Danish government maintains the economic level of development assistance in 2010
COPENHAGEN, Denmark, August 27, 2009/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Danish government wishes for Denmark to continue to make a significant contribution to the world’s poorest developing countries, even at a time of economic crisis.
The proposed Finance Act for 2010 allocates DKK 15.2 billion for development assistance in 2010, maintaining the nominal level of 2009 and increasing to approx. 0.83 per cent of GNI in 2010. Development assistance makes up 0.82 per cent of GNI of the 2009 Budget.
The Minister for Development Cooperation Ulla Tørnæs states:
“The government believes that Denmark, as one of the world’s most prosperous countries, has a special responsibility to the world’s poorest developing countries, even in a time of crisis for the Danish economy. We must not forget, that the world’s poorest countries are those that are most affected by the global economic crisis. I am very proud that the government wishes to maintain the high level of development assistance.
The proposed Finance Act suggests an even higher prioritization of Africa and of private sector driven growth. It is sound to use the money in these two areas – Africa, because it is the poorest continent and private sector driven growth, because this is the long term solution to fighting poverty.
With the proposed Finance Act, the government wishes to spearhead the follow-up of the recommendations made by the Africa Commission, thereby contributing to better and greater development assistance for Africa”.
The proposed Finance Act allocates an extra DKK 375 million in 2010 for private sector driven growth and job creation for the African youth. The goal is a doubling of Danish development assistance for private sector development in Africa leading up to 2014. It allocates a total of DKK 7.6 billion for private sector development and job creation for the African youth for 2010-14.
Furthermore, the government wishes to increase the allocation for climate change, which helps the poorest countries in the fight to limit and adapt to man-made climate change, from DKK 100 million to DKK 300 million in 2010. The government further allocates an extra DKK 90 million for the replenishment of the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
The government is strengthening its commitment to the promotion of democratic rule of law in development countries, including the support of healthy democratic parties and dialogue between parties. It allocates an extra DKK 80 million to these efforts in 2010. The efforts in weak states are strengthened. Peace, freedom and stability in Afghanistan continue to be a key priority. Recognizing that the situation in Afghanistan is inextricably linked with the situation in Pakistan, it allocates DKK 10 million to Pakistan. The efforts in weak states in Africa focuses on Zimbabwe, and Somalia, allocating DKK 100 million and DKK 50 million respectively for 2010.
A new humanitarian strategy lays the foundation for a strengthened Danish humanitarian engagement. As one of the first steps in the implementation process, the government has allocated DKK 400 million in 2010 to agreements with private organizations for annual emergency pools for rapid response to new emergencies. In addition to this, support to the United Nations’ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) will be doubled from DKK 10 million to DKK 20 million annually in 2010.
Appropriate and effective assistance requires continuous development and focus. Therefore, in 2010 the government will formulate a new strategy for Danish development cooperation. A new strategy will address the key challenges that the developing countries will face in the coming years and the major changes in development cooperation. Through the strategy, the government aims to emphasize the central role of the development policy in Denmark’s international engagement.
SOURCE
Denmark – Ministry of Foreign Affairs
