Policy Updates

On September 15, 2025, a UN Women report revealed that progress on women's rights is stagnating and regressing due to conflict, aid cuts, and a backlash against gender equality, and called on governments at the UN General Assembly in New York to commit to renewed action, highlighting that the US$420 billion needed annually to advance gender equality is a fraction of the US$2.7 trillion spent on the military.

The report, a gender snapshot monitoring progress on the SDGs, found that 676 million women and girls lived near deadly conflict in 2024, the highest number since the 1990s. Women are also more likely to be affected by rising food insecurity. The report projects that climate change could push an additional 158.3 million women and girls into extreme poverty by 2050.

Director of UN Women’s policy division, Sarah Hendriks, contrasted the US$2.7 trillion in annual military spending with the estimated US$420 billion needed to advance gender equality. The report also noted a digital gender divide, which if addressed, could lift 30 million women and girls out of poverty by 2050 and generate a US$1.5 trillion increase in global GDP by 2030. UN Women is calling for renewed commitments at the UN General Assembly, 30 years after the Beijing Declaration.

On November 29, 2024, the Dutch MOFA released a practical handbook to support the implementation of the government’s 2022 FFP.

The FFP aims to promote global equality, improve representation in decision-making, and tailor strategies to diverse contexts. The policy is guided by four principles: rights, representation, resources, and reality checks.

The handbook outlines seven key priorities:

• Embedding gender perspectives;
• Gender-sensitive budgeting;
• Addressing root causes;
• Inclusive consulting;
• Policy monitoring and evaluation;
• Institutional strengthening; and
• Organizational change.

To realize these priorities, the government recommended the following practical steps:

• Conducting gender analyses for policies, programs, and funding decisions;
• Implementing the use of gender-sensitive tools like the OECD gender marker;
• Training all ministry staff in feminist principles by 2025; and
• Expanding the network of gender focal points in embassies and departments.

On November 11, 2024, the Dutch government announced plans to reduce NGO funding by over 70%, cutting the budget from EUR1.4 billion (US$1.5 billion) from 2021-2025 to EUR390-EUR565 million (US$424-$614 million) for 2026-2030.

This EUR1 billion (US$1.1 billion) cut reflects the government’s goal to streamline spending and reduce NGO reliance on public funds.

In a letter, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Minister Klever outlined key changes in the new NGO funding policy framework:

• Higher independence: NGOs must generate at least 50% of income independently (up from 25%) to qualify for grants;
• Local empowerment: focus on local NGOs and grassroots initiatives in low-and middle-income countries while avoiding complex consortiums;
• Priority areas: health (e.g., combating HIV/AIDS, ending FGM), trade (e.g., promoting women’s entrepreneurship), and human rights (e.g., supporting vulnerable groups and female human rights defenders); and
• No lobbying funding: No grants will support lobbying within the Netherlands.

This policy has received criticism from NGOs. For example, Partos, a leading development cooperation network, called the cuts short-sighted and warned of damage to the Netherlands’ reputation as a global leader and the impact on global challenges like poverty, health, and climate action. Rutgers Internation warned the cuts threaten SRHR, particularly for women, girls, and marginalized groups.

The NGO funding cut coincides with broader reductions to Dutch ODA, including EUR3.4 billion (US$3.6 billion) from 2025-2027, and the decoupling of ODA from GNI, resulting in a EUR2 billion (US$2.2 billion) shortfall through 2029.

Parliament began debating the Minister’s budget on November 14, 2024, with a final decision expected on November 20.

On October 25, 2024, Minister for Climate and Green Growth Sophie Hermans shared the Netherlands’ priorities and goals for the upcoming COP29 climate conference in Azerbaijan.

Key objectives include:

• A new and inclusive international climate finance target that involves more contributors beyond traditionally HICs, aiming to scale finance for both adaptation and mitigation in LICs;
• Advancing carbon market regulations with a robust framework under Article 6 of the Paris Climate Agreement to ensure quality and transparency, and prevent double counting of international carbon emissions;
• Advocate for new climate adaptation indicators to help countries track progress, with a focus on integrating water management expertise in global strategies, food security, and safeguarding vulnerable communities;
• Advocate for a renewed Gender Action Plan to promote women’s and marginalized groups’ roles in climate decisions and initiatives to make climate action more inclusive;
• Promote sustainable transport and a circular economy with policies to reduce waste, support green technology, and improve energy efficiency. This includes backing international coalitions and frameworks for sustainable mobility, such as zero-emission vehicle alliances; and
• Advance the Dutch Kingdom’s Climate Agenda Support for Caribbean islands by recognizing their unique vulnerabilities to climate adaptation and stressing the need for technical assistance and climate finance.

The Netherlands aims to use diplomatic partnerships, financial commitments, and technical expertise in water and energy to lead these initiatives, working closely with EU counterparts and other like-minded nations to build consensus and drive action.

On October 4, 2024, CSOs from the Dutch Global Health Alliance, the SRHR platform, and parliamentarians launched the MultiParty Initiative on Global Health and SRHR, which seeks to strengthen the Netherlands’ role in global health leadership.

The initiative’s focus is on pandemic preparedness, AMR, SRHR, and global health infrastructure. The cross-party group includes MPs Sarah Dobbe, Daniëlle Hirsch, and Roelien Kamminga, Ines Kostic, Marieke Koekkoek, Femke Zeedijk-Raeven, and Wieke Paulusma.

