Second Romanian Development Camp

The 2nd edition of the Romanian Development Camp took place in the Black Sea Resort Venus in Romania, during 16th -19th of September 2009. The general objective of the yearly event is for national authorities and their partners to develop their capacities to implement the National Strategy for Official Development Assistance – a shared competency of Romania with the European Union. The Romanian Development Camp provides for a platform for national ODA stakeholders to reflect on global development issues, European trends and commitments, to debate on the ODA priorities and challenges at the national, regional and international level and to ensure interaction between national and international counterparts.

This year’s edition had guest participants and speakers from the ODA departments of foreign affairs ministries in the new EU member states (Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania), donor states with experience in the ODA domain (Sweden and Germany), as well as representatives from the European Commission (DG Dev) and from UNDP country offices and the civil society sector in the Romanian ODA partner countries (Moldova, Georgia, Serbia).

Plenary discussions reflected on topics of innovative and traditional financing mechanisms for development assistance, as well as effects of the financial crisis on the developing world. Workshops centered on the role of media in reporting to the public on ODA matters and consolidating peace and development during transition. The participants engaged in interesting debates on the comparative advantages of New Member States as emerging donors, based on the Romanian and Slovak experiences.

The official site for Romanian assistance for development was launched: http://www.aod.ro/, set up by the MFA and UNDP Romania. Access the site to keep updated with Romanian development initiatives and to read more about the 1st and 2nd edition of the Romanian Development Camp. Organizing the Romanian Development Camp is a component of the programme „Strenghtening the National Institutional and Educational Capacity for Developing Programmes and Development Assistance Projects” financed by the MFA in 2007 and implemented by UNDP Romania during 2008-2009.

Information provided by Denisa Jacobsen, UNDP Romania