International AidTransparency Initiative (IATI)

Implementing IATI – Practical proposals

By the aidinfo team at Development Initiatives

January 2010

www.aidtransparency.net

The purpose of this presentation is to:• outline proposals for meeting the objectives of IATI

without disproportionate cost;• explain how IATI would add value to existing

systems. It describes work in progress – detailed work on

implementation issues will take place throughout 2010, with further opportunities for consultation, and an extended deadline for final decision-making by members

Introduction

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Ten desirable characteristics of IATI

1. Meet the information needs of developing country government AIMS and national budgets, with local definitions;

2. Develop common definitions and reporting processes, avoiding parallel reporting;

3. Easily accessible info for governments & parliamentarians, civil society, the media and citizens

4. Provide accurate, high quality and meaningful information (not statistics);

5. Include information from non-DAC donors, multilaterals, foundations and NGOs;

6. Be easy to understand, reconcile, compare, read alongside other information sources;

7. Be legally open, with as few barriers to access and reuse as possible;

8. Reduce duplicate reporting by donor agencies and minimise additional costs;

9. Be electronically accessible in an open format;

10. Result in access to information about aid which is more timely, more detailed, more forward looking and more comprehensive

www.aidtransparency.net

HQ

Countryteams

DAC CRS

AIMS

FTS

Treasury & Parliament

Line MinistriesSectoralworking groups

Journalists & Researchers

AIDA, PLAID, TRAID, Donor

Atlas, etc

Embassywebsite

Donorwebsite

Donors already publish to many systems and services

BUT

• Significant burden

•Results in inconsistencies

Reporting now – a view from donor perspective

www.aidtransparency.net

DAC CRS

AIMS

FTS

Donor budgets

and accounts

Line Ministries

Sectoralworking groups

Journalists & Researchers

AIDA, PLAID, TRAID, Donor

Atlas, etc

30 Embassy or

Delegation websites

DonorwebsiteDonor

websiteDonorwebsite45 Donor

websites45 Donorwebsites

Systems are producer rather than user oriented

Information can be:

•hard to find•inconsistent•scattered across multiple sites•unavailable

Reporting now – a view from user perspective

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The worst of all possible worlds – requiring a collective solution

Publish once, use often

What• Reduced administrative burden

– IATI data could be translated directly into the current format used in country so no changes will be necessary, or

– Automatic data transfer is being piloted and tested – in future, partner countries could potentially collect data automatically for AIMS with minimal systems changes if they wish to do so;

– Countries would not have to change their AIMS or budget classifications.

• Access to more, better, consistent, timely data• Access to same data across Government, parliamentarians, CSOs &

Citizens• AIMS can also add value to IATI by feeding information back to the IATI

registry

What does this mean at country level?

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Countries would not have to change their classifications

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ProfarmerProfarmer

ManlyHydraulics Lab

ManlyHydraulics Lab

EnvironmentalProtection Agency

EnvironmentalProtection Agency

Where do you get your weather information?

• IATI will support and add value to existing systems like the DAC and AIMS, not undermine or duplicate them;

• Develop a four-part standard for publishing aid information;

• Partner countries will have access to more up-to-date information on current and future aid allocations;

• Parliamentarians and CSOs will benefit from increased access to more detailed and timely data to demand accountability;

• Donors will publish their aid information once, rather than respond to many requests;

• Information intermediaries will be able to collect data automatically and offer a wider range of tailor-made services.

What IATI will do

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• Duplicate the work of the CRS – which is designed for a specific purpose

• Create a parallel set of definitions and classifications - this work will only take place where no existing classifications exist

• Design a new database – one database cannot meet all needs • Push a one-size-fits-all approach onto donors or partner

countries – – Donors use existing systems and convert to IATI format– information published will be tailored to country

circumstances • Strengthen partner country transparency – this is important

work, but is taking place elsewhere

What IATI will NOT do

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Publish once, use often