In October, CONCORD launched the annual AidWatch report analysing both the quantity and quality of EU ODA. The report finds that while reported figures are at a record high, 22% of all recorded ODA did not meet the most basic criteria to qualify as such. 

As well as AidWatch, in October CONCORD published a study on EU development cooperation funding for CSOs, marked World Food Day on our social media channels, and our Director spoke at the event ‘Tackling Inequalities: Paving the Way for a Sustainable Future’ at the European Parliament. 

Discover these highlights and more in the October edition of CONCORD’s newsletter!

Over the years, CONCORD together with its civil society partners around the world has produced a number of concrete inputs on civil society participation in EU international partnerships and external action decision-making.

On several occasions, we have assessed what works and what does not in existing dialogue mechanisms and we have shared good practices and recommendations to improve participation opportunities.

This document gathers the key messages of these previous efforts into 7 best practices, in order to define what meaningfulness entails in action and to continue our dialogue with the EU.

It seeks to encourage not only a shift to action towards meaningful, inclusive and safe civil society engagement, but a shift of approach towards cooperation and co-creation with civil society in all its diversity, recognising the value of partnering and engaging with civil society at all levels and across all institutions.

For civil society organisations and NGOs, the speed of change in our external environment can be both exciting and daunting. In this episode, we discuss the nature of those changes and what they could mean for the issues we care about, such as tackling inequalities or achieving sustainable development.

Focusing on the European Union’s shift from development cooperation, or international cooperation, towards international partnerships, CONCORD’s Director, Tanya Cox, and new President, Rilli Lappalainen, discuss how civil society can engage, innovate, challenge and evolve to stay ahead of the game.

Talking Development is available on all your favourite listening platforms including Spotify, iTunes, SoundCloud, and Ausha.

Being able to engage with EU Delegations can be crucial for Civil Society Organisations around the world. Yet, one might easily get lost in the institutional maze. CONCORD’s handbook helps CSOs navigate through this maze and foster effective cooperation with EU Delegations!

Whether you are just starting to work in Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and you need an overview of the European Union’s institutional set-up and the role EU Delegations play for CSOs in your country, or if you would like to deepen your knowledge about political dialogue with the EU, EU policies and funding trends, this handbook includes insightful information for a variety of levels and experiences.

At this practical guide’s core are crucial tips how representatives of Civil Society Organisations can effectively engage with EU Delegations. By the end of this read, you will be stacked up on the knowledge and skills needed to raise your organisation’s profile in the eyes of EU Delegations – and through concrete examples, best practices and lessons learnt be provided with the support and opportunities you need to ensure space for your organisation’s participation.

This handbook will help you make your voice heard and take your vision a step closer to becoming a reality!

Sustainable development cannot only be achieved through a political and economic partnership, as it requires a human-rights based approach through the inclusion of a strong social dimension, as well as a focus on good governance.

In this policy brief, CONCORD calls for the EU-Africa partnership, one of the regional pillars of the future ACP-EU agreement, to ensure an integrated approach to sustainable development through the mainstreaming of the four dimensions of sustainability (economic, social, environment, governance) and the adherence to the principles of leave no one behind and respect for planetary boundaries.

A strong focus on human development, ensuring a gender-sensitive cross-cutting approach, access to quality education, healthcare services and housing, addressing inequalities and promoting investments in research, is central to lifting people out of poverty and reducing inequalities, as recognised by the international community in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Therefore, this policy brief puts forward recommendations to make this a reality in the EU-Africa partnership.