Duncan Mboyah/AWC

Equality are calling on donors and governments to include gender as one of the principles in the new aid modalities.

The Paris Declaration of 2005 operates on five principles — Harmonisation, Alignment, Ownership, Management for Results and Mutual Accountability.

However of these principles that define how aid is disbursed and utilised, gender factor has not been captured as a key issue.

And now equality advocates attending the 3rd High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Accra, Ghana are calling on donors and governments to include gender as one of the principles in the new aid modalities.

They say having gender as a principle will force donors and governments to give greater attention on the matter.

The argument put forward is that while women play a critical role as development actors, their role has not been recognised under the new modalities. The same women also lack information that could help them hold their governments accountable on aid use.

“It is unfortunate that serious gender issues in developing countries have been relegated to the periphery,” said Mr Juan Lopez-Doriga, Spanish Director General for Development Policies.

Lopez-Doriga told conference participants that if gender is given equal support, “aid effectiveness and development results would be realised within a set timeframe”.

“For the success of the agreement, we need active citizens and an active civil society in ensuring accountability,” Lopez-Doriga reiterated.