Both ENDS’ response to the WRR report
Like many in the field of international development aid, Both ENDS eagerly awaited the recent publication of the WRR (Dutch Scientific Council for Government Policy) report, "Less Pretention, More Ambition". Both ENDS was especially interested in the areas relevant to its own mission and core competencies, i.e. supporting civil society organisations working in the fields of ecological sustainability and social justice.
Policy Coherence
We are happy to see the WRR's standpoint that policy coherence will have more positive impact on developing countries than pure development aid. And, that the pursuit of a more equitable distribution of wealth and access to public goods is not just a job for the Ministry of Development Cooperation, but the entire Cabinet. As the report rightly states, preconditions are required if development aid is to have an impact. In Both ENDS' view, these preconditions are very closely related to strong policy coherence. We have always explicitly advocated a restriction of the (negative) impact of the economies of the Netherlands and other Western countries on the livelihoods of people in developing countries. Thus, extending a small loan (microcredit) to a small tomato grower in Uganda makes little sense when cheap subsidised Dutch tomatoes are flooding the Ugandan market.
Sustainable development
However, the report's recommendation of a technical approach to economic development leaves us with a sense of unease. It ignores the fact that a one-sided emphasis on increased productivity has significant negative impacts on the environment and very large populations in many developing countries, e.g. indigenous peoples and farmers who are dispossessed of their forest and farmland to make way for palm oil plantations and hotel resorts. It is vital that development aid actually creates opportunities for these vulnerable groups. Both ENDS and its partners see sustainable development as having an eye for humans and the environment, as well as economic factors. Landless farmers or mothers who can not find clean drinking water are not able to develop themselves.
Inconsistencies
We appreciated the report's comprehensive analysis, in which important observations were placed with reference to Dutch aid through bilateral and multilateral channels, via the NGO sector and industry. The report notes that its cooperation with civil society organisations is one of the strengths of Dutch development aid. However, it puzzled us why the report focused so heavily on NLAid, a planned special government agency. Such institutions are always in danger of becoming too isolated - with little influence on other dominant sectors such as trade and transportation. It is doubtful whether an organisation such as NLAid will be given the political space to build relationships with civil society organisations in developing countries. The report rightly recommends that the primary political debate must be about the quality of aid rather than percentages. Nevertheless, the report's own choice of words has given rise to a debate focused mainly on percentages. That said, the report is a worthy tool that can be used to reflect on the quality of development aid in relation to other sectors, such as trade, agriculture and the environment.
Danielle Hirsch and Paul Wolvekamp also wrote a reaction for the Dutch development magazine the Broker, read their reaction here.
Read more about this subject
-
Instalink / 12 November 2024
-
Press release / 12 November 2024
Ruling climate case Shell: "Shell has an obligation to protect human rights."
The Hague, 12 November 2024 - The court has ruled in Shell's appeal in the Climate Case that Milieudefensie won against Shell in 2021. The Court of Appeal has ruled that the oil and gas giant has a responsibility to reduce its emissions, but has not imposed a reduction obligation.
-
Instalink / 12 November 2024
-
Instalink / 11 November 2024
-
Press release / 11 November 2024
Both ENDS's response to government letter on future cooperation with civil society organisations
DEN HAAG, 11 November 2024 - Today, the Dutch government published its policy on future cooperation with development organisations, both in the Netherlands and abroad. PVV minister Reinette Klever is putting the axe to this funding: she has decided to cut the budget for aid to international civil society by more than two-thirds: from roughly €1.4 billion to €0.4 billion in the period 2026 to 2030. This has major implications for critical voices at home and abroad, at a time when civic space for organisations around the world is already shrinking. Karin van Boxtel, director of environmental and human rights organisation Both ENDS: ‘This is an unprecedented step in exactly the wrong direction. Civil society organisations are essential for sustainable and social change worldwide. International movements fulfil multiple, indispensable roles: as a watchdog of the rule of law, as a driver of change, and as a counterforce against authoritarian tendencies. The weakening of support for these roles is a telling signal.’
-
News / 11 November 2024
Kenya Terminates Bilateral Investment Treaty with the Netherlands
The government of Kenya has officially terminated its bilateral investment treaty (BIT) with the Netherlands, marking a significant win for economic justice and environmental protection. Kenya’s decision reflects a growing global trend of rethinking outdated treaties that often prioritize corporate interests over public welfare. The Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development recently confirmed that Kenya unilaterally ended the treaty in December 2023, rendering it inoperative from 11 June 2024. Kenya now joins South Africa, Tanzania, and Burkina Faso as the fourth African country to terminate its BIT with the Netherlands.
-
News / 9 November 2024
Why is the Dutch climate case against Shell important to our partners in the Global South?
On November 12th, a new ruling will be issued by the Court of Appeal in The Hague in the climate case against Shell, in which Both ENDS is a co-plaintiff. Ahead of this ruling, we asked our partners why this Dutch lawsuit is important for the Global South.
-
Instalink / 3 November 2024
-
News / 1 November 2024
Both ENDS at COP29: advocating for gender just climate finance
On November 11th, the 29th UN Climate Conference will start in Baku, Azerbaijan. Just like previous years, Both ENDS will be there to advocate for local access to climate finance, and to support our partner organisations in their advocacy work. How do we do that, and what are our hopes (and worries) about this 29th edition of the UNFCCC COP? We asked Marius Troost, who will be joining COP29 together with Daan Robben.
-
Instalink / 31 October 2024
-
Publication / 29 October 2024
-
Instalink / 29 October 2024
-
Instalink / 29 October 2024
-
Instalink / 24 October 2024
-
Publication / 21 October 2024
-
News / 21 October 2024
Disappointment over failure to submit National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan
We are deeply disappointed and frustrated that the Dutch government has not submitted its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) for the CBD COP16 in Cali. This disregard for international agreements undermines the concerted global effort to address the urgent biodiversity crisis.
-
Instalink / 18 October 2024
-
Instalink / 18 October 2024
-
Instalink / 17 October 2024
-
Instalink / 10 October 2024