Rwanda enhancing transparency and mutual accountability through Donor Performance Assessment Framework (DPAF)
In 2008, the Government of Rwanda and its Development Partners agreed to enhance its mutual accountability framework through the Donor Performance Assessment Framework (DPAF). The DPAF provides a joint tool for the monitoring of donor performance against their national-level and international commitments on the volume and quality of development assistance provided to Rwanda. As such, the DPAF indicators are drawn from the Paris Declaration indicators.
The DPAF is presented both in aggregate form (comprising all development assistance to Rwanda) and disaggregated by donor to allow for comparison, individual reflection on performance, as well as accountability and peer pressure, which are recognized as key ingredients to the successful implementation of the Paris Declaration and Rwanda’s Aid Policy at the country level.
Process and results
The first DPAF was published in 2009, which assessed the performance of the 2008 fiscal year. The 2009/10 DPAF was undertaken through the Development Assistance Database (DAD), which accommodates the DPAF module. This has led to improved aid information recorded in the Development Assistance Database in terms of quality and volume.
The DPAF FY 2009/2010 results indicate that there has been an improvement at aggregate level in a number of indicators. However, most of the indicators did not meet the targets set for FY 2009/2010 or the Paris Declaration (PD) Target 2010, despite the considerable efforts made by some DPs who showed incredible transformation of their ODA portfolio in the last 1-2 years.
This year’s DPAF oriented the discussions during the 9th Government of Rwanda and Development Partners Meeting (DPM) which took place on 4-5 November, 2010. The DPM focused on how DPs can fully channel external financing through country systems and in-year and medium term predictability of aid resources. As an outcome of the DPM, all the official Development Partners agreed to use Rwanda country systems, including treasury, reporting, procurement and auditing systems. They also agreed to communicate monthly projection of disbursements as opposed to quarterly disbursement which posed planning problems, this will enhance transparency and accountability.