Evaluation report 2012:6 Nordic Influence in Multilateral Organizations: A Finnish Perspective
By:
Pauliina Aarva
Satu Zukale
Annika Magnusson
With contributions from Isabela Nogueira de Morais
ISBN 978-952-281-027-4 (printed)
ISBN 978-952-281-028-1 (pdf)
ISSN 1235-7618
A Finnish perspective on Nordic influence in multilateral organizations
This paper reports on a desk study that explores how the Nordic countries have influenced the promotion of gender equality (GE) policies in the African countries through the World Bank (WB) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) over a period of six years (2006 to 2011).
The assessment focuses on the joint-Nordic positions from a Finnish point of view. The study materials consist of around 600 documents, ranging from policy and strategy papers and official correspondence to transcribed interviews. A document-based case study of the WB Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) for Zambia is also carried out.
The analysis results indicate that the Nordic countries have influenced the WB and AfDB decision-making in order to improve GE in Africa. The active role of the Nordics in the preparation of the World Development Report 2012 Gender and Development (WDR), and efforts made in getting GE selected as a Special Theme of the International Development Association 16th Replenishment (IDA 16) decisions are sound examples.
Among various recommendations, the study urges the Nordics to invest in promoting the concrete use of the WDR 2012 in African countries and to use the opportunity to innovatively open up value discussions/policy dialogue in the Banks and in the African countries. In order to enhance the gender mainstreaming in practice, gender expert(s) financed by the Nordics, should be assigned to work in African countries and in the constituency offices.
It is also recommended to construct a joint Nordic strategy on how to approach new donor countries within the development community.
Key words: Nordic countries, influence, World Bank, African Development Bank, gender equality policies.