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!

CONCORD Europe welcomes the European Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles for the Digital Decade and its accompanying Communication published by the European Commission on 26th January 2022. These documents will be essential to ensure that the digital transformation puts people at its centre, and that everyone’s rights are protected in a digital world. As stated in the Declaration, the vision presented must be proactively promoted in the EU’s external relations.

CONCORD Europe would like to propose the following five priorities to complement and reinforce the European Commission’s proposal. We believe this will ensure that the Declaration leaves no one behind and contributes to the EU’s ambition to promote a people-centred digital agenda in its internal as well as external actions, in an interconnected digital world.

To ensure equality in the digital space, we must engage women and girls and civil society in the design and development of technology. It is necessary to effectively and meaningfully respond to specific gaps and needs in infrastructure to ensure a truly gender-transformative approach to technology. This paper analyses the digital gender divide and our recommendations for the EU on how to close it.

The aim of this document is to provide practical guidance to civil society organisations participating in the consultation process of the programming of the new EU external single instrument – Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation (NDICI). In this guide, a pyramid of digital needs provides a framework for digital development that can be used from the design stage to understand and address barriers to digital inclusion in partner countries.

This is more relevant than ever as digitalisation is no longer an option – bringing with it contradictory opportunities and risks. If used well, digitalisation has the power to create a fairer and more sustainable world for all. If left unchecked, digitalisation could exacerbate inequalities and threaten universal human rights and fundamental freedoms. From access to news, to medical support, to education, to online government services, the internet has become a necessity. Those who remain in the analog world risk being left behind.