To outline the International Aid Transparency Initiative’s marked progress throughout the past year, the voluntary, multi-stakeholder initiative has, in April of this year, released its first annual report. The organisation, whose goal it is to improve governmental transparency in the spending of aid, details in the report for 130 organisations to be publishing data on the IATI open platform.

On their receiving of the data, IATI ensure a timely, comprehensive and comparable reflection of aid flows, for purposes in improving both accountability and impact for those inhabiting donor countries. It is hoped the process will allow citizens of developing countries to hold their governments more accountable for the spending and distribution of resources. Germany is the latestto have begun publishing data on the platform, with Russia having signaled a strong intention of joining.

UK Development Secretary, Justine Greening MP, states in the foreword to the report: “Transparency of aid flows is critical to good aid delivery. It helps reduce waste, fight corruption and makes sure money gets to the people who need it most. Better information at country level is right at the heart of what the International Aid Transparency Initiative is about – empowering people on the ground to scrutinise and make better decisions.”

The annual report details the IATI’s membership to have 37 donor signatories, these representing 75 percent of global official development finance. With those publishing data to IATI’s common standard numbering amongst governments, foundations, non-government organisations and civil societies.

The IATI is currently partnering with authorities in Columbia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Honduras, Nepal and Rwanda in its assessing of the initiative’s relative impact, and to subsequently ensure information is in alignment with the needs of governments and stakeholders.

Greening reflects that: “IATI has come a long way [and] this progress is to be commended. But we still have a long way to go. Now is the time to challenge each other on the quality of our data, and to strive to improve quality, increase access and better use this growing and invaluable resource.”

With regards to the near future, IATI have outlined their intent in launching a data store, thereby enabling a bettered means of accessibility. Also in 2013, IATI have pledged to support the development of tools such as aidview.net, this being for increased access and use of IATI’s contained data, as well as working more so on establishing a common standard across all of its practices.