Development Today |

“There was anticipation from the [Burmese] government that MPSI would deliver dividends for peace ... Norway was pushing us to come up with something concrete. But physical dividends are not and cannot be a means of enticing groups into joining the ceasefires. We are wary of our actions being seen as way of pressuring groups.” - Charles Petrie, Myanmar Peace Support Initiative.

“We should congratulate ourselves, and the donors, and say ‘this is great’. The system is working.” John Muwanga, Uganda's Auditor General.

“The Environment Ministry has driven this through while the Foreign Affairs has been on the sideline. Then they get very nervous, fearful and a bit jealous.” - Erik Solheim, former Norwegian Minister for Environment and Development

“NDF now has a substantial role in tailoring project design ... this has really given NDF a disproportionate influence compared to its size.” - Jeremy Warford, consultant to the Nordic Development Fund in Helsinki.

“Since it is not possible to identify the specific amount of Swedish money missing, we ask for repayment of the full amount.” - Joachim Beijmo, Spokesperson at the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.

“ODA should be used for low income countries ... I do think we should shelter ODA, keep it as ‘pure’ as possible, as grants only.” - Brian Atwood, Chair of the Development Assistance Committee of the OECD.

“This is the painful way we have to deal with it ... But it is not we who are stealing, it is we who are being responsible for the money.” Gunilla Carlsson, Sweden’s Development Minister.

“The cost [of cuts in donor funding] was carried by the women and children who did not receive access to services. Was it worth it for them? Of course not.” - Georg Andrén, Director for Programme Cooperation, Sida.

“The [Burmese] government’s proposal has focused on ceasefires being followed by development activities, while political dialogue would come later. Ethnic groups prefer to start a political process before development activities are initiated in border areas ... It is not clear to us how the [peace initiative] and Norway will contribute to ensure that such a political dialogue really takes place.” - Tin Tin Nyo, General Secretary of the Women's League of Burma.

“Sometimes it feels a bit artificial, but we consider it important not to blur the lines and maintain the integrity of the programme." - Assistant Director of the Norwegian Oil for Development Programme Petter Stigset.

“If the climate change scenario comes about there will be a substantial decrease in hydropower potential after 2050. We still have at least 30-40 years of capitalisation time. So it’s a good time to build and not wait.” - David Wright, Norwegian Water and Energy Directorate.

“We are trying to be a catalyst. This is the moment when there is a need for a peace dividend, where the traditional big bureaucracies cannot turn around as quickly. That is where we can play a role.” - Norwegian Ambassador in Bangkok, Katja Nordgaard.

“We hit the wall in 2008-9 with the financial crisis. Since then we have participated in the local and the international debate and listened to a lot of the criticism over the years. Now it is no longer an ethanol project. We will be producing food, sugar.” - Per Carstedt, EcoEnergy in Tanzania.

“We have tried for years to work with NGOs and [indigenous] communities, but we feel it is at a standstill. We have spent a lot of money on this. We are considering giving up on the Trayenko project.” - Halvor Fossum Lauritzen, SN Power Vice President for Social and Environmental Programmes.

“River power is gold … Norway holds 50 per cent of the hydropower reservoirs in Europe and Statkraft is Europe’s largest renewable energy company. We have important competence we can provide to others.” - Heikki Holmås, Norway’s Development Minister.

“Due to the great haste and the secretive nature of preparations, planning has been led strongly from above.” - Report of Finnish fact-finding mission on villagisation in Benishangul-Gumuz, Ethiopia, 2011.

“Just because the repressive behaviour of the Ethiopian government affects Scandinavians shouldn’t mean a change in the assistance. Donors should have been much more careful about the way their assistance seems to bolster an authoritarian government.” - Jan Egeland, Deputy Executive Director of Human Rights Watch.

“The point is not that we want [China, India and Brazil] to agree to all the monitoring and transparency that we follow. But we want a dialogue that can lead in this direction.” Brian Atwood, Chair of the OECD Development Assistance Committee.

“The ambitions of Energy+ are much higher [than the UN Secretary General’s]. If you say we should have universal access, the demand for energy rises to some extent. But if the ambition is to have power for industrialisation, this implies a significant rise in greenhouse gas emissions unless we manage to support low-carbon development.” - Head of the Energy+ team in Oslo Ole Andreas Lindemann.

"It does not add up for Norway to argue, on one hand, that recipient countries should finance more of their welfare services from domestic revenues, while at the same time demanding an exemption on tax for aid projects." - Ingrid Fiskaa, State Secretary at the Foreign Ministry in Oslo.

