The G8 Communiqué released from the meeting of country leaders in Deauville today places emphasis on the need for increased aid transparency. The necessity of accessible and usable information on aid is highlighted, and the High Level Forum at the end of the year has been set as a milestone for advancing the efforts of aid donors.

“We will improve transparency of our aid information. In particular, we will make further efforts on publishing information on allocations, expenditure and results. Information will be provided in accessible formats that deliver on the needs of partner countries and citizens. In this respect, it is important that partner countries also improve transparency. We recognise that individual countries will proceed at their own pace but we will lead by example through increasing transparency in this area and work with others in advance of the Fourth High Level Forum in Korea in November 2011.” Para. 62 Deauville G8 Declaration: Renewed Commitment for Freedom and Democracy

Leaders have recognised the need to have delivered on commitments made in 2005 and 2008:

“In the perspective of the Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness to be held in Busan, South Korea later this year, we welcome progress made in aid delivery since the endorsement of the Rome and Paris Declarations and the Accra Agenda for Action.” Para. 61 Deauville G8 Declaration: Renewed Commitment for Freedom and Democracy

Publish What You Fund will be launching a public campaign and working with donor governments throughout the year to ensure that they fulfil the promises made. We look forward to seeing this reflected in International Aid Transparency (IATI) sign ups by Canada, France, Italy and Russia, as well as seeing the German IATI implementation plan delivered before the HLF4 in Busan this November.