The growing number of international development actors that are formally outside the OECD DAC framework presents important challenges and opportunities. While they do not formally adhere to the Paris principles, the different approaches they favour can offer valuable lessons, both positive and negative. This debate will explore the global governance of the aid effectiveness agenda. What should the role of the DAC be as the “aidscape” becomes ever more complex? Does the UN have a leading role to play? Does the presence of non-traditional development actors represent a challenge for recipient countries seeking to assert their leadership, or can less orthodox approaches to development and governance strengthen country ownership? What will the next five years of aid effectiveness look like?

For this debate we are pleased to have the participation of Brian Atwood, the chair of the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee, who will set out what he thinks Busan should be about. Also speaking will be the Rwandan High Commissioner to the UK, Ernest Rwamucyo, an expert on aid and development and representing a country at the heart of many of the current debates on ownership and aid effectiveness. Jonathan Glennie of the ODI will argue for more inclusive governance of the aid effectiveness agenda to prepare it better for a different context.