“This is how I grew up in Korea. I was a boy of war. I studied by candlelight ... The answer is to provide access to affordable energy to all.” - UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon

“The history is that Sida has been perceived more as an independent international agency than an agency implementing government policy. But Sida is not independent in the sense that we are not policy makers. We implement the policies set out by Parliament and the government.” - Charlotte Petri Gornitzka, Sida's new Director General.

“Since they chose to focus on rapid programming and scale-up rather than governance or oversight during the early years, the Global Fund had inadequate accountability mechanisms, standards and expectations - a situation that is no longer acceptable today”. - Turning the Page, High-Level Independent Review of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

“Cash-based programmes are high on my list of priorities. Procurement situations are especially vulnerable. Basically anywhere there are opportunities for individuals to do the wrong thing, misuse can happen.” - Cees Klumper, Internal Auditor of the GAVI vaccine alliance.

“The cost of production is basically the same no matter where it takes place ... If I make the vaccine for one dollar and sell it for two then I am happy. If big pharma makes it for one dollar they might sell for 25 dollars or more. It is a mental attitude.” - Suresh Jadhav, Executive Director, Serum Institute.

“I won the case after three and half years of battle. So the lesson is, in spite of the fact that it is costly in all senses, sue the organisation if you feel you have done nothing wrong. There is justice at the end.” - Robert Garcia, former UNDP employee.

“This is a first for Norway to try to change the logic of the world in a highly politicised arena ... The biggest risk is that the international community does not come on board.” - Environment and Development Minister Erik Solheim on Norway's forest climate aid initiative.

“Some have said openaid.se is too raw to be useful. In contrast, they point to the United Kingdom’s aid transparency project ... The British site is more polished, more of a subset. In my opinion, this is an old school way of doing things. It is like the same old glossy folders, only with more data and in digital form.” - Joakim Jardenberg, social media expert.

“Citing privileges and special immunity, UNDP has refused to allow the [Global Fund’s Inspector General] access to books, records and staff, despite the fact that it is the Global Fund grant funds that are at risk of misappropriation and loss ... This position is untenable, and effectively makes it impossible for [the Inspector General] to investigate allegations of fraud and misappropriation of funds.” - Global Fund’s Office of the Inspector General, December 2010 report.

“Considering the precarious Ethiopian context, the Norwegian involvement in support of huge hydropower schemes on the Blue Nile ought to raise some concerns ... In a de facto one-party political system, criticism of development policies ... are not allowed to surface. How will Norway ensure that local concerns and critical expert opinions are heard?” - Kjetil Tronvoll, Senior Partner at the International Law and Policy Institute.

“I fear that as we walk this line [on human rights and zero-tolerance of corruption] and try to be clear on it, it might not be that easy to distribute development assistance the way we do today.” - Swedish Development Minister Gunilla Carlsson.

“Donor governments are now using their own study to say that the political misuse of aid is ‘not systematic’. It is totally disingenuous, if not cynical, to rely on that study, since it was a desk study that included no field research." Leslie Lefkow, an author of the Human Rights Watch report, Development without Freedom.

"Of course there is always corruption when money is involved. It’s not that we are naïve. But ... we wonder why Gunilla Carlsson has chosen to target Global Fund, which is highly innovative when it comes to transparency. I would understand if she [withheld funds from] the World Bank or Sida (as she has done), but why Global Fund? I fear this does more harm than good.” - President of MSF Sweden Kristina Bolme Kühn.

“I want to put a strong emphasis on investigating the agencies’ cost calculations. When state agencies deliver services, they should cover their costs. They are not supposed to make a profit.” - Inger Axell, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).

"This radical measure would be a necessary first step. It would bring to an end to the harmful dependence on aid and donors. The ODA regime has created a grant mentality in African circles that has limited the appreciation of foreign aid and the responsibility for its proper execution. Such an exit option would compel both donors and recipients to rethink their cartel-like relations which have made them preoccupied with each other at the expense of other actors, notably parliament and civil society." - Göran Hydén, retired Professor of Political Science and independent consultant.

“Your actions are not only deplorable but seriously reprehensible. Rather than supporting the internal oversight, which is the sign of strong leadership and good governance, you have strived to control it, which is to undermine its position.” - Inga-Britt Ahlenius, former Head of the UN Office for Internal Oversight Services, End-of-Assignment report.

"[Sida] is established to implement the government’s policy and this must penetrate the agency’s activities ... [when they question the results-based agenda] they question the [authority of] the Parliament. I think it was quite remarkable that we had that discussion. That is all about our constitutional system."- Gunilla Carlsson, Swedish Development Minister.

“There is a lot of frustration over the [voting reform] process. World Bank management has not been listening and has not been a neutral party in the process.” - Head of the Multilateral Bank and Finance Section at the Norwegian Foreign Ministry Henrik Harboe.

