Iceland is pulling out of Nicaragua and concentrating its foreign aid on four countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Ironically, Iceland reports a record high aid level for the crisis year 2008.

Nordics fight to hold on to World Bank seat

There is broad agreement about the need to reform the World Bank Board to allow for better representation from developing countries. Europe is over-represented, and the Nordic seat is under pressure. In an unusual move, the Nordics have flashed the money weapon to defend their position on the Board.

Go-it-alone approach ruined joint donor efforts in Sudan

A joint donor office established in Southern Sudan has not lived up to expectations, a new evaluation shows. The donors often chose to go it alone, contradicting ambitions to coordinate their efforts.

Forest dwellers on shaky legal ground in Indonesian REDD

Indonesia continues to eye the enormous funds that Norway offered Brazil last year in exchange for reducing deforestation in the Amazon. Norway wants to see a radical change in Indonesian forest policy. The position of indigenous people in forest climate schemes remains precarious.