The G8 and G20 countries have made significant commitments during past summits. However, their success is not determined by the contents of the communiqué but on whether their commitments are kept. InterAction applauds the G8’s preliminary accountability report and its commitment to develop a consistent and comprehensive G8 accountability framework. We urge the U.S. Executive branch to take a strong leadership role at the June 2010 G8 Summit by calling for an accountability framework that is a permanent, robust, credible, public and inclusive feature of the G8 and G20 processes.

Recommendations

InterAction’s G8/G20 NGO Coordination Group urges the U.S. government to take a strong leadership role at the June 2010 G8 Muskoka Summit and G20 Toronto Summit. We request that the following recommendations be included in the respective communiqués.

1. A robust, credible, inclusive monitoring and accountability framework depends on the G8’s reliance on expert working groups, including the existing ones on health, corruption, education, water and sanitation, Africa and food security. The G8 should continue these expert groups and urge the G20 to adopt a corresponding accountability framework.

2. Expert groups should be mandated to seek, and authorized to receive, input and comments throughout the process from other international organisations, governments and civil society, in their preparation of reports on implementing commitments.

3. The mission statements for expert groups and the names and affiliation of all experts should be made public. Their meeting schedules should be released 20 days prior to any scheduled meeting, and include a detailed list of G8 or G20 commitments under review. In addition, the process should produce a consolidated report of the expert groups’ deliberations, findings, conclusions and recommendations, which should be made public 30 days prior to the 2010 summits and subsequent summits thereafter.

4. Expert group reports should comprehensively evaluate results against consistent and specific indicators, including resources pledged and delivered. Reports should include on-the ground monitoring of program implementation and outcomes, calling on international organisations as needed, and include time tables and options for future action.