"President Nicolas Sarkozy wants to take the lead in the climate negotiations. He is using forests to try to get involved ... Industrialised countries do not want to reduce emissions and offsetting is the only politically acceptable solution. Sarkozy has understood that French policy in African forest countries will be totally influenced by the REDD debate. So if they are not involved they will lose political influence in these areas."- Sylvain Angerand at Friends of the Earth France.

Opinion. Nina Witoszek on the belle époque “Although Norway has a large aid programme and strongly supports the UN, it has joined the club of rich nations exploiting the planet for their own benefit ... it points to a political system that has succumbed to hubris and is about to lose its most precious democratic achievement: the ability to correct itself.”

"As chair of the donors’ budget support group, we wanted to try to keep the group together, to act collectively ... It seemed somewhat illogical of Sweden to penalise Zambia for 2009, but to agree to commit funds in 2010. We had all expected that they would release the funds for 2009.”- Head of Economics at the EU Delegation in Lusaka Francesca Di Mauro.

“I am not against compensation efforts in Norwegian foreign policy because we are not an EU member. But there has to be more openness about it. Nobody talks about the challenges of Norway standing outside the European Union.”- Vidar Helgesen, former State Secretary of Norway, Secretary General of International IDEA.

"It would be unfortunate if the Nordics, which have not securitised their development aid to the same extent as the United States, go down that path in Pakistan. If I were a Nordic donor, I would think about focusing on areas where there are higher levels of poverty than in FATA and the border regions."Andrew Wilder, researcher at Feinstein International Center, Tufts University.

“I can only encourage countries that are not complying with the 0.7 per cent UN target to do so. We have a ‘0.7 per cent club’, but it is apparently difficult to get new members these days ... Everything above 0.7 per cent would in many ways make sense as a definition [of additionality]. As Denmark provides 0.83 per cent of GNI [as aid] we more than comply with any definition of additionality you can think of.”- Danish Development Minister Ulla Tørnæs.

“I am very impressed with the model that has been built between Norway and Brazil [for] avoiding deforestation in the Amazon ... We all understand that it is probably the most cost-effective way for us to address the issue of climate change ... Norway punches above its weight. It is a very effective actor internationally.”- US President Barack Obama.

“There seems to be a political culture of never saying no to donors and stressing helplessness in negotiations. Perverse incentives can take root - helplessness becomes an advantage in getting resources.” - Evaluation by Rud Pedersen Global Affairs AB of Finnish aid to political parties.

"There is good reason to question the development effect of buying up existing hydro plants, and the appropriateness of using aid funds to do so."- Gunstein Instefjord, Policy Director at Norwegian Church Aid.

“It would be ridiculous for Norway and Brazil to come to the Copenhagen climate talks in December without a major disbursement and an operational Amazon Fund."- Lars Løvold, Director of Rainforest Foundation Norway.

"Other member countries have contacted us and asked whether there was any information about them in the memo ... It was a diplomatic faux-pas. It has been necessary to take steps in our internal handling of information to reassure other UN members. We have a job to do to restore confidence, and we will do it."- Assistant Director General Lars Petter Henie at the Norwegian Foreign Ministry.

"USD 7 is the highest price that has ever been paid for a vaccine to be widely used in the poorest countries ... The AMC needs to at least ensure that price competition in the long term will lead to substantially lower prices".Tido von Schoen-Angerer of MSF on the Advance Market Commitment.

"It is high time to reduce and do away with donor tax exemptions ... [this] would demonstrate the willingness of donors to subject themselves to the duties of tax paying that they so strongly urge on others."- Odd Fjeldstad, Research Director at CMI.

“It is a paradox that what we are actually doing is paying for part of the Israeli occupation. And some donors would say, well if there is no solution, we will step back and then the occupier will have to pay."- Jonas Gahr Støre, Norwegian Foreign Minister.

The Foreign Ministry’s approach “contradicts principles that guide international development cooperation, and which Finland also recognises".- The Finnish Development Policy Committee.

"In order to justify future large contributions to the World Bank Group to taxpayers and parliaments, adequate representation is required." - Norwegian Development Minister Erik Solheim.

"We cannot just sit and watch a larger and larger share of [nations’] tax base evaporate. The total tax burden is carried by the middle class."- Special Advisor on Corruption, Eva Joly.

"We won’t tie funding to hiring of more Swedes. That is buying influence, it’s almost corruption. I want more unconditional aid, and less earmarking. "- Development Minister Gunilla Carlsson.

"With some NGOs they will always see hydropower as bad, because their bread and butter is saying ‘no’ to dams."- Hans Olav Ibrekk, Norad.

