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The Donor Tracker team regularly brings you the most important policy and funding news across issue areas in the form of Policy Updates.
May 22, 2023 | Netherlands, Agriculture, Climate | Share this update
On May 22, 2023, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Liesje Schreinemacher and Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management Mark Harbers submitted a letter to the Dutch House of Representatives reporting on the Dutch contributions of EUR778 million (US$844 million) at the UN Water Conference held in New York from March 22-24, 2023.
In the letter, the ministers reflected on the positive feedback from the conference, particularly regarding the inclusion of more NGOs. They also outlined a key outcome of the conference, the Water Action Agenda, which resulted in more than 800 voluntary commitments, actions, and initiatives totaling approximately US$300 billion, with a significant amount of commitments made by the private sector and new public-private partnerships.
The ministers also shared a list of Dutch contributions, including:
Other non-financial contributions included MoUs and contracts with Morocco and South Africa on water, a contract with Invest International, Mozambique, and the World Bank around coastal protection, and a Declaration of Intent with Germany to formalize Dutch support to the future Urban Water Catalyst Fund, which will provide small investments in infrastructure by water drinking companies. The ministers also mentioned that the Netherlands’ insistence and the water conference have resulted in the European Council underscoring the need for a stronger EU commitment and strategy on water and water security.
The ministers also committed to keeping up the momentum of the conference by highlighting the Water Action Agenda in different fora, such as the High-Level Political Forum in July 2023, the SDG Summit in September 2023, the international climate and biodiversity summits, the G20 summits, and the Summit of the Future in 2024. They also shared the Netherlands's plan to develop an addendum to the 2019 policy on Dutch International Water Ambition (NIWA) to ensure policy cohesion between national and international policy and as much as possible connect the topic of water to climate, food, finances, energy, urbanization, health, and biodiversity.
While the letter showed a promising picture of the Netherlands’ continued efforts to promote water security worldwide, Dutch media expressed skepticism. For instance, the NRC, a national news outlet, published an op-ed arguing that cuts to the Dutch development budget in spring 2023 decreased the credibility of the Dutch government’s commitment towards global development.
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April 29, 2025 | UK | Share this update
On April 29, 2025, The Straights Times reported that the UK is reconsidering its GBP2 billion (US$2.5billion) commitment to the World Bank’s IDA, this move follows a shift in government priorities, with funds redirected from foreign assistance to bolster defense spending amidst heightened security concerns in Europe.
The pledged amount, which marked a 40% increase from the previous commitment, was announced in November 2024. However, the Labour government is now reviewing their ODA budget under Development Minister Jenny Chapman, with potential reductions to the IDA contribution being considered.
Critics argue this would represent a significant departure from the UK’s historical leadership in global development under previous governments.
April 28, 2025 | Canada | Share this update
On April 28, 2025, Canada's Liberal Party, led by Mark Carney, secured a fourth consecutive term in the 2025 federal election, winning 168 seats—just shy of the 172 needed for a majority. Carney capitalized on rising tensions with
The Conservative Party, under Pierre Poilievre, achieved its best performance since 2011 with 144 seats and 41% of the vote, however Poilievre lost his own seat to Liberal Bruce Fanjoy. The Bloc Québécois secured 23 seats, while the New Democratic Party (NDP) faced a significant decline, winning only 7 seats. NDP leader Jagmeet Singh lost his Burnaby Central seat and subsequently announced his resignation.
Despite falling short of a majority, the Liberals are expected to form a minority government, likely relying on alliances to pass legislation.
April 28, 2025 | Sweden, Nutritious Food Systems, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health | Share this update
On April 28, 2025, SIDA contributed EUR2million (US$2 million) to Afghanistan through the WFP and to support critical nutrition programs, which will enable the WFP to distribute over 550 metric tons of specialized nutritious food to 125,000 Afghan mothers and children over three months to combat malnutrition.
Between 2021 and 2024, SIDA contributed over EUR32million (US$35million) to WFP, establishing itself as a top donor. WFP remains a critical lifeline for Afghan women and children, who make up over half of the 12 million people reached by WFP in Afghanistan in 2024.
This partnership underscores Sweden's commitment to addressing Afghanistan's nutrition crisis and ensuring vulnerable populations receive the support they need.
