LONDON: Most of the world’s biggest aid donors are failing to make public what their spending achieves, according to a study released on Wednesday that ranks China, the United Arab Emirates and Japan as the worst performers.
Publish What You Fund, a campaign group, assessed the transparency of 45 organizations worldwide that spend at least $1 billion a year in aid to poor and crisis-affected countries.
One in four either failed to describe the projects they funded at all or described them in technical language that the public would struggle to understand, while only one in three reported the results of such projects.
“This makes it very difficult for watchdogs, partner country governments and donors themselves to understand what is working and if the promised results are being achieved,” said Catherine Turner, the head of Publish What You Fund.
China’s Ministry of Commerce, which manages the country’s foreign aid spending, was the worst performer, followed by the foreign ministries of the UAE and Japan.
A UAE foreign ministry spokesman said that it is engaging with a different set of transparency rules. China’s Ministry of Commerce and Japan’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Overall, the report said most organizations had made improvements in recent years, with 95 percent now publishing information to an internationally agreed standard. However, it said some data released was of poor quality or incomplete.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the United Nations (UN) Development Programme took first and second positions as the most transparent donors, with Britain’s Department for International Development (DFID) ranking third best.
“Transparency is a critical aspect of effective development work and we are glad to be at the forefront of it,” Takehiko Nakao, ADB president said in a statement.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and Britain’s foreign ministry were also among the lowest scorers.
“Without transparency, we risk undermining public trust in our life-saving aid,” said Romilly Greenhill, UK director of The ONE Campaign, an advocacy group.
OCHA said it published its financial data daily and that it was a mistake to measure its performance against a scoring system designed for long-term development aid, as the agency dealt with emergencies.
Britain’s foreign ministry said it had made changes to improve transparency and was ensuring taxpayers’ money was spent well but could not release details around some projects in higher-risk countries and conflict zones for security reasons.
“Foreign Office aid is tackling poverty and conflict and boosting prosperity in some of the world’s poorest countries,” a spokeswoman said.
Earlier this month, British lawmakers raised concerns that aid money from a fund managed by the foreign ministry was being spent to develop China’s film industry and museums, rather than on helping the world poorest.
Value for money? Major aid donors fail transparency test
Value for money? Major aid donors fail transparency test
- One in four either failed to describe the projects they funded at all or described them in technical language that the public would struggle to understand, says campaign group.
- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the United Nations (UN) Development Programme took first and second positions as the most transparent donors.
Mawani, Qatar Ports ink cooperation deal to boost regional maritime trade
RIYADH: The Saudi Ports Authority, or Mawani, and Qatar Ports Management Co. signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at boosting maritime and logistics cooperation, contributing to the development of the ports sector, raising operational efficiency, and supporting regional and international trade flows.
The MoU was signed by Mawani President Suliman Al-Mazroua and Qatar Ports Management Co. CEO Abdullah Mohammed Al-Khanji, in the presence of Qatari Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Bandar bin Mohammed Al-Attiyah.
The step reflects both sides’ commitment to building effective partnerships, exchanging expertise, establishing an organized framework for cooperation management, and developing joint investment opportunities in line with Saudi Vision 2030 and Qatar National Vision 2030.
The MoU outlines eight key areas of cooperation, including the exchange of best practices in port management and operations, and studying opportunities for direct maritime and land connectivity between the two countries’ ports to enhance trade efficiency.
It also includes collaboration in logistics services, exploring the establishment of joint maritime corridors serving bilateral and regional trade, and assessing the feasibility of creating shared regional distribution centers.
Both parties agreed to enhance cooperation in digital transformation and artificial intelligence, focusing on smart systems, data governance, and a unified maritime window to improve operational efficiency and remain at the forefront of technological progress in the maritime sector.
The MoU emphasizes maritime safety and environmental protection, including the exchange of expertise on marine pollution control and emergency response, the development of joint maritime emergency plans, and the establishment of a bilateral emergency communication line.
It also promotes collaboration to ensure compliance with international conventions, conduct joint exercises, and implement risk-monitoring systems.
Cooperation further extends to human capital development through joint training programs and on-the-ground expertise exchanges, as well as academic and research partnerships in maritime transport and logistics.
Regarding joint investment, both parties will explore local and international opportunities in ports and related services, coordinating with the private sector to support these initiatives.
The MoU also includes cooperation in cruise tourism through enhanced maritime connectivity and joint promotion of Gulf cruise routes, as well as coordination of positions in international maritime organizations and support for joint initiatives, notably “Green Ports” and “Safe Sea Corridors.”
This memorandum reflects the commitment of Mawani and Qatar Ports Management Co. to advancing the ports sector and boosting its role as a key driver of trade and economic growth, contributing to Gulf integration, and enhancing regional competitiveness in maritime services.
