DRI and OIF participated in a discussion panel during the African Caucus in Khartoum with representatives of the World Bank, the IMF and Gravitas Capital Advisors. Entitled ‘Financing Infrastructure through Structured Bonds’, the event focused on the topic of financing for development for Africa and the financing prospects of these institutions. Panellists discussed the needs of the African continent in terms of infrastructure and the fight against exogenous shocks, while highlighting the difficulties African leaders face in accessing financing. Download the presentation here. The Governors of the African Caucus therefore called the IBW to take concrete measures to encourage the growth of African countries as per their Khartoum Declaration. Khartoum will again host next’s year African Caucus. 

Since the Launch of Government Spending Watch, there has been a large amount of interest from a multitude of organisations from CSOs to INGOs/IFIs. Recently, both Save the Children (You will need Java to watch the session ) and the Open Knowledge Foundation have asked DFI to conduct webinar sessions to facilitate dissemination of the project throughout their organisation. The webinars have focused in particular on introducing the initiative; providing walkthroughs of the website and data, the methodology and also practical uses of the data. Another session for the Global Campaign for Education is to be held in the next few months. As these events were extremely well received, DFI is happy to provide other organisations with webinar sessions. Contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  for further information.

A new report by Belgian organisation CNCD-11.11.11 exposes the systems that perpetuate tax injustice around the world and highlights some solutions that could remedy international tax injustice. Another report from Christian Aid makes the link between tax dodging, financial secrecy and hunger by showing that businesses that benefit from lack of transparency in trade and financial systems also play a role in exacerbating hunger: they deprive the poorer countries of billions in tax revenues every year.

A joint World Bank-DRI mission visited Tbilisi in the Republic of Georgia to assess debt management activities in the country based on the DeMPA methodology developed by the World Bank. The mission met with staff from various institutions involved in debt management and presented its preliminary assessment to the authorities. The final assessment report should submit its final report to the Georgian authorities by the end of July 2013.

A joint World Bank / DRI mission visited Praia, Cape Verde to develop a reform plan debt management. Its recommendations were structured around five areas: strategy medium-term debt, institutional framework, developing the domestic market, data and coordination, and fiscal risk. The mission prepared a project that will be submitted for peer review and then to the Cape Verdian authorities for comment. It is anticipated that the final report be completed by August 2013.

In a statement released at the closing of the G8 2013 summit in London, G8 countries committed to boosting development efforts of African partners. They praised their development efforts and committed further support to promote inclusive and resilient growth in Africa. Recognising the key role of good infrastructure in economic growth, the G8 countries committed to providing increased support for project preparation facilities for regional projects. Moreover, they committed to explore further ways to facilitate institutional investment flows into bankable trade-related infrastructure projects in developing countries. 

A validation workshop was held to close the study looking at the causes of the weak rate of investment credits consumption in Niger. The workshop brought together key players involved in public investment and the procurement system, as well as local donors. The report was subjected to a critical review by two commissions, with a particular focus on the feasibility of the action and implementation plan proposed by DFI and two national consultants. The main outcomes of the study will be officially presented to Cabinet and appropriate measures will be taken to implement the report's recommendations under the supervision of the Ministry of Planning.

Save the Children Norway is hosting a breakfast launch seminar of the Government Spending Watch 2013 Report, website and database on Thursday 13th June May at Oslo's House of Literature. The session will present and discuss the new initiative with a panel from DFI, Oxfam and Save the Children. Details and registration here.

N’djamena hosted a joint World Bank-DFI DeMPA mission to assess the country’s debt management performance. This mission was held in a context of the Chadian authorities’ willingness to reach completion point and mobilise significant resources to finance infrastructure projects. The mission concluded that Chad’s debt management shows (i) fragmented structures, (ii) poor coordination and information sharing, (iii) poor staff capacity and high turnover, (iv) non-existent comprehensive and reliable data, and (v) weaknesses in treasury management.

On behalf of the Francophone ministerial network, Finance ministers from Burundi, DRC and Senegal have jointly appealed to the Governors and Alternate Governors of ADF-IDA contributing countries to urge them to support a significant real terms increase in the ADF-IDA replenishments in order to assist developing countries in implementing the post-2015 agenda.