On 4 November 2024, the Consultative Board for Development Cooperation Policy, convened for a meeting. The State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Andžejs Viļumsons, informed the members of the Board on development cooperation activities in 2024, support to Ukraine and involvement in its reconstruction, the process of Latvia’s accession to the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organisations for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and a planned reduction in development cooperation funding in 2025.
2024 saw the implementation of 40 development cooperation projects, focusing in particular on measures in support of Ukraine (15 projects). Projects in Ukraine are being carried out with the aim of helping the country to address the consequences of war, promoting good governance and EU integration, as well as business and agricultural development. Seven projects are being carried out in Uzbekistan, including in the areas of good governance, gender equality and agriculture. Latvia also continues to implement projects in African countries – South Africa, Egypt, Ghana, Cameroon, Namibia, Rwanda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe – with particular emphasis on promoting women’s economic participation and digital skills development, as well as business development in agriculture.
The Consultative Board discussed support to Ukraine and involvement in Ukraine’s reconstruction in 2024. Information was also provided by the Central Finance and Contracts Agency (CFCA), which performs the functions of the Latvian Development Cooperation Agency, by the Ministry of Economics and the Ministry of Transport, which are involved in specific measures for rebuilding of Ukraine. In the early 2024, funding of EUR 5 million was approved for the continuation and expansion of Ukraine’s reconstruction.
The CFCA informed those present that it was planning to conclude, in the near future, the accreditation process launched at the European Commission (EC) in March 2022 to become an agency accredited through the EC’s Pillar Assessment. This will allow the Latvian agency to directly undertake the management of EC development cooperation projects as the lead partner, and the CFCA will be able to promote the participation of Latvian development cooperation project implementers in projects financed by international donors. Besides, as from 2025, the Latvian development cooperation brand will be available to the developers of development cooperation projects, which will promote local and international visibility of development assistance implemented by Latvia.
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 assist with its implementation. The Consultative Board, pursuant to its Statute, brings together experts from public administration institutions and civil society organisations.