"Politics is politics ... Our domain is expertise ... I can choose to be a politician in another life, but I am not a politician now."- Anders Nordström, Secretary General of Sida.

“If all [donors] contributed a 0.7 per cent of GNI aid level, and if they had done this for many years, as the Scandinavians have done, the world would look very different today."- Danish Aid Minister, Ulla Tørnæs.

"Sexual health and family planning were stigmatised by the US administration and no-one wanted to pollute their AIDS agendas by integrating work on AIDS and reproductive health."- Thoraya Obaid, Executive Director of UNFPA.

"It is important that we continue to press this issue. We will certainly contact the new US administration to see how we can join forces in fighting tax havens." - Norwegian State Secretary Håkon Arald Gulbrandsen

In Tanzania, it could help to promote community forestry. On the other hand, it could lead to a massive land grab where communities would lose out.- Tom Blomley, forest consultant to Tanzanian government.

"We feel disappointed. We feel ignored ... When Percy got engaged in Hand in Hand he started saying: ‘You two are so old now’ ... He said it several times, so finally we resigned."- Ole and Gunnel Blomqvist, founders of Hand in Hand.

"A clear separation of funding sources is crucial, as the use of aid for proselytism is against both MFA regulations and international conventions."- Impact Consulting Oy evaluation of Finnish NGOs.

"We are witnessing the emergence of transnational aid NGOs with capacity and resources that match UN agencies, and even dwarf some government ministries."Opinion by Paul Opoku-Mensah

“You don’t just channel funds through the state agencies because it is easier." - Joakim Stymne, State Secretary at the Swedish Foreign Ministry.

It is the Afghan institutions that have to win the hearts and minds of the Afghan people.Not the foreigners.- Kai Eide, UN Envoy in Kabul.

"We as a company cannot live with the kind of activity we have revealed in Tanzania."- President of Norconsult, John Nyheim.

"There is no doubt that both Statoil and Hydro had commercial motives for their involvement [in the Norwegian oil aid programme in Iraq].- Bridge Group evaluation.

“Our conclusion is that when a state agency buys goods or services from another state agency Public Procurement Law applies."- AffärsConcept AB report to Sida.

"The biased burden sharing in funding UN agencies cannot continue. G8 and new players like China should give more."- Lars Petter Henie, Deputy Director General, Norwegian Foreign Ministry.

"If we can set up an effective, transparent and corruption-free system in Ghana it will send a powerful message across the region."- Kofi Annan to Erik Solheim.

"Each of these [middle-income] countries has many more poor people than the majority of countries in Africa ."- Norway's Environment and Development Minister Erik Solheim in Parliament December 3, 2007.

"A terrorist act is a serious criminal act, punishable by law. This is important, because Sweden does not view the fight against terrorism as a form of ‘war’ in the legal sense. This view of terrorism creates an important distinction between the operative work against terrorism and the preventative work." - Swedish draft policy on terrorism prevention and aid.

"Military interventions are always one-sided and by definition driven by specific political agendas ... I don’t think Danish politicians have understood our arguments yet."- Director of MSF Denmark Michael Nielsen.

"It is the politicians who have created a messy financing model." - Stein Hansen of Nordic Consulting Group on SN Power.

"From a Sida perspective, the agreement is a ‘black box’ which does not provide any firm guidance with respect to users of funds and sources of funding."- Consultant's report on the public-private partnership for rehabilitation of power dams in Mozambique.

“If we’d found problems in one or two of the projects that wouldn’t say much. The fact that we find irregularities in so many cases is a very, very bad sign." - Staffan Ivarsson at the Swedish National Audit Office on the investigation of Swedish NGO aid.

“Transparency International should stop publishing the corruption index. It does more harm than good." - John Christensen, Tax Justice Network.

"The United Kingdom has maintained its privileges by allowing British companies to operate from their own tax havens. The expansion in the use of these jurisdictions has a link to decolonisation. It is a modern form of colonialism."- Eva Joly, Special Advisor, Norad.

“Some countries tell the IMF and World Bank ‘go and hang’. My saying is: we respect the IMF and the World Bank. These institutions should continue acting as financiers for development initiatives ... They bring with them a lot of good things for Africa. [As for China] we are ready to receive Chinese assistance, but it is not a substitute." - Tanzania's Foreign Minister Bernard Membe.

“We need the support to be able to function. The international community says: let us see how this new Palestinian government performs. I accept that, but we need to be enabled to perform." - Palestinian Minister of Finance Salam Fayyad.

"Swedish Development Minister Gunilla Carlsson is dead against aid tying. We are not going to let anything through that looks like tied aid."- Georg Andrén, Director of the Department for Development Policy at the Swedish Foreign Ministry.

Quote: Olso's peace envoy in Burma