Modernising ODA in the framework of the post-MDG agenda : challenges and opportunities

The year 2015 marks an important milestone in international development cooperation. It is the deadline both for the achievement of the current Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as well as the European Union's (EU) formal undertaking to collectively commit 0.7% of Gross National Income (GNI) to Official Development Assistance (ODA). At the same time, a new development framework will be adopted in 2015, which will set the international community's development agenda until 2030. This represents an opportunity to assess the strategic role of ODA and to adapt it to the changing global landscape of development finance. The European Parliament in collaboration with the Council and the Commission should develop a common line to support efforts for a coherent framework to financing poverty eradication and sustainable development. The EU should accentuate the transfer character of ODA and support the revision of the ODA concept and reporting in order to avoid the inflation of ODA and allow for transparent accountability of all instrument and sources of Financing for Development focusing in the public contributions. As an initial step the EU should revise the Agenda for Change (AfC) and the Consensus in order to develop a strong vision and to report its own contributions to development and climate financing in a transparent manner.