The effects of the global economic crisis and climate change on the developing world loomed over this Development Policy Forum (DPF) roundtable on aid effectiveness. All panellists and the large number of participants agreed that the EU's aid focus is too narrow and suggested various ways to improve the situation.

On the positive side, participants also agreed that the policy environment in Africa has improved significantly. In the words of Shantayanan Devarajan, Chief Economist, Africa Region, the World Bank: “Policy environment has never been better in Africa. Aid effectiveness is higher than ever. Africa is on the verge of take-off.”

 Some of the issues raised in the discussion were:

• The need for donors to put their own houses in order
• Whether the Washington consensus is a life jacket or a straight jacket
• The illicit capital outflow from developing countries
• The need for an exit strategy for aid
• What the notion of aid effectiveness actually implies