The necessity of private sector development for economic development is not disputed. However, its sufficiency, as well as the role of aid in that process is more controversial. Antagonists’ argue that aid could and should be used better than to increase profits for business. However, increased economic integration, the emergence of new development challenges and pressures for more effective aid delivery have increased the interest to work with and through the private sector. Such partnerships, or Joint Development Initiatives (JDI), take different forms, including innovative investment activities (e.g. challenge funds), collaboration with and support to sustainable business practices, and the leverage of private financing for development.
But to what extent can actors in the business sector help fulfil the objectives of aid? OECD’s Development Assistance committee (DAC) is currently performing a thematic peer review of some of its member states, among them Sweden, with the objective to arrive at effectiveness principles for such partnerships. Quite timely, in a new EBA report presented at this seminar, Sara Johansson de Silva, Ari Kokko and Hanna Norberg map out JDI in Swedish development cooperation. They also analyse whether the potential development gains from these initiatives can be expected to be realized.
Program:
08.00 Registration, coffee/tea and sandwich
08:30 Introduction
Torgny Holmgren, member of the EBA
08:35 Now Open for Business: Joint Development Initiatives between the Private and Public Sectors in Development Cooperation
Dr. Sara Johansson de Silva, independent consultant
Professor Ari Kokko, Copenhagen Business School
Dr. Hanna Norberg, independent consultant
09.00 Comments
Shannon Kindornay, Carleton University
Naeeda Crishna Morgado, OECD
Annika Sundén, Sida
09.30 Discussion
Sara Johansson de Silva, Ari Kokko, Hanna Norberg, Shannon Kindornay, Naeeda Crishna Morgado, Annika Sundén. Moderator: Torgny Holmgren.
09.55 Concluding remarks, Torgny Holmgren
Speakers and discussants:
Sara Johansson de Silva, independent consultant, author of the report
Ari Kokko, Professor, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark, author of the report
Hanna Norberg, independent consultant, author of the report
Shannon Kindornay, Adjunct Research Professor at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University, Canada
Naeeda Crishna Morgado, Policy Analyst, Green Growth, Climate Change and Development, OECD
Annika Sundén, Chief Economist, Sida
Torgny Holmgren, member of the EBA, Managing Director of SIWI
Thursday, 19 November 2015, 08:30-10:00
Sida (room Djenné), Stockholm