Increased development assistance that makes a difference

The government calls for increased development assistance in 2009, in accordance with the Government Platform from november 2007. An amount totaling DKK 15.3 billion will be set aside in 2009 to development assistance, equivalent to 0.82 per cent of Gni. Compared to 2008, this means approximately DKK 750 million more to the benefit of the world’s poorest.

The government wants a development assistance that makes a difference. Therefore we maintain the long-term initiatives as the core of development cooperation, based on a mutually binding cooperation with the programme countries and the most important multilateral organizations. The aim is to support the efforts of the developing countries to combat poverty, benefit from globalization and achieve a better future.

At the same time, the government will organize the assistance to cater for current opportunities and challenges. This includes the rising food prices, which will be sought handled with both long-term contribution to, among others, the international fund for agricultural Development and additional humanitarian actions to address its immediate consequences. Furthermore, new initiatives worth more than DKK 1 billion will be launched in the commercial and agricultural area in the programme countries. The Government will work for coherence across policy areas – foreign policy, development policy, trade, climate, etc. – in order to help address the international implications of the rise in food prices in the best way possible.