On 3 October 2024, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted an international conference dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the development cooperation of Latvia. Latvian experts and organisations involved in development cooperation projects as well as their partners from Ukraine, Moldova, Uzbekistan, and Kenya exchanged views on what has been accomplished in Latvia’s development cooperation over 25 years and discussed opportunities for further cooperation. The conference was organised in association with the Latvian Platform for Development Cooperation (LAPAS).
The conference was launched by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braže:
“Over 25 years, Latvia has been supporting reforms in Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Africa. With financial assistance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, partners have carried out over 500 cooperation projects in more than 20 countries to promote good governance, digitalisation, socio-economic change, and gender equality. Today, Latvia’s companies and civil society are actively engaged in the reconstruction of Ukraine. This cooperation sets an example of solidarity and our contribution to sustainable development.”
Participants were also addressed by Zane Petre, Head of the European Commission Representation in Latvia, and Carsten Staur, Chair of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (OECD DAC), who is visiting Latvia in relation to the process of the country’s accession to the Development Assistance Committee.
Accession to the European Union in 2004 has brought Latvia special experience and expertise that makes it possible for us to successfully support modernisation in partners countries. Inese Vaivare, Director of LAPAS, explains: “25 years ago Latvia received extensive international assistance for its development. We are now a donor country providing support to Ukraine, building partnerships in many parts of the world, transferring our knowledge and experience to the private sector, public administration and municipalities, and civil society. As non-governmental organisations, we are actively involved in strengthening democracy, protecting human rights, developing social entrepreneurship and other projects, since peace and prosperity in the world also mean peace and a secure growth in Latvia.”
Partnerships fostered through development cooperation are also important on Latvia’s path to an elected member’s seat in the UN Security Council in 2026–2027. During the conference panel discussions, development cooperation was also examined as a foreign policy tool and the importance of digitalisation for sustainable development was discussed, notably underscoring the role of Latvia and the Baltic States in the introduction of digital solutions and expanding their application.
The video recording of the conference will be available in Latvian on LAPAS Facebook account, and in English on the Foreign Ministry’s LinkedIn page – 1st part and 2nd part.
For information
Development cooperation is the provision of assistance and expertise to partner countries with the aim of promoting the sustainable socio-economic development of those countries and their societies. Latvia’s development cooperation policy is based on the Development Cooperation Policy Guidelines for 2021–2027, which include both bilateral and multilateral cooperation objectives and projects. Geographical priorities for cooperation are the Eastern Partnership countries (especially Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova, as well as support for the civil society of Belarus), Central Asian countries (especially Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan), as well as African and least developed countries.
The OECD DAC is a leading international forum bringing together countries, development assistance providers, to discuss and decide on standards to promote aid effectiveness and sustainable development. When joining the OECD, Member States do not automatically become members of the DAC. Latvia has started the accession process to the DAC in 2024.
