OECD’s Review of the Development Co-operation Policies and Programmes of the Netherlands

For each of the past 35 years, the Netherlands has surpassed the UN target of spending at least 0.7% of its national income on Official Development Assistance (ODA). In 2010, its ODA was USD 6.35 billion – making the Netherlands the 6th largest donor in the world. However, national belt-tightening will extend to ODA and the Netherlands will reduce aid over the coming years, from 0.81% of national income in 2010 to 0.7% by 2012.

Responding to global economic, social and political shifts, the Netherlands is revising its approach to development co-operation, supporting the economic self-reliance of developing countries. It is focussing on 4 priorities: security and the rule of law, water, food security, and sexual and reproductive health. It is also reducing the number of countries with which it works - from 33 to 15. The OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC), which groups the world’s major donors, welcomes the increased focus of Dutch aid, but recommends that these changes should be made in consultation with both the governments of developing countries and other donors. The DAC review also notes that the shift in focus will demand new expertise among Dutch development staff.

 To ensure that Dutch citizens are well-informed about the outcomes of development cooperation efforts, the government is issuing more information on it’s results to the public. The OECD’s Review of the Development Co-operation Policies and Programmes of the Netherlands recommends that a communications strategy and stronger engagement with civil society, development institutions and think tanks would help.

Other recommendations in the report include:

• Ensure that ODA does not fall below 0.7% of national income;
• To encourage ‘development beyond aid’, ensure that all Dutch and EU policies support – or at least do not undermine – development policies;
• To make aid delivery more efficient, involve Dutch embassies, staff working in the field and, where appropriate, civil society in the planning and management of this;
• Strengthen knowledge management and staffing through information sharing and improve support for locally recruited staff.

The Netherlands: Full report (pdf, 1.58 MB)