Slovenia’s International Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Aid

May 2010

When speaking about development cooperation and humanitarian aid, there are three basic questions to be answered, both in programme and project based approach: What are the sectoral priorities and the scope of activities? How – defining the channels and mode of providing assistance; and for Whom - identifying the target group in a developing country.

Evolution

Photo: Janja Šinkovec

In 2004 Slovenia was the first transition country to complete the graduation process at the World Bank and with respect to its level of economic development became a donor country of development aid. In 2005 Slovenia created a national platform for development cooperation and humanitarian aid, and the International Development Co-operation of the Republic of Slovenia Act was adopted in June 2006. The Act among other things sets out that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the national coordinator of international development cooperation.

In 2008 the National Assembly adopted the Resolution on international development cooperation for the period until 2015, which defines the geographical and content priorities of Slovenia’s development cooperation and determines the mechanisms for its implementation. In 2009 the two halves of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ bilateral development funds were combined, which enables annual programming of international development cooperation, and increased co-ordination, transparency and efficiency of development cooperation.

Priorities

Slovenia attaches particular importance to the Western Balkan countries (79% in 2009). The cooperation with Montenegro and Macedonia is conducted on a programme basis, while cooperation with the other countries in the region is conducted on a project-by-project basis.

Considering The second priority region is Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia (priority country is Moldavia. The third priority region is Africa.

Allocation of Slovenian bilateral official development assistance in 2009 (in millions of EUR)

Geographical priorities

  • Western Balkans
    • Montenegro
    • Macedonia
  • Eastern Europe
    • Moldavia
  • Africa
    • Cape Verde Islands 

Scope

Slovenian official development assistance until 2009 and Slovenian commitments as part of the EU 12 from 2010 until 2015 (in % of GNI)

Channels

Slovenia allocates a major part of its bilateral assistance for programmes and projects carried out by Slovenian institutions and nongovernmental organisations.

Slovenia has (co-)established the following institutions in the field of international development cooperation: The Foundation “Together” - Regional Centre for Psychological Well-Being of Children, International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance - ITF (demining), Centre of Excellence in Finance - CEF (capacity building in the field of public finance), Centre for European Perspective - CEP (assistance to countries in their efforts to join EU), Centre for International Cooperation and Development - CMSR (research and consulting) and Centre for eGovernance Development - CeGD (support for the development of e-administration in South-Eastern Europe).

In Slovenia the majority of non-governmental organisations that work in the field of international development co-ordination formed an umbrella platform in 2005 called SLOGA (Slovenian Global Action – www.sloga-platform.org ).

Humanitarian aid

Slovenia’s operations in the field of humanitarian aid are focused primarily on assisting children in post-conflict situations. In 2009 Slovenia responded to several humanitarian disasters; one of the most prominent projects was the rehabilitation of children from Gaza initiated by dr Danilo Türk, the President of the Republic. The project was carried out by the ITF in cooperation with the Soča University Rehabilitation Institute (www.itf-fund.si ). This year, Slovenia responded generously to the consequences of the earthquake in Haiti.

Awareness Raising

In October 2009 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held the first annual Slovenian Development Days aimed at raising public awareness of the importance of international development cooperation at the time of the global financial and economic crisis and about the third millennium development goal - gender equality. In 2010 the central topic of the Slovenian development days will be the implementation of the millennium development goals.

The visibility of Slovenia’s international development cooperation will be further reinforced in the future by means of a log. The logo will be officially launched at the presentation of the development cooperation and humanitarian aid report for 2009 in May 2010.

Sectoral priorities

  • good government  and social services
  • environmental protection
  • empowerment of women

Some projects

Photo: Sinfo May 2010

Presentation of some of the projects of non-governmental organisations which were financially supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia

  • Rehabilitation of children from Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo
    A project of rehabilitation of children from Ukraine who suffer from the consequences of the nuclear accident of Chernobyl has been running since 2005 (carried out by the Red Cross of Slovenia – www.rks.si ). 
     
  • Sustainable Energy for Sustainable Development in BiH, Macedonia and Ukraine
    The project was carried out in 2008-2009 by the Focus association for sustainable development (www.focus.si ).
  • Stories of the weavers (Burkina Faso): In 2008 a project entitled “Women, the Fair-Trade Weavers of Burkina Faso”  was caried out. In 2009 a project entitled “Processing cotton in women’s hands” and  in 2010 and 2011 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia will co-finance the implementation of a project entitled “Achieving Sustainable Development in the Countryside through Responsible Tourism and Fair-trade Connections in Burkina Faso”. The projects are being carried out by the Humanitas Association (www.humanitas.si ).
  • The project “Development of the Nyamirambo-Kigali Women’s Centre and the development connection of Rwandan and Slovenian Nongovernmental Organisations” (Rwanda)
    The project, which has been carried out since 2007 by the Peace Institute, arose from an initiative of eighteen women in the local community in response to the direct needs of women and children and the general needs of the local community. The project is carried out by the Peace Institute (www.mirovni-institut.si ).
  • Necklace for a Better Life (Kampala, Uganda)
    In 2010/2011 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia will support a project of establishing an organisational structure in order to empower the women of the Sunny Skies Women’s Project. The project will be carried out by Slovenian Philanthropy (www.filantropija.org ).

  • More information about Slovenia’s international development cooperation and humanitarian aid can be found at http://www.mzz.gov.si/en/development 

  • The project “Development of the Nyamirambo-Kigali Women’s Centre and the development connection of Rwandan and Slovenian Nongovernmental Organisations” (Rwanda)
    The project, which has been carried out since 2007 by the Peace Institute, arose from an initiative of eighteen women in the local community in response to the direct needs of women and children and the general needs of the local community. The project is carried out by the Peace Institute (www.mirovni-institut.si ).
  • Necklace for a Better Life (Kampala, Uganda)
    In 2010/2011 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia will support a project of establishing an organisational structure in order to empower the women of the Sunny Skies Women’s Project. The project will be carried out by Slovenian Philanthropy (www.filantropija.org ).

More information about Slovenia’s international development cooperation and humanitarian aid can be found at http://www.mzz.gov.si/en/development 

Compiled by Tanja Okorn Virant, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sinfo May 2010