Nordics push for cross-debarment system in multilaterals

The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) claims that the consultant Hifab/KM has the main responsibility for the construction of a bad quality road in Nicaragua. The Sida-financed project had to be stopped in 2001. The road was then redesigned and redone by the Swedish firm NCC.

Norwegian private consulting companies accuse Norwegian Church Aid of pushing them out of the bilateral aid-financed water market in developing countries. And they blame the Foreign Ministry for allowing a practice that undermines the Norwegian private sector in this field. In its defence, NCA says consultants are simply desperate for contracts because aid is no longer tied.

The Deputies Group and the Board of the Nordic Development Fund (NDF) are discussing far-reaching changes in the Fund. Key issues are narrowing down its focus to infrastructure, untying and establishing an NDF grant facility.