At the aid effectiveness forum in Ghana, Douglas Alexander, secretary of the U.K. Department for International Development, launched a global initiative to improve aid delivery and transparency. Alexander urged donors to establish a set of common criteria in examining aid efficiency. The United Nations Development Program, the World Bank, the European Commission, the Hewlett Foundation and other donor countries are backing the scheme. (“International Aid Transparency Initiative launched” - U.K. Department for International Development, Sept. 4, 2008)