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Insider’s Guide to the Post-Cotonou Agreement
This guide, addressed to Civil Society Organisations in EU and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, pinpoints the crucial sections in the negotiated text of the Post-Cotonou Agreement and shows what CSOs themselves can do in terms of advocacy to influence the implementation of the Agreement.
Has aid become part of the problem, rather than a solution? Where did we go wrong?
In this month’s blog, our Director assesses the last Council Conclusions welcoming the fact that they address human development but regretting, once again, bland and repetitive commitments, as well as lack of new perspectives on aid.
Co-creating our future: General Assembly 2021
Our General Assembly 2021, brought our Confederation together, virtually once again, from all corners of Europe. The two days provided a key moment for us to look back at what we have achieved and look forward to our future, together.
Time for a new global development ecosystem?
In this month’s blog, Andrea Ordoñez, Director of Southern Voice, shares her reflections on a new role for INGOs. What would a new system look like? And, how can INGOs adapt to a more equitable development system? For sure this will require a proactive shift in power relations.
A call to safeguard public services and sustainable businesses in Least Developed Countries
Social sectors are key buffers against slipping further into poverty against exacerbating inequalities in times of crisis. However, blending operations prioritise investable rather than social sectors, posing particular risks to LDCs. This paper examines the modalities that are best suited for LDCs to achieve the crucial SDGs.
Setting the highest standards for Global Europe implementation
Global Europe – the new EU development cooperation instrument – will be implemented in a context of 80 million people globally facing long-term forced displacement. This number is expected to increase due to climate crises, conflicts and food insecurity in the near future. Our recommendations are setting the highest standards for Global Europe implementation.
Writing the story of 2026, together
As CONCORD prepares its new four-year strategy, our Director reflects on certain changes in the international arena – including the EU’s role – that the pandemic particularly brought to light or reinforced, while directly impacting on our ability to realise our most basic rights. All these changes mark a leap towards a future in which transformative, systemic change and the goal of a more equal world become significantly more difficult to achieve.
EU ODA up, but far from levels promised and needed amid international crises
The figures offer the first tangible evidence of the global pandemic’s impact on EU ODA. In absolute terms, according to the OECD DAC, EU aid increased by 7.8% (72.7 billion USD) compared to 2019. However, this rise is mainly the result of a fall in GNI prompted by the global pandemic.
Rethinking the world: It’s going to take more than “new lenses”
Our Director reflects on how we need more than using “new lenses” to address the deeply rooted problems in our food system. Only by putting in place profoundly new ways of working and thinking will we be able to ensure far greater well-being and freedom within our systems.
Learning and Exchange Forum 2021: Co-creating transformational and innovative partnerships
This year, our Learning and Exchange Forum 2021 went digital! How could we have imagined that it would bring us even closer? With broad participation from influential civil society actors, our discussions were centred on how to co-create transformational and innovative partnerships.
Op-ed: Can the EU assert its leadership and truly deliver on gender equality in 2021 (and beyond)?
After a disappointing end to 2020, which had promised to be a groundbreaking year for EU commitments to and leadership on gender equality, what’s next? Our Vice President and Director of CARE International offers her perspective.
Letter to President Ursula von der Leyen: Call for equitable vaccination drive
Universal access to the COVID-19 vaccine is the only solution to end the pandemic and mitigate the deepening socio-economic inequalities. CONCORD is joining other conveners of influential civil society networks in sending letters to world leaders to call for a far more equitable approach to the current vaccination drive.
Call to action: Earthquake relief in Croatia
In compassion and solidarity with the communities affected by the devastating earthquake on 29 December 2020, the Fund 5.5 for Crisis Support of the SOLIDARNA Foundation is launching an urgent donation drive for earthquake victims and damages in Petrinja and Sisak-Moslavina county.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating
To what extent has nearly a year of teleworking hampered our work? It has been harder to stay informed. It has been harder to get a sense of the bigger picture. It has been harder to influence. And, what was that about shrinking civil society space?
Mind Our Business: Amplify the transformative power of sustainable and inclusive business models through EU external action
Sustainable and inclusive business models can help the EU advance on its various objectives, whether creating decent work opportunities for all or contributing to the ecological transition. It’s time to amplify their power through EU external action.
Denying aid on the basis of EU migration objectives is wrong
After a surprise move by the Chair of the Development Committee, Tomas Tobé, the European Parliament voted in favour of making EU aid to developing countries conditional on their compliance with EU migration control objectives.
The will is there, but can the Gender Action Plan III pave the way to a gender-equal world?
2020 should have been a celebratory year for accelerating gender equality globally. But, instead of celebrations, COVID-19 is dramatically reversing the progress made over recent decades.
Reporting back: CONCORD’s General Assembly 2020
Our 17th General Assembly was the first of its kind as our Confederation came together virtually from all corners of Europe. In the shift towards international partnerships, our Members jointly exchanged on the future development cooperation in a geopolitical world.
In memory of Andreas Vogt
CONCORD is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Andreas Vogt, our much loved and respected former colleague and leading member of Caritas in Luxembourg. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this very difficult time.
How bad does a crisis need to be? Aid budget increases in MFF deal are simply not enough
In what has been termed by some as a “historic” moment, EU leaders from the European Parliament and Council finally struck a deal on Tuesday on the EU’s next seven-year budget.
What will it take to Leave No One Behind?
CONCORD has just released its annual AidWatch report and the picture is pretty gloomy. Not only is aid, as a proportion of GNI, falling, but genuine aid is only at 0.4% of GNI.
AidWatch 2020: Knock-on effects, an urgent call to Leave No One Behind
2020 marks the first year since 1998 that the global rate of poverty has increased. The COVID-19 pandemic has much to do with that, but it doesn’t help that the EU and its Member States are further off-track than ever in meeting their aid targets.
How does CONCORD fit into a “New Power” world?
We want to build a new narrative, one based on equality, hope and justice. What better than to introduce new power techniques to support us in this?
To be connected … or not to be? Is there any choice these days?
With around half of the world’s population still not connected, those who remain in the analog world risk being left far behind. Our investments today reflect society’s commitment to the future, so let’s ensure that we bridge the digital divide for lasting prosperity and equality.