Allocating aid more fairly

In the effort to make the allocations of aid more equitable and respond better to the requirements of the poorest countries, the questions both of country allocations and of earmarking these allocations in support of anti-poverty policies and programmes arise. Increased use of multilateral channels would contribute to this, as multilateral aid is generally spread among a larger number of recipient countries and its programmes more geared to poor countries and to countries with large numbers of poor people, than is bilateral aid. Moreover, multilateral agencies, like the World Bank, UNDP, UNICEF, IFAD, FAO, WHO, UNESCO and ILO, have developed considerable expertise and institutional capacity to assist countries in carrying out anti-poverty policies, programmes and projects. Establishing indicative targets, in terms of sectoral allocations as well as allocations to country groups, and monitoring their implementation, would heighten pressure for improved aid allocations by donors.