International financial transparency

Aitor Pérez. WP 17/2020 (English version) - 29/7/2020.

This paper advocates clear concepts and ways of measuring transparency and illicit financial flows as a first step to improving the communication of the agenda and ultimately making it more effective.

Global norms, gender equality and development cooperation: the need to build on strong local support to change gender relations

Lars Engberg-Pedersen. ARI 58/2019 - 22/5/2019.

Do global norms on gender equality diffuse to all corners of the world? Based on a study of major organisations in international development cooperation this seems questionable.

Aid Power and Politics - How do international-relations theories explain aid policies?

Real Instituto Elcano / Elcano Royal Institute. 21/5/2019.

The ‘Aid narratives project’ explores diverse political arguments behind development cooperation. This analysis is framed in an international context where the basic grounds of this public policy are under debate, or even contested.

Target 2030: illicit financial flows

Alex Cobham. ARI 81/2018 - 26/6/2018.

Target 16.4 in the UN Sustainable Development Goals is a global commitment to reduce the level of illicit financial flows. The target stands as a great achievement by civil society organisations, but there remain critical challenges, both technical and political, if progress is to be realised.

What is behind the African miracle? Implications for European cooperation

Nicolás Lippolis. ARI 65/2018 (English version) - 7/5/2018.

The evolution of African economies since the end of the raw-materials boom has been marked by a growing heterogeneity. The EU’s development cooperation should adapt to the new realities unfolding on the continent.

The international aid of subnational governments: the case of Spain

Aitor Pérez. WP 10/2018 (English version) - 25/4/2018.

Spanish Autonomous Communities (regions) and municipalities gave some US$220 million in development assistance in 2015. This accounts for a third of total Spanish bilateral ODA, making Spain the world’s most decentralised donor.

Document of interest: Possible impacts of Brexit on EU development and humanitarian policies

. 17/4/2017.

The EU is currently the world’s largest donor. According to OECD records, its institutions and member states are responsible for more than 50 % of the world’s Official Development Assistance (ODA). With a total ODA volume of USD 18.7 billion in 2015, the UK stands as the aid world’s second largest contributor in absolute terms. The Brexit process may, therefore, mean a huge loss for the EU as a global donor. Written by  Iliana Olivié and Aitor Pérez, analysts at the Elcano Royal Institute, this study support the work of the European Parliament’s Committee on Development (DEVE) in the debate surrounding the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

Fourteen dilemmas for Spanish development aid in the new incoming parliament

Iliana Olivié and Aitor Pérez. ARI 46/2016 - 8/6/2016.

The future of Spanish policy on international development cooperation requires a series of dilemmas to be politically addressed; these concern, for example, the geographical distribution of aid, the connection between development policy and other strands of foreign policy and the appropriate combination of instruments and actors.

Document of interest: Europe Beyond Aid: Europe’s Commitment to International Security

. MI / DI - 10/7/2015.

Written by Félix Arteaga and Aitor Pérez, analysts at the Elcano Royal Institute, this paper highlights the link between security and development, a point of general consensus among both security and development actors at the European as well as global level.

Elaborado por Félix Arteaga y Aitor Pérez, ambos  investigadores del Real Instituto Elcano, como resultado de la colaboración del  Instituto con el Center for Global Development (CGD) en el marco del proyecto  Europe Beyond Aid, el documento analiza los vínculos entre seguridad y desarrollo en el marco del consenso existente entre los actores de ambas áreas tanto a nivel Europeo como a nivel global.

Document of interest: Europe Beyond Aid: Illicit Financial Flows.Policy Responses in Europe and Implications for Developing Countries

. MI / DI - 18/3/2015.

Written by  Iliana Olivié and Aitor Pérez, analysts at the Elcano Royal Institute, this  paper summarizes the current understanding of illicit finance and its relevance  for developing countries. It analyzes European contributions to making  development finance less illicit and based on three case studies of Belgium,  Luxembourg and Spain, it also provides in-depth analyses of national policies.

Elaborado por Iliana Olivié y Aitor Pérez, ambos  investigadores del Real Instituto Elcano, como resultado de la colaboración del  Instituto con el Center for Global Development (CGD) en el marco del proyecto  Europe Beyond Aid, el documento resume las investigaciones actuales sobre los  flujos financieros ilícitos y su importancia para los países en desarrollo.  Se analizan las aportaciones  europeas para hacer que la  financiación del desarrollo  tenga menores flujos  ilícitos, en base a los estudios de caso de Bélgica, Luxemburgo y  España, además de proporcionar  un análisis en profundidad de las  políticas nacionales.