CONCORD recently published a report entitled Facts and Figures: What the official 2008 figures continue to tell us about EC aid and NGOs in which they came to the following observations, unsatisfactory tidings for European NGOs.
Although the overall funding for CSOs (including universities, professional associations, NGOs, foundations, etc) has increased by 2.4% between 2004 and 2008, the grants accorded specifically to NGOs have not known such an significant increase, only 0.7%, out of the total EC External Aid, in that same time span. The funding for European NGOs in particular (as opposed to local NGOs) has even decreased dropping from €681 million in 2004 to €669 in 2008, even while 12 new countries joined the EU. The competition has risen further due to EC grants, previously reserved for European NGOs, being made accessible to other civil society actors such as trade unions, foundations or universities. Funding for development is not increasing as fast (+9.45%) as funding for emergency (+12%) and International Organisations received, in 2008, twice what was received by NGOs. Even if the EC budget did increase between 2004 and 2008, the share of external aid decreased by 1%. Finally, Concord notes the higher percentage of the total budget being deconcentrated and managed by EC Delegations in developing countries (23%).
In view of this report, CONCORD makes a series of key recommendations including more transparency, more consultation and analysis and additional funds allocated to long-term development actions without this being at the expense of humanitarian aid.
Follow the link to read the full report
Information provided by Jess Blijkers, TRIALOG
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