International cooperation and solidarity are in the interest of both the Netherlands and Africa
Traditional development aid keeps Africa in a state of aid dependency, but development cooperation is essential to break this post-colonial dependency, argues Melvin van der Veen in response to an interview in NRC Handelsblad with the Cameroonian economist Célestin Monga. By breaking off this cooperation on the basis of equality, we are actually stifling the voices of African civil society organisations, indigenous communities, youth and women's movements and human rights defenders, and we are not solving global problems.
In a recent interview with NRC, Cameroonian economist Célestin Monga argued that phasing out development aid could be an opportunity for Africa to break free from a system that has fostered dependency rather than sustainable development. His critique of the traditional aid model is sharp and justified: it reinforces the grip of external institutions and undermines local ownership. Africa, Monga contends, must be liberated from six decades of “aid addiction” and focus on building structural economic autonomy.
Yet, a crucial nuance remains underexposed in his analysis: the difference between development aid and development cooperation. This form of international cooperation – which is not about giving, but about connecting – is essential for dismantling dependency structures. Without this distinction, Monga’s argument risks being (mis)used as justification for the sweeping budget cuts to development cooperation that are taking place around the world, including in the Netherlands.
While traditional aid – such as funding hospitals or installing water pumps – often perpetuates post-colonial dependency, as Monga rightly points out, international cooperation creates space to work on shared interests. Partnerships based on equality also enable mutual learning and more effective approaches to global challenges such as unfair trade relations, climate change, and conflicts. Civil society organisations, Indigenous communities, youth and women’s movements, and human rights defenders are deeply embedded in their societies – and they are on the frontlines of the impacts of climate change, extractivism, and trade policy. By exposing human rights violations, fostering social cohesion, and contributing to structural policy change, they play a vital role in shaping fair and effective policies that serve international security, stability, and sustainability. And yet, these very voices are increasingly being marginalised.
For years, Dutch policy moved toward equal partnerships with civil society actors. But the current government is reverting to the outdated narrative of “development aid” – a term that fails to capture the essence of modern international cooperation and makes it easier to justify drastic budget cuts. Under the guise of “efficiency” and “self-interest,” cooperation is no longer based on solidarity or mutual responsibility. Instead, the budget for "Trade and Development Aid" is primarily used to create opportunities for Dutch businesses. International solidarity has become a distant concern.
This narrow interpretation of “self-interest” is not only morally lacking – it is shortsighted and harmful to Dutch interests. The idea that development policy should pay off in economic returns ignores the broader stakes the Netherlands has in strong international partnerships and a stable, just global order. The Advisory Council on International Affairs (AIV) has previously warned against this. In its report The Netherlands in the World, the AIV stresses that the Netherlands, as an open economy, is heavily dependent on global public goods, such as water, food, and a livable climate. International cooperation – with governments and with civil society – is not charity, but a matter of strategic interest.
Monga’s analysis calls for a reflection on how we shape international development policy. Not by dismantling it, but by reimagining it – in a way that is fairer, more just, and focused on the long term. In these times of polarization and geopolitical unrest, the last thing we need is a return to “aid.” What we do need is a deepening of cooperation. The major challenges of our time – from climate to migration, from food security to digital rights – cannot be solved within national borders. They require systemic and creative solutions, with space for local knowledge and partnerships. Because what is good for the world is, ultimately, good for the Netherlands.
This op-ed was published originally in Dutch by ViceVersa.
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