Posted on 12 December 2011
First of all, thanks to Concord for asking me to contribute to their blog. I’ve been reading their comments on the EU over the past few weeks, so was really pleased to be able to get chance to respond for myself here!
Commissioner Andris Piebalgs speaking in Busan
The level of expectation ahead of the Busan High Level Forum on aid effectiveness last week could not...
Read more / 15 Comments »Posted on 2 December 2011
On 1 December, as the new Busan Partnership for effective development cooperation was being finalized, CONCORD representatives met with EU development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs in South Korea.
We are pleased that the Commissioner has an open and constructive approach to civil society organisations, offering a future meeting with CONCORD to reflect on the new Busan Partnership.One of the key e...
Read more / 6 Comments »Posted on 1 December 2011
The world’s biggest aid donor, the European Union, was sidelined at the High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness taking place in Busan, South Korea from 29 November – 1 December. The EU gives over €53billion a year to developing countries, that’s over 50% of global aid, but it falied to show leadership in Busan.
CONCORD President Justin Kilcullen speaking at a press conference today in Busan said:
“...
Read more / 5 Comments »Posted on 1 December 2011
The red carpet came out for speeches from US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and Queen Raina Abdullah of Jordan.
Queen Rania: “Arab youth don’t want aid, they want jobs”
In his opening speech Korea’s President Lee Myung-bak pointed out that the setting of the event in Busan is one of symbolic significance. After the Korean War in...
Read more / 1 Comment »Posted on 30 November 2011
The European Union’s development Commissioner arrived at the global aid effectiveness summit today in Busan, South Korea.
This comes as China hesitates on a global partnership for development at the forum.
We are calling on EU leaders to make a strong stand for the world’s poor.
CONCORD Comment
“We are deeply disappointed by the aid summit so far. Negotiations are stalling as political games...
Read more / 3 Comments »Posted on 29 November 2011
China pulled out of the global partnership at the Busan aid summit today. It seems that’s the main news, at least for the media.
The EU should have seen it coming.
Over 3,500 government officials, civil society representatives and journalists gathered for the High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness.
The opening plenary of the three-day event was marked by speeches of Brian Atwood, chair of the OECD ...
Read more / 6 Comments »Posted on 28 November 2011
As we already announced in a previous blog, over 500 civil society representatives gathered for 3 days in Busan, South Korea, for the Busan Civil Society Forum that takes place from the 26th until the 28th of November.
Panel discussion at the workshop saw speakers from Bangladesh and Nepal
The main purpose of this global Forum is to prepare everyone for the 4th High...
Read more / 6 Comments »Posted on 27 November 2011
By Justin Kilcullen, CONCORD President
What should the European Union, the world’s biggest aid donor, aim to achieve at Busan?
For a start, political leadership would be in tune with the fact that the EU gives €53 billion a year in aid, around half the global total. In 2008 in Accra, the EU was in the driving seat. We believe the EU again has a positive role to play.
We’re not talking about...
Read more / 2 Comments »Posted on 26 November 2011
So it’s day one of the Busan Global Civil Society Forum, hosted by the Korean Civil Society Forum.
Over 500 represenatives of CSOs gathered for the opening ceremony.
Opening ceremony, over 500 CSOs gather, 26 November 2011
While the diversity is great, one thing seems clear.
Civil society is aiming to have a strong presence at Busan.
We’ll be reporting more on the event a...
Read more / 70 Comments »Posted on 25 November 2011
AidWatch has arrived ahead of the Busan aid summit as civil society gathers en masse.
Civil society organisations are making history by joining governments and aid donors as partners at the High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness.
To coincide, thousands of organisations are gathering the Busan Global Civil Society Forum taking place from 26-28 November at the Grand Hotel in Busan, organised by
With the support of the European Union.
Supported in part by a grant from Foundation Open Society Institute (Zug).
The contents of this website are the sole responsibility of CONCORD AidWatch and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.
