OECD Development Assistance Peer Reviews: Belgium 2010

This publication presents the Development Assistance Committee peer review of the aid programmes and policies of Belgium for 2010. To improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Belgium’s aid, the review suggests that the many development actors involved could be better linked through a common vision for development co-operation and a clear understanding of policy guidance and aid management.



The review highlights Belgium’s work in fragile states, encouraging the government to formulate a cross-ministry approach to development co-operation in fragile states and to ensure that this is reflected in work done in developing countries. The DAC commends Belgium for the 71% growth in its humanitarian budget since 2004. Belgium’s plans to reform its current rigid laws should allow it to define the focus of its humanitarian action and to link it with long-term development.

Table of contents
The DAC’S Main Findings and Recommendations
Secretariat Report
Chapter 1 Strategic Orientations
New momentum for international co-operation
Strategic framework of Belgium’s development co-operation
Sustainable human development: a clear priority enshrined in law
Sector priorities: concentration, and a new emphasis on the productive sector
The challenge of addressing cross-cutting issues in practice
A focus on Central Africa
Belgium’s institutional framework for development co-operation
Some progress made in bringing together a complex system
Harmonisation at home: taking further steps towards a unified, coherent approach
Communicating and building public awareness
High public support for development, but little knowledge of development co-operation
Belgium’s strategy for communicating its vision
Future considerations
Chapter 2 Policy Coherence for Development
The three building blocks
Towards an explicit policy statement
Policy co-ordination mechanisms
Monitoring and analysing policy impact on development
The example of the environment: excellent practice on which Belgium should build
Future considerations
Chapter 3 Aid Volume, Channels and Allocations
ODA volumes: substantial increases
The challenge to sustain the budget increase
A clearer strategy needed for allocating the new ODA
A variety of channels and little aid programmable at country level
Bilateral allocations reflect policy priorities
Geographical concentration: on the right track
Concentration on two to three sectors in focus countries
A few ODA loans still tied to Belgian exports
Humanitarian aid
Strong and increasingly efficient support to multilateral organisations
Future considerations
Chapter 4 Organisation and Management
Organisation and system
The challenge to deliver as one
The need for a stronger DGDC to take the policy lead
The need for further decentralisation and simplification of processes
Institutional relationships with other Belgian development co-operation actors
An exemplary, strategic and inclusive approach to NGOs
Engaging further with institutional partners
Strengthening the role of evaluations
A welcome restructuring of the evaluation function
The need for an evaluation culture
Ensuring appropriate skills and adequate human resource capacity
Managing human resources to support DGDC’s strategic leadership role
Managing careers and knowledge better
Future considerations
Chapter 5 Aid Effectiveness
Strong political commitment to aid effectiveness
Progress made on implementing the aid effectiveness principles
Welcome efforts to include all Belgian actors in the Paris agenda
Commitment to ownership and alignment
Taking harmonisation seriously
Scope for further progress on managing for results and mutual accountability
Future considerations
Chapter 6 Special Issues
Capacity development
The institutional framework: work in progress
Capacity development in practice: implementing the aid effectiveness principles
Agriculture, high food prices and donor responses
A welcome revision of the strategic note
Agriculture and food security: a high priority for Belgium
The need to co-ordinate instruments better
Future considerations
Annex A Progress Since the 2005 Peer Review Recommendations
Annex B OECD/DAC Standard Suite of Tables
Annex C Belgium and the Good Humanitarian Donorship Initiative
Annex D Visit to Partner Country: Burundi
Description of Key Terms
Bibliography