Country ownership is the linchpin of the Comprehensive Development Framework (CDF), according to a recent World Bank report on the CDF. This evaluation of the role of ownership and participation in the CDF will examine these issues by addressing five specific questions: (1) has the CDF been successful in reflecting the new development consensus, in particular, the emphasis on ownership and participation?
(2) to what extent have aid agencies and organizations adopted ownership and participation as central to their operations?
(3) has the existence of the Comprehensive Development Framework led to the emphasis on ownership and participation among aid agencies?
(4) to what extent have governments receiving aid 'owned' the aid and sought the participation of their bureaucracies, parliaments and civil societies in planning and implementing the aid-funded activities?
(5) has better ownership led to better-designed and implemented policies and fewer policy rollbacks?
The following sections will first introduce the concept of ownership and participation and their incorporation in the CDF
then examine the role of ownership and participation in the activities of aid donors
third, examine ownership and participation in the work of aid recipients and finally, the extent to which the CDF has been put into use and has helped internalize/operationalize the concept of ownership and participation.