April 25, 2025 | Germany, Climate, Gender Equality | Share this update
On April 25, 2025, the German Development Minister Svenja Schulze stressed the need to strengthen multilateral cooperation to address climate change, conflict, and inequality at the World Bank Spring Meetings, reaffirming Germany's commitment to the World Bank's reform agenda, including increased focus on climate resilience, poverty reduction, and gender equality.
Schulze pledged continued German support for the IDA , and backed the ongoing reform to enhance its financial capacity through innovative tools such as hybrid capital and portfolio guarantees, emphasizing that global challenges require joint, reliable funding efforts.
She called for expanded partnerships between the World Bank, other multilateral development banks, and private sector actors to mobilize more resources for global development goals. Schulze also highlighted the need to integrate climate action and social protection into its core mission without losing focus on poverty reduction.
April 24, 2025 | Italy | Share this update
On April 24, 2025, Italy and the World Bank signed an agreement to increase their financial support to the IDA by around 25%.
This agreement accelerates the Mattei Plan for Africa, which seeks to increase growth through energy investments, infrastructure, and human capital. The agreement also increases its forthcoming subscription of hybrid capital issued by the IBRD.
The new agreement highlights Italy’s intention to work closely with international programs led by institutions like the World Bank and the AfDB. One of the major goals is to help support Mission300 by bringing electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030.
April 23, 2025 | Belgium, Sweden | Share this update
On April 23, 2025, Belgium and Sweden, through Enabel and the SIDA, have assumed the Co-Presidency of the PN for 2025–2026.\
The PN, a collaboration of 25 European international cooperation organizations, fosters knowledge exchange, strategic dialogue, and joint initiatives with EU institutions. Under the leadership of Enabel and SIDA, the network will prioritize contributions to the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy, focusing on energy, critical raw materials, migration, and digitalization. It will also strengthen partnerships with the private sector and align technical assistance with financial instruments.
Other key initiatives include advancing the Team Europe approach, addressing post-war reconstruction in Ukraine, Gaza, and Syria, and engaging in EU-level events such as the Global Gateway Forum. This Co-Presidency aims to enhance the EU’s collective response to global challenges through strategic and visible international cooperation.
April 18, 2025 | Spain | Share this update
On April 18, 2025, the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced a 12% increase in Spain’s ODA for 2024, surpassing EUR4 billion (US$4.3 billion), reflecting Spain’s commitment to strengthening international cooperation and sustainable development.
This milestone aligns with Spain’s broader strategy to become a global leader in development aid, reaffirming its dedication to achieving the UN SDGs. The increase in ODA funding highlights Spain’s focus on addressing global challenges such as poverty, inequality, and climate change through enhanced multilateral and bilateral efforts.
The Ministry celebrated this achievement as a step towards meeting its long-term goal of allocating 0.7% of gross national income to ODA by 2030, as outlined in Spain’s Master Plan for Development Cooperation.
April 9, 2025 | Germany, Climate | Share this update
On April 9, 2025, the CDU/ CSU and SPD parties in Germany finalized their coalition treaty, where Chancellor-designate Friedrich Merz, Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder, and SPD Co-Chairs Lars Klingbeil and Saskia Esken presented an agreement that focuses on Germany’s global leadership, economic modernization, and migration control.
Key highlights include:
This coalition treaty signals a strategic pivot in Germany’s development policy, prioritizing geopolitical alignment and fiscal consolidation.
April 7, 2025 | Japan | Share this update
On April 7, 2025, JICA signed a grant agreement to provide equipment aimed at promoting emergency recovery and sustainable economic reconstruction,
The agreement focuses on supporting Ukraine’s recovery from ongoing challenges by enhancing infrastructure and providing critical resources to stabilize its economy. This initiative aligns with Japan’s commitment to fostering resilience and supporting reconstruction efforts in conflict-affected regions.
April 7, 2025 | Germany, Education | Share this update
On April 7, 2025, Germany adopted the Amman-Berlin Declaration which aims to ensure that at least 15% of development projects globally promote inclusion at the Global Development Summit.
The summit convened 4,500 participants from 100 countries, including persons with disabilities, government representatives, and international organizations. Over two days, attendees engaged in more than 60 sessions focused on advancing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
In addition, over 800 pledges were made by participating governments and organizations to enhance accessibility and inclusion. The declaration marks a historic step toward measurable goals for integrating disability rights into international development.
US$ amounts are cited directly from sources; in the absence of an official conversion, they are calculated using the previous week's average of the US Federal Reserve's daily exchange rates.
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