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Polish Aid Programme. Development Co-operation Department Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland. Presentation will focus on:. P olicy framework ODA volume Institutional aspects of Polish Aid Programme Geographical and sectoral priorities
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Polish Aid Programme Development Co-operation Department Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland
Presentation will focus on: • Policy framework • ODA volume • Institutional aspects of Polish Aid Programme • Geographical and sectoral priorities • Poland’s involvement in the EU development policy • Communication with the public and development education • Current challenges and opportunities
Policy framework • Poland’s Development Co-operation Strategy – adopted by the Government of Poland in 2003 • Annual implementing programmes with financial and geographic allocations • Solidarity, Development and Freedom – new Polish Aid strategy for 2007-2015 (draft in the process of intragovernmental consultations) • Legal Act on External Assistance (draft in the process of intragovernmental consultations)
Main government entities involved in Polish Aid programme Ministry of Foreign Affairs – leading role • co-ordinates development co-operation policy • sets priorities • provides technical, democratisation and humanitarian assistance • provides multilateral funding, mainly through UN system Ministry of Finance • Creates a system of financing development through membership in international financial institutions, provides multilateral aid through European Union, IMF and World Bank Group • Provides financial assistance: preferential tied aid credits, reduction and conversion of debt • Analysis of new tools for financimg development Ministry of Higher Education and Science • provides educational aid through scholarships
MFA Development Co-operation Department • Created in 2005 • Responsible for: • co-operation with other government bodies • co-operation with international organisations: EU, UN System, OECD (DAC) • bilateral programme implementation • Composed of 3 units: • Development Policy and Programming Unit • Programme Implementation Unit • EvaluationTeam
Programme implementation: Polish partners • Other ministries and governmental agencies • Local administration (municipalities, regions) • Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) – through open calls for proposals • Polish embassies in partner countries - so called „small grants scheme” • Missionaries (in particular in Africa) • Higher education institutions
Programme implementation: focus on partnership and priority countries • Priority countries in 2008: Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Afghanistan,Angola, Palestine, Tanzania • Priority areas of support depend on needs and conditions of a particular country, e.g. : • regional and local administration reform • economic reform (privatisation, agriculture, SMEs, microfinance) • education • health care and access to drinkable water • Projects implemented in co-operation with partner organisations in beneficiary countries
Democracy support Overall objectives: - to inspire democratic change & transition to democratic rule - to strengthen good governance & effective capacity building Directions of assistance: - support for free & independent media - strengthening civil society institutions - promoting observance of human rights, civil liberties, active citizenship standards Examples of assistance programmes: -Konstanty Kalinowski Scholarship Programme - SENSE - specialized training sessions on good governance, service delivery and performance of chief state functions in emerging democracies
Poland and the EU development policy • Policy formulation: • participation in various EU Council development meetings (GAERC, informal ministerial, CODEV, ACP) • participation in different management committees – shaping of country/regional and thematic programmes • participation in discussion on aid effectiveness agenda (e.g. Code of Conduct on Division of Labour) • Policy implementation: • financial contribution (EU budget, EIB and EDF – since 2008) • implementation of EU aid principles to the Polish aid programme (e.g. country strategy paper common format)
Communication with the public Aimed at providing information on Polish Aid Programme and fostering public and media interest in involvement of Poland in international development cooperation • Interactive website www.polskapomoc.gov.plwww.polishaid.gov.pl • Travelling photo exhibition on Polish aid activities • Public opinion polling: rising public support for development assistance (2007: 77% of Poles believe that Poland should provide aid to poorer countries; up from 63% in 2004)
Development education and public engagement Main partners: NGOs and higher education institutions Cooperation with NGOs: • grant scheme for NGOs • tenders for specific activities for wider public: travelling exhibition on MDGs in 2006; Academy for international development cooperation and democracy in 2007 • facilitation of capacity building for NGO development education practitioners (trainings, seminars, study visits) Cooperation with academia: • support for teaching and research activities • support scheme for academics to facilitate participation in international scientific conferences
Current limitations • Legal and financial framework annual funding and programming, centralisation of aid management • Operational capacity within the structure of MFA • Limited number and range of experienced partners in certain priority countries (particularly in Africa) • Limited development staff in embassies in partner countries • Weak political dialogue with developing countries
Opportunities and ways forward • Adoption of legal act on external assistance • Setting up of an implementing agency (under the MFA) • Decentralisation of aid management and increase of staff in Polish embassies in partner countries • Future engagement in long-term assistance undertakings and more complex assistance instruments • Definition of Poland’s comparative advantages in development co-operation • Including the ownership rule into the policy towards partner countries • Setting up of anoverseas volunteering programme • Fostering public awareness and engagement
further information:www.polskapomoc.gov.plwww.polishaid.gov.plcontact us at: polskapomoc@msz.gov.pl