Policy Coherence for Development (PCD): The State of Play in Ireland

Abstract

This report is the first systematic assessment of policy coherence for development (PCD) across Irish Government departments. Our objectives were as follows: — To create an inventory of policy areas where Irish government decisionmaking may have direct or indirect consequences for developing countries and their ability to make progress on meeting the Millennium Development Goals. Although we have attempted to be comprehensive in our approach, we are certainly not exhaustive. We hope the report will stimulate discussion among NGOs and others to identify other areas where PCD issues arise. — To illustrate the range of issues in day-to-day decision-making in government departments which have an impact, whether direct or indirect, on the interests of Ireland’s developing country partners, and thus to help to sensitise those involved in this decision-making to these interests. — To highlight those areas on the policy coherence agenda where further analysis and research is required to determine what is the most appropriate policy from a developing country perspective, and how best Irish government policies might be modified to make them more coherent with development objectives. — To provide the basis for a series of policy coherence for development commitments by the Irish government if it were agreed that this was an appropriate way forward for the PCD agenda. As commitments need to be assessed against meaningful targets if they are to be effective, we also discuss in general terms the construction of a set of PCD indicators for this purpose.