Pieter Stek – Member of the Commission on Coherence of the International Economic and Financial Architecture, at the Advisory Council on International Affairs, The Hague

We asked Pieter, what are the positives and what are the risks in the international financial architecture for mobilising and using finance effectively for development in the poorest and most vulnerable countries? Pieter identifies a greater level of competition between countries because more knowledge is available (through the internet and availability of mobiles phones) that applies pressure to the authorities in these countries to create opportunities. Public sector initiative is also important, with the need to tap into existing knowledge and experience, through advice from multilaterals and from their own institutions.