Utstein

Abstract

Following several months of extensive informal collaboration over the winter of 1998–9 culminating in the spring 1999 Development Committee meetings and the May OECD/DAC High Level Meeting, the four ministers decided to intensify their collaboration by organizing a formal ministerial meeting. Johnson offered to host the meeting at the Utstein Abbey on 25–6 July 1999. Subsequent ministerial meetings were organized by the other members of the group on an annual basis. This chapter discusses in detail the main topics addressed in their first ministerial meeting and the key principles guiding the Utstein group, including their emphasis on a partnership approach, with the partner government showing programme ownership; programmes of budget support utilizing partner country systems; and increasing the volume and improving the quality of aid. The chapter then describes U4 efforts to spread their message to other likeminded countries through existing and new institutional networks.