As efforts intensify to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015, developed and developing countries have committed to new partnerships and aid modalities, designed to align aid to nationally-determined development priorities, to pool diverse aid sources into direct support to the national budget or to particular sectors, and to ensure greater stability and predictability in aid flows. The Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness summarizes the principles and indicators of progress agreed to by the OECD-DAC donor countries and the developing country partners.

Gender equality is central to achieving the MDGs and other development goals, making it important to ensure that aid structures target and monitor progress towards gender equality goals. Ultimately, gender equality outcomes will be important signs of the effectiveness of the new approach to aid delivery and partnership.