Dutch Policy on Development Cooperation

In the last few years the Dutch development policy has very much intensified. As strong internationally orientated economy, the Netherlands has always valued a good, organized international society, which also includes development cooperation. According to the minister of Development Cooperation, Mr. Koenders, development aid ‘is one of the most useful investments for a more stable world and global prosperity’. The increasing globalisation has its drawbacks and territorial borders cannot protect us from for example climate change, disease, poverty. Therefore, Koenders states development cooperation is a case of solidarity and well-understood self-interest.

Millennium Development Goals
The Dutch development policy is based on both continuity and renewal. The Millennium Development Goals (MDG) will be an important factor within this policy. In order to help reaching those goals the Netherlands will work harder on four subjects: security & development; growth & distribution; equal rights & opportunities for women and girls; and sustainability, climate & energy. Furthermore, the Netherlands will invest more in fragile states. Moreover, the Netherlands stands for more attention for human rights, especially women’s rights, a joint approach for solving conflicts, and a better effort for international negotiations about trade and environment.

Everybody’s responsibility
According to minister Koenders, development cooperation is a joint responsibility: a responsibility for both government and society, national and international. He states that cooperation is crucial in order to increase the effectivity of aid. Therefore, the Dutch government is investing in alliances with other countries. Moreover, the European Union is playing an essential role for development cooperation. However, because it is everybody’s responsibility Koenders also wants to involve citizens and adolescents more in the policy.

Dutch budget for development
Because of the economic crisis there will be less money available for the developing countries. As a result, these countries will be hit extra hard, even though they are in no way responsible for the crisis. However, although there will be €600 million less available for poverty reduction, Mr. Koenders stresses that solidarity with developing countries is still very important. Therefore, in 2010, too, the Netherlands will continue to respect its pledge to earmark 0.8% of its GNP for development cooperation.
Moreover, the political discussion will mostly be about resultbased and effective help. In some cases, the government is very critical about giving budgetairy aid. For example because the money will not reach the poorest people.
For 2010 the focus will be on multilateral cooperation, creating growth and employment, good governance and anticorruption. However, it seems education, health, environment & water, humanitarian aid and direct poverty reduction will suffer from this.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs