In September 2009, the Polish NGDO platform „Grupa Zagranica" published the report „Polish Development Assistance 2008. Independent Report of Non-governmental Organisations." It is already the third time that members of the Zagranica Group have come together to produce this report as a supplement to and critical review of the information published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The report is the result of the work of the Monitoring Group on ODA within the Polish platform. The report was issued on September 17 on a public discussion meeting with media and the Polish MFA. Then it was further discussed at the 3rd Forum of Polish development cooperation organised by the MFA on September 19 in Warsaw.
This year’s report highlights the most important trends in both the quantity and quality of Poland’s ODA, presenting in detail a number of key issues, some of them addressed for the first time, e.g. the report describes in greater detail the aid expenditures reported by the military, particularly in Afghanistan.
In sum, Polish ODA in 2008 amounted to PLN 900m, equivalent to 0.08% GNI. This is the first time since the country’s accession to the European Union that the value of Polish aid has diminished. The NGOs state that Poland is "in danger of missing the main target regarding the quantity of aid, agreed internationally and confirmed by the Council of Ministers." However, the Polish platform acknowledges that "the target could still be met, provided there is strong political will, determination on the part of the government and parliamentary support."
NGO criticism is directed also towards the still missing adoption of the Development Cooperation Act, the practise of inflating aid statistics or to the problem that Poland does not direct enough aid to Africa. It is stressed that in order to ensure a successful EU Presidency in 2011, Poland has to already in 2010 strengthen its development cooperation system and build its capacity to lead the EU’s work on development issues. Positively evaluated are the MFA activities in the field of development education. The report contains a number of recommendations which remind the government to take aid commitments seriously.
For more information, download the English summary of the report at: http://www.trialog.or.at/images/doku/polish-oda-2008-ex_summary_eng.pdf
Visit the website of Grupa Zagranica at: http://www.zagranica.org.pl/
Find information on the MFA Forum of Polish development cooperation at:
http://www.polskapomoc.gov.pl/3rd,Forum,of,Polish,development,co-operation,908.html
Information provided by Ola Antonowicz, Polish Green Network/Grupa Zagranica
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