The 2005 Paris Declaration committed both countries and donors to increase efforts around ownership; alignment; harmonisation; managing for results; and, mutual accountability. The world's 450m smallholder farms offer perspectives on the Paris partnership commitments with the potential to provide income & employment to the ultra-poor. In Honduras, Mozambique, Uganda, Vietnam, Tanzania  and Zambia donors have developed their programmes in line with national strategies and  systems e.g. financial management and procurement.  But weak rural institutions and limited rural participation in national policy processes has created ownership 'gaps' in policy formulation and resource allocation.

 
Brian Baldwin
Chair, Steering Committee
Global Donor Platform for Rural Development and Senior Operations Management Adviser International Fund for Agricultural Development
Rome, Italy
B.Baldwin@ifad.org