We don't think so.
Partnerships take time to build.
But some encouraging starts have been made in many bilateral and multilateral agencies. An example is the United Kingdom, which has committed itself to a partnership approach towards eliminating global poverty, and given firm commitments to raise aid levels. There were several reasons, but the most important was the need for countries to reduce their budget deficits, which peaked at over 4 per cent of their combined GDP in 1993. It is politically easier to cut aid budgets than, say, health or education spending which has a direct and immediate impact on voters at home. There may have been some assumption that trade and private investment were rapidly eliminating the need for aid.