ABSTRACT

This chapter shows the silence of the Paris Declaration on the substantive objectives of, aid partnerships risks entrenching an unduly technocratic, managerialist and depoliticised development policy agenda. It analyses the policy and institutional framework of the "new aid modalities". The chapter explores the potential policy consequences for efforts to promote more principled human rights engagement in aid relationships. It examines the issues in connection with the UN's recent moves towards "Delivering as One", as well as in their application to donor harmonisation efforts on land reform in Cambodia. The chapter shows advocacy that cannot be understood by reference to tired and traditional stereotypes. Human rights advocacy may usefully be integrated within the UN's joint development programming frameworks, consistent with and complementary to the UN development system's capacity-building role. The international human rights mechanisms, treaty bodies as well as Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council, have supported development partner and civil society advocacy for equitable land reform.