On 28 February 2020, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted a meeting of the Consultative Board for Development Cooperation Policy, chaired by the Foreign Ministry’s Parliamentary Secretary, Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica. The Board discussed development cooperation highlights for 2020, with a special focus on plans for the intended work on the Development Cooperation Policy Guidelines.
The Parliamentary Secretary informed the participants about amendments to legislation reducing the bureaucratic burden in the absorption of development cooperation funding and will apply in particular to the grant competition for development cooperation projects run by the Foreign Ministry.
Amendments to the Law on International Assistance came into force this past 13 February, making it possible to improve the planning and implementation of development cooperation activities. Among other things, it will now be possible to plan development cooperation activities for several years ahead. At present this is taking place as part of annual plans. Changes have also been envisaged in procedures for the implementation of grant project competitions. In practice, this will mean less strict requirements towards applicants and, in evaluation criteria, stronger emphasis placed on project contents.
In 2020, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has also raised the issue of increased funding for development cooperation and submitted a Conceptual Report “On an increased allocation of funding for development cooperation in 2021–2025” to the Cabinet. “Increased funding for bilateral development cooperation is needed in order to promote the visibility of Latvia as a donor and enable a fuller utilisation in development cooperation of the expertise of Latvian public institutions, civil society organisations and the private sector,” Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica noted.
Particular attention in the meeting was paid to the work planned this year on drafting of the Development Cooperation Policy Guidelines for 2021–2025. The Parliamentary Secretary pointed out that the goal of Latvia’s development cooperation policy remains unchanged: to contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in developing countries. Meanwhile, it will be important to discuss future regional priorities, and in what way support provided by Latvia could be more focused and adapted to the present-day challenges: climate change, promotion of equality, and digitalisation. An inclusive process of consultation will be launched as early as at the end of March 2020.
In drawing up the Guidelines, a special focus will be placed on issues such as the process of formulating priorities, the effectiveness of assistance, assessment and reporting, and the strengthening of development cooperation architecture, its implementation and coordination. Attention will also be devoted to engagement with the private sector and to building cross-sectoral partnerships, as well as to public outreach and global education. The new Guidelines are expected to be produced and approved in 2020.
Background information
The Consultative Board for Development Cooperation Policy is an advisory institution established to promote an active and responsible involvement of Latvia in the formulation and implementation of the European Union’s development cooperation policy, to enhance the role of Latvia as a bilateral donor, to raise awareness among the general public of the goals and policy of development cooperation, and to offer assistance with its implementation. The Consultative Board, pursuant to its Statute, brings together experts from public administration institutions and civil society organisations.