promote internal reforms such as daring to use more openended, flexible and iterative processes, which tend to fit better with local realities than front-loaded and rigid time-bound project designs At a much more general and complex level, more efforts are needed to prevent the efforts of donor agencies to support democratisation and development being undermined by the effects of other policies carried out by donor governments, such as agricultural subsidies, land grabbing, protection of business interests, capital flight or securitisation of international relations. The International Food Research Institute estimated in 2003 that the impact of subsidies costs developing countries USD 24 billion in lost income every year (Diao, Diaz-Bonilla and Robinson, 2003). Furthermore, according to the Norwegian Ministry for Foreign Affairs, ‘developing countries lose around ten times their revenue from aid through illicit financial flows’, of which 3–5 per cent derive from corruption, 30–35 per cent from criminal activities and 65 per cent from commercial activities (Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2012). Globally, a new emphasis should be placed on the quality of democracy, which goes beyond formal institutions and processes. Particularly urgent quality issues include the extent of the political inclusivity of men, women, boys and girls living in poverty – particularly their ability to voice concerns, and organise and influence development priorities such as improving education, health and job opportunities. There is much to suggest that inclusive democratic politics can be more resilient and sustainable in meeting the growing demands of citizens. That is why democratic political processes, and the actors that drive those processes, should be at the heart of the global development agenda. D emo c r a c y wi t h i n i n t e r n a t i o n a l d e v e l o pme n t a i d References Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2012. Illicit Financial Flows pdf Regjeringen. Available at: www.regjeringen.no/upload/UD/ Vedlegg/dialog/Ulovlig_kapitalflyt_Eng_WEB.pdf Accessed 26 November 2014. OECD (Organisations for Economic Co-operation and Development), no date. ODA Statistics webpage OECD. Available at: http://www.oecd.org/dac/stats/ Accessed 26 November 2014. XinshenDiao, X., Diaz-Bonilla, E.and Robinson, S., 2003. How Much Does it Hurt? The Impact of Agricultural Policies on Developing Countries pdf International Food Policy Research Institute. Available at: www.ifpri.org/sites/default/files/pubs/ media/trade/trade.pdf Accessed 26 November 2014. Commonwealth Governance Handbook 2014/15 17 About International IDEA The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) is an intergovernmental organisation with a mission to support sustainable democracy worldwide. Other resources: • IDEA at the UN: www.idea.int/un • IDEA’s work on democracy and development: www.idea. int/development/index.cfm • IDEA’s work on citizen led assessments of democracy: www.idea.int/sod
CEP template 2012
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