farm project in Tanzania.
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Auditor frowns on Sida and Swedfund’s use of tax havens
The Swedish Auditor General calls for a review of the engagement of the aid agency Sida and Swedfund in local investment funds located in tax havens. It reports profits for the two agencies from such funds at more than USD 3 million.
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‘Strong signal’ to Sida to put more contracts out for tender
The Foreign Ministry is still not satisfied with Sida’s handling of consultancy procurement, and is again pushing the agency to improve its practices. The Ministry wants Sida to publish procurement statistics in next year’s Annual Report.
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Upcoming tenders for ‘pioneer’ groundwater project
Norway plans to finance a project for groundwater exploration that would provide drinking water to Dar es Salaam. Tenders are to be announced shortly.
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Finnish university aid skirts EU law
From 2010, all Finnish universities and colleges will have the legal status of “non-state" institutions. As Minister Väyrynen seeks ways to increase their role in aid, lawyers at the Foreign Ministry have been double-checking whether this violates EU competition rules.
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