Policy Updates

On December 2, 2024, the Council of the EU endorsed 46 Global Gateway flagship projects for 2025, which focus on the areas of digital, climate and energy, transport, health, education, and research.

Every year, new flagship projects are selected and added to the Global Gateway flagships list which includes 218 initiatives from 2023-2024. The list serves as a strategic communication and visibility tool for the EU and its member states.

Out of 46 newly selected flagship projects:

• 25 projects focus on climate and energy, including investments in climate resilience for land and water use, sustainable agricultural practices in Africa, and boosting renewable energy including hydro, solar, and wind;
• Six projects focus on digital, for example boosting digital connectivity in the Pacific or the EU-AU space partnership;
• Four projects focus on education such as boosting skills, rebuilding schools, and supporting entrepreneurship in Africa, Asia, Ukraine, and the Middle East;
• Six projects focus on health, increasing sanitation and healthcare in Africa and Europe; and
• Five projects focus on increasing global transport links.

On December 2, 2024, France announced an additional EUR50 million (US$60 million) for Gaza’s civilian population at the Cairo Ministerial Conference to Enhance the Humanitarian Response in Gaza.

France’s contribution will fund the humanitarian actions of UN agencies, NGOs, and direct French initiatives to address the humanitarian emergency. French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot called on Israel to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches Gaza.

In November 2023, French President Emmanuel Macron gathered key humanitarian actors, including the UN and NGOs, at the first international humanitarian conference in support of the civilian population of Gaza. France initially contributed EUR100 million (US$108 million). The second conference, held in December 2023, provided an update on the implementation of the financial commitments made in November 2023, and aimed to strengthen coordination between states, donors, UN agencies, and NGOs.

In 2024, Barrot announced an additional contribution from France of EUR100 million (US$108 million).

On December 1, 2024, the Norwegian government and the SV reached an agreement on the 2025 state budget with a notable focus on domestic issues, particularly climate initiatives and social welfare programs.

The ODA budget for 2025 is set at NOK53 billion (US$4.9 billion), marking a slight increase from the NOK52.9 billion (US$4.7 billion) proposed in October. Although the overall allocation for ODA remains relatively unchanged, there are modest increases in specific areas, including civil society initiatives, disarmament and nuclear safety efforts, peace organizations, and humanitarian initiatives.

Domestically, the SV achieved significant gains, securing NOK7 billion (US$644 million) in additional funding for social welfare programs and climate initiatives. The largest portion of this funding is allocated to increasing child benefits, reflecting the SV’s focus on supporting families. Importantly, these new investments are financed through increased use of oil revenues, avoiding budgetary cuts to other programs or services.

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 29, 2024, Canadian Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen announced that Canada will provide CAD50 million (US$36 million) in further humanitarian assistance to address the urgent needs of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.

The funding will support the UN, Red Cross, and experienced NGO partners to deliver emergency medical assistance, food, water, protection services, and other life-saving assistance.

Canada has allocated a total of CAD215 million (US$154 million) in ODA to the current crisis in Gaza, including this pledge.

On November 28, 2024, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong released a new International Disability Equity and Rights Strategy to improve the lives of people with disabilities throughout Australia’s humanitarian and overseas development programs.

Wong announced a further AUD12 million (US$8 million) to assist access to technologies such as prostheses and wheelchairs in the Indo-Pacific. The policy will focus on five areas including eliminating discrimination, partnering with people with disability, seeking equity in climate, and humanitarian action.

The strategy was released ahead of the UN International Day of People with Disability, held on December 3, 2024.

On November 28, 2024, the Norwegian parliament agreed to increase support for Ukraine in 2025, committing a minimum of NOK35 billion (US$3.1 billion), distributed into NOK22.5 billion (US$2 billion) for military assistance and NOK 12.5 billion (US$1.1 billion) for humanitarian and civilian assistance.

This decision follows significant negotiation among Norwegian political parties. The final amount is more than double the Norwegian government's initial proposal of NOK15 billion (US$1.3 billion) to NOK30 billion (US$2.6 billion) in response to opposition pressure and an additional NOK5 billion (US$440 million) was added to the package.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre emphasized the importance of achieving broad political consensus on this issue. He described this agreement to signal a clear signal of unity, demonstrating Norway's steadfast support for Ukraine and its opposition to aggression.

The decision aligned with Norway's broader international commitments. Combined with increased funding for Ukraine, the total ODA for 2025 achieves the country’s target of allocating 1% of its GNI to ODA.

On November 27, 2024, the South Korean MOFA and the National Assembly’s Global Sustainable Development and Humanitarian Forum co-hosted a discussion on the future of ODA during the 2024 Development Cooperation Week.

Cheol-soo Ahn and Jae-jung Lee, co-chairs of the National Assembly's Global Sustainable Development and Humanitarian Forum, delivered opening remarks emphasizing the importance of prioritizing quality over quantity in ODA strategies.

Experts had an in-depth discussion on public-private partnerships, grants, and loan assistance. The event was attended by parliamentarians, ODA-related government representatives, public institutions, and civil society experts.

On November 27, 2024, all 26 European Commissioners were approved by the European Parliament, with 370 votes in favor, 282 against, and 36 abstentions.

Following the vote, EC President Ursula von der Leyen delivered a speech that emphasized that Europe must focus and invest in its freedom, requiring major investments in security and prosperity. She called for unity within Europe while also forging strong alliances abroad.

The first major initiative of the new EC will be a Competitiveness Compass which aims to close the innovation gap with the US and China, outline plans for decarbonization, and reinforce economic security with a focus on stable and secure supply chains including those for critical raw materials.

The president identified Ukraine, Middle East, and Africa as the main priorities for EU’s external action, also linking up with European security. She affirmed that sustainable development and humanitarian assistance will continue to be a cornerstone. The European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela is expected to bring a business-orientated approach to developing a more strategic approach to international partnerships.

The new Commission plans to allocate increased resources to defense and security and will prepare a White Paper on the Future of European Defense within the new Commission’s first 100 days. In general, the EU budget will be simplified, more focused, and more responsive. The EU’s long term budget for 2028-2035 will prioritize investments in the EU’s strategic goals while also trying to attract more private investment, in particular in R&D.

On November 26, 2024, Devex claimed that the UK currently has no strategy to deliver assistance for children after years of spending cuts disproportionate to those inflicted on other sectors.

UNICEF criticized the UK and claimed the country has lost its position as a children’s rights and well-being leader after a decade of Conservative governments and massive 2021 budget cuts.

The report stated that the share of UK bilateral assistance focused on children fell from 30% to 18% between 2016 and 2022, while the proportion spent on education over the same period plunged from 11% to 4%.

The study entitled Leave No Child Behind: Analysing the cuts to UK child-focused aid stated that while children appear as beneficiaries within sectors such as health and education, there is no strategy for the UK’s work in this area.

The study forecasts no improvement in the years to come, unless the new Labour government rethinks its decisions to maintain the development assistance budget and continue to divert billions of pounds to hosting asylum seekers in the UK.