On October 2, 2024, the Dutch International Climate Coalition presented its position paper with key recommendations for the Dutch government to promote climate justice at COP29, endorsed by 20 civil society organizations, including Greenpeace, Save the Children, Oxfam, and the WWF.

The coalition urges the Dutch government to prioritize the following topics at COP29:

• Inclusive Negotiations: effective, transparent negotiations that curb fossil fuel industry influence and ensure civic space, especially for marginalized groups;
• Equitable Climate Finance: a needs-based financial goal post-2025, prioritizing grants over loans and establishing new funding sources based on equity and the "polluter pays" principle;
• Mitigation and Just Transition: ambitious climate policies, fossil fuel phase-out, and social protections for workers during transitions;
• Adaptation: robust frameworks, linking climate and biodiversity goals, and increasing public finance for long-term resilience; and
• Gender Equality: integrating gender justice into climate policies, enhancing the Gender Action Plan with clear goals, and ensuring adequate resources.
  
  The Dutch International Climate Coalition is an informal collaboration of CSOs in the Netherlands that strives for climate justice through Dutch climate policy and commitments in international climate negotiations.

On September 20, 2024, global leaders gathered for the 79 ^th UNGA, the Kingdom of the Netherlands’ contributions focused on key foreign policy themes relating to sustainable policies, human rights protections, and effective multilateral cooperation.

The Summit of the Future, held on September 22-23, 2024, served as a platform for nations to address not just current challenges but also the complexities of tomorrow. As a co-facilitator alongside Jamaica, the Netherlands played a crucial role in shaping the Declaration on Future Generations, a key outcome of the Summit and part of the Pact for the Future.

This declaration includes several commitments:

• Urgent action to tackle environmental challenges;
• Establishing an envoy for future generations to ensure meaningful youth participation in shaping global policies; and
• Investments in quality education and digital literacy to bridge existing divides.

Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United Nations Yoka Brandt highlighted that this Declaration marked the first time countries at such high political levels collectively committed to considering the interests of future generations in their policy-making processes.

Advocacy for Human Rights and LGBTQI+ Protections:

On September 23, 2024, Minister of Foreign Affairs Caspar Veldkamp reaffirmed the Netherlands’ commitment to human rights during the LGBTI Core Group event. He emphasized the importance of international protections for LGBTI individuals and non-discrimination.

Reforming multilateral institutions for peace and the SDGs:

In his address at the UN Security Council Open Debate, Minister Veldkamp also underscored the Netherlands’ dedication to international peace and security, especially in supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression. He called for strengthening and reforming the UN and UN Security Council to better promote global peace. Prime Minister Dick Schoof echoed this sentiment in his UNGA speech, expressing support for proposals to reform the UN Security Council for better geographical representation, including advocating for a permanent seat for an African nation.

Ambassador Brandt also explained that an important part of the Pact for the Future is to enhance the effectiveness of multilateral organizations in achieving the SDGs, including decisive action on climate change.

On September 13, 2024, the Dutch cabinet published its government program, expanding on the coalition’s government agreement published in May 2024 and confirmed substantial cuts to ODA.

The program referenced development assistance only four times in 138 pages. The program reduced the planned budget cut for embassies and consulates from 22% to 10%, which is expected to be funded by ODA.

The cabinet emphasized prioritizing development areas where the Netherlands has expertise and a vested economic interest, such as water management and food security, with no mention of global health or SRHR. Broader foreign policy focused on migration partnerships and support for Ukraine.

The exact budget lines for 2025 and upcoming years will be released on September 17, 2024.

On June 25, 2024, the Dutch House of Representatives passed a motion by Sarah Dobbe ( SP) and co-sponsors to enhance support and protection for women human rights defenders.

The motion, supported by 144 out of 150 votes from multiple parties, including PVV, VVD, and BBB, highlighted gaps in the Netherlands’ current human rights policy.

Outgoing Minister of Foreign Affairs Hanke Bruins Slot has typically opposed motions aligning with existing policy, but supported the motion due to the worsening global situation for women.

On June 13, 2024, the Netherlands announced the distribution of its cabinet posts, including the creation of three new ministries: Asylum and Migration, Housing and Spatial Planning, and Climate and Green Growth.

The Dutch government also renamed the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature, and Food Quality to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security, and Nature. The Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation will become the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Assistance. These changes are meant to mirror the new government’s priorities.

The PVV was allocated five ministers, the VVD and NSC four, and the BBB two. Designated Prime Minister Dick Schoof does not represent any party.

Ministerial appointments with relevance to development included:

• Minister of Climate and Green Growth: Sophie Hermans ( VVD);
• Minister of Finance: Eelco Heinen ( VVD);
• Minister of Economic Affairs: Dirk Beljaarts ( PVV);
• Minister of Agriculture: Femke Wiersma ( BBB);
• Minister of Education: Eppo Bruins ( NSC, CU);
• Minister of Asylum and Migration: Marjolein Faber ( PVV);
• Minister of Health: Fleur Agema ( PVV);
• Minister of Foreign Affairs: Caspar Veldkamp ( NSC); and
• Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Assistance: Reinette Klever ( PVV).

The PVV’s Ministers for Foreign Trade and Development Assistance Reinette Klever and Asylum and Migration Marjolein Faber sparked controversy due to past statements regarding omvolking, or the ‘replacement theory’. Faber and Klever distanced themselves from past use of the term but reiterated concerns about demographic change.

Candidate ministers and secretaries will present themselves in public hearings to the House of Representatives. The new cabinet is expected to be sworn in on July 2, 2024.