"Hunting for Per Diem..."

In August 2010, I wrote a blog post on “Training Workshops and the Culture of Sitting Allowances in Africa”.  The report on “Hunting for Per Diem: the Uses and Abuses of Travel Compensation in Three Developing Countries” published by NORAD goes further on this topic. The report is based on a study covering Ethiopia, Malawi and Tanzania.  The study examined the origins, operation and consequences of per diem compensation in connection with seminars and workshops, with particular reference to effects on development programmes, national budgets and civil service delivery. The report gives insights into the potential for misuse or non-optimal use of the money that is allocated for seminars by governments, civil society and development partners. 

This is recommended reading for development practitioners.