Policy coherence to face the new development challenges
Policy Coherence for Development (PCD; CPD in both Catalan and Spanish) was identified two decades ago by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) as an essential component in achieving effective results in sustainable development. It is also seen as an approach and policy tool for integrating the economic, social, environmental and governance dimensions of sustainable development at all stages of domestic and international policymaking, and contributes to global governance.
Performed activity
CIDOB, sala Jordi Maragall, Elisabets 12, 08001 Barcelona
CIDOB and Direcció General de Cooperació al Desenvolupament del Departament
The importance of PCD in international cooperation and public policy design has grown, propelled by the debate about the preoccupation with measuring efficiency in terms of results in developing countries. This results-focussed approach means analysing holistically the impact of external action and the set of institutional policies at multiple levels by including multiple actors. Commitment to PCD has become a core part of both the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDG 17 specifically focuses on strengthening alliances). Therefore, it is both a challenge and an obligation for institutions committed to the Agenda to effectively adopt the implementation of this principle in a way that contributes to achieving the commitments made.
The seminar is aimed at professionals from the public administrations involved in policies with an impact on developing countries. The objective is to compare and analyse practical cases in European countries and institutions that have been pioneers in the incorporation of PCD. It is hoped that this will promote the adoption of PCD measures by Catalan decision-makers, improve the knowledge about the challenges involved, identify the necessary normative and institutional instruments and stimulate a public debate with public and private actors.
The seminar will be structured in four parts: in the first, speakers will briefly set out the PCD situation in their own countries/institutions. Then, three round tables will analyse in depth the aspects of effective PCD incorporation into public policies in accordance with OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) classification to identify best practices at every level: primarily we will analyse diagnostic exercises and legislations developed by different actors; secondly we will study implemented public policies and the institutional mechanisms meant to guarantee effectiveness, and finally we will explore monitoring, evaluation and accountability mechanisms.