Polish Aid Programme

Polish Aid Programme

Development Co-operation Department

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

of the Republic of Poland

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of PolandDevelopment Co-operation Department

Presentation will focus on:

Policy framework ODA volume Institutional aspects of Polish Aid Programme Geographical and sectoral priorities Poland’s involvement in the EU development policy Communication with the public and development education Current challenges and opportunities


Policy framework

Poland’s Development Co-operation Strategy – adopted by the Government of Poland in 2003

Annual implementing programmes with financial and geographic allocations

Solidarity, Development and Freedom – new Polish Aid strategy for 2007-2015 (draft in the process of intragovernmental consultations)

Legal Act on External Assistance (draft in the process of intragovernmental consultations)


ODA volumes 1998-2006

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

mln USD

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

0.08

0.09

0.1

% GNI

ODA in millionUSD

% GNI


Poland’s ODA in 2006


Main government entities involved in Polish Aid programme

Ministry of Foreign Affairs – leading role co-ordinates development co-operation policy sets priorities provides technical, democratisation and humanitarian assistance provides multilateral funding, mainly through UN systemMinistry of Finance Creates a system of financing development through membership in

international financial institutions, provides multilateral aid through European Union, IMF and World Bank Group

Provides financial assistance: preferential tied aid credits, reduction and conversion of debt

Analysis of new tools for financimg developmentMinistry of Higher Education and Science provides educational aid through scholarships


MFA Development Co-operation Department

Created in 2005 Responsible for:

– co-operation with other government bodies – co-operation with international organisations: EU, UN System,

OECD (DAC) – bilateral programme implementation

Composed of 3 units: – Development Policy and Programming Unit – Programme Implementation Unit– Evaluation Team


Programme implementation: Polish partners

Other ministries and governmental agencies Local administration (municipalities, regions) Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) – through open calls

for proposals Polish embassies in partner countries - so called „small grants

scheme” Missionaries (in particular in Africa)

Higher education institutions


Programme implementation: focus on partnership and priority countries

Priority countries in 2008: Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Afghanistan, Angola, Palestine, Tanzania

Priority areas of support depend on needs and conditions of a particular country, e.g. :– regional and local administration reform – economic reform (privatisation, agriculture, SMEs, microfinance)– education– health care and access to drinkable water

Projects implemented in co-operation with partner organisations in beneficiary countries


Democracy supportOverall objectives:- to inspire democratic change & transition to democratic rule- to strengthen good governance & effective capacity building

Directions of assistance:- support for free & independent media- strengthening civil society institutions- promoting observance of human rights, civil liberties, active

citizenship standards

Examples of assistance programmes:- Konstanty Kalinowski Scholarship Programme- SENSE - specialized training sessions on good governance, service

delivery and performance of chief state functions in emerging democracies


Poland and the EU development policy

Policy formulation:– participation in various EU Council development meetings (GAERC,

informal ministerial, CODEV, ACP)– participation in different management committees – shaping of

country/regional and thematic programmes– participation in discussion on aid effectiveness agenda (e.g. Code of

Conduct on Division of Labour) Policy implementation:

– financial contribution (EU budget, EIB and EDF – since 2008)– implementation of EU aid principles to the Polish aid programme

(e.g. country strategy paper common format)


Communication with the public

Aimed at providing information on Polish Aid Programme and fostering public and media interest in involvement of Poland in international development cooperation

Interactive website www.polskapomoc.gov.pl www.polishaid.gov.pl

Travelling photo exhibition on Polish aid activities

Public opinion polling: rising public support for development assistance (2007: 77% of Poles believe that Poland should provide aid to poorer countries; up from 63% in 2004)


Development education and public engagement

Main partners: NGOs and higher education institutionsCooperation with NGOs:

– grant scheme for NGOs – tenders for specific activities for wider public: travelling exhibition on

MDGs in 2006; Academy for international development cooperation and democracy in 2007

– facilitation of capacity building for NGO development education practitioners (trainings, seminars, study visits)

Cooperation with academia:– support for teaching and research activities – support scheme for academics to facilitate participation in

international scientific conferences


Current limitations

Legal and financial framework annual funding and programming, centralisation of aid management

Operational capacity within the structure of MFA

Limited number and range of experienced partners in certain priority countries (particularly in Africa)

Limited development staff in embassies in partner countries

Weak political dialogue with developing countries


Opportunities and ways forward Adoption of legal act on external assistance

Setting up of an implementing agency (under the MFA)

Decentralisation of aid management and increase of staff in Polish

embassies in partner countries

Future engagement in long-term assistance undertakings and more

complex assistance instruments Definition of Poland’s comparative advantages in development co-

operation Including the ownership rule into the policy towards partner countries

Setting up of an overseas volunteering programme

Fostering public awareness and engagement


further information:

www.polskapomoc.gov.pl www.polishaid.gov.pl

contact us at: [email protected]

Documents

Polish Aid Programme