How do you like your aid statistics?

Do rich countries try to manipulate aid statistics to avoid criticism?

Two weeks ago, the corridors of OECD’s Conference Center were quite crowded. The Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the organization was convened to discuss a significant change over aid statistics, which they call “modernizing”. This “modernizing” has three main pillars; including several other flows to Official Development Assistance (ODA) definition, redefining the term “concessional in character” and revising the ODA eligible country list.

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Who is Going to Win in Syria?

Yesterday UN presented its tenth report on the plight in Syria accusing both government forces and insurgents of committing crimes against humanity. What’s worse, the report continues, both sides do not show a slight sign of fear that they might be held accountable someday. Well, that seems optimistic.

Assuming that providing arms (whether chemical or conventional) to either side would end the war is naive. Almost everyone knows that this will only bring more destruction and human tragedy upon the people of Syria (see here) whose perpetrators cannot be even identified let alone punished.

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Is Darfur Old News For International Community?

Tens of delegates gathered in Doha on last Sunday to seek financial aid to Sudan’s ravaged region, Darfur. The Strategy presented in the Conference claimed that the region needs 4.6 billion USD from international donors to realize meaningful progress on development efforts for the next 5 years. Dissappointingly, pledges made by donors remained limited to some 1 billion USD. So what does this mean for Darfur and Sudan as a whole?

Serious men in suits sit in the lobby of Ritz Carlton Doha, enjoying the luxury and hospitality of Qatari Government when a government official in his dishash polietly informs them that the meeting is about the start.

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