An Australia-based researcher gives an interesting take on the topic.
Kathryn Zealand of the Development Policy Center, a think tank associated with the Australian National University, says Australia’s aid program is “more transparent than recent rankings suggest” and could be more transparent if the country delivers on the commitments outlined in its recent transparency charter.
Zealand was commentating on a recent transparency-related ranking that suggests the transparency of Australian aid program is disappointing. The transparency charter she mentioned was unveiled by the Australian government in November and commits the country to regularly publish information about its aid program.
Aid transparency has been a major buzzword in the international community for some time now, with campaigners urging donors to publicize aid information in a more standardized manner. Transparency is also among the key issues addressed in the outcome document adopted by traditional and new donors at the Fourth High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan, South Korea, in December.
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