Minister Fajon and members of the Expert Council on development cooperation and humanitarian aid challenges
Meeting of the Expert Council | Author Ministrstvo za zunanje in evropske zadeve
Minister Fajon stressed that geopolitical tensions and cuts in development aid are a threat to the future of millions of people, which is why Slovenia and the EU must remain reliable donors. Security and development are not separate issues. Now is the time for stronger multilateralism and more effective partnerships.
Under the chairmanship of Minister Fajon, the Expert Council for Development Cooperation discussed the challenges of development cooperation and humanitarian aid and the future orientation for Slovenia's action in this area. Members discussed the impact of ODA cuts by several European countries and the US, and the EU's ambitions in development cooperation, in particular through the Global Gateway.
Deloitte Global presented the evaluation of the implementation of the Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid Strategy of the Republic of Slovenia until 2030. According to the Expert Council, the evaluation corresponds with the results of the peer review conducted by the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in 2024.
Minister Fajon presented a proposed response to the OECD Peer Review Report and a roadmap for the implementation of the DAC’s recommendations. The members of the Expert Council emphasised the importance of efficiency, greater inter-ministerial coordination and more focused action by all implementing partners, highlighting the important role of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs in its capacity as the national coordinator. They supported the adoption of an action plan to increase ODA funding and the involvement of NGOs and the private sector in development cooperation, and agreed that effective development and humanitarian action require predictable and stable resources and multi-annual planning.
The debate showed that while humanitarian action is highly valued by society, there is a lack of awareness among the public and decision-makers about the importance of development partnerships. The members of the Council praised the efforts of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs to coordinate Slovenia's development activities in partner countries. These activities should be focused, complementary and carried out within the given strategic and legislative frameworks, they said. It was agreed that the next Slovenian Development Days will be devoted to cooperation with business and the private sector as an important actor in bridging the development gap.
Minister Fajon underscored that Slovenia's development and humanitarian assistance is recognised and appreciated all over the world, as she was able to learn also during her visits to partner countries. She reiterated that the Ministry will continue its efforts to ensure the efficiency of Slovenian development assistance and predictable funding, to reduce the administrative burden on implementing partners and build their capacity, and to strengthen awareness raising and global learning.
As a consultative body for the Minister, the Expert Council is composed of representatives of NGOs, implementing partners in development cooperation and humanitarian aid, experts, academics and representatives of line ministries.