The team behind our global IT solutions

An international team of developers supports our diverse offering of technical solutions. These individuals work on AiDA, the aid management program, dgMarket, and Zunia, in addition to projects for clients such as UNDP and AFD. They are based in Armenia, Argentina, Bangladesh, Georgia, Kenya, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Ukraine, and the United States. Eduard Abrahamyan, Hrachya Yeghiazaryan, Vahan Amirbekyan, Tigran Papikyan, Aram Shahinyan, and Anush Martirosyan of the Armenian team are pictured here, captured in a rare moment of relaxation. Using developers around the world results in savings to our clients and solutions that are as adaptable as they are global.

Three things you should know about IATI

The first annual conference for the International Aid Transparency Initiative concluded October 21. Several staff members from Development Gateway attended. From their feedback and the conference presentations, a few themes emerged regarding efforts to make aid data more transparent and accessible. Here are three things you should know:

1. The intent of IATI is not to create a database. The aim is to establish a common set of standards and definitions, and a code of conduct for donors.
2. Aid information management systems at the country level do not replace the Creditor Reporting System of the OECD, rather they are complementary. Read the study that compares data reported to the CRS and aid management systems in Malawi and Burkina Faso. Rudolphe Petras of Development Gateway conducted the study, analyzing information in two implementations of the Aid Management Platform.
3. While the primary emphasis is on donors, civil society organizations also share the responsibility for transparency.

So far 18 signatories are committed to the process. The goal of establishing common information standards by the end of this year will probably not be met. Still, there is much interest as the need for increased transparency is great.

The report from the conference is here and the program with links to presentations is here.