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Description
The project will contribute to the Czech Republic''s more active financial participation in the shared responsibilities of developed countries in the field of foreign development cooperation, humanitarian aid, support to democracy and human rights abroad and the provision of climate finance to the developing world. The project will address the problem that in the last several years, funds have been significantly reduced for these agendas. This fact contributes to the reputation slump when Czechia fell to the last position among the OECD Development Assistance Committee members, with providing to official development DAC only 0,13 % of its GNI and thus started moving backwards from its commitment to steadily head towards 0,33 ODA/GNI in 2030. It also became a “fare dodger” in the field of international climate finance, when for the period 2020-2023 it did not provide any contribution to the Green Climate Fund established in 2015 by the international Paris Climate Agreement (while in the first period 2016-2019 its contribution amounted at least humble CZK 100 million). Over the course of the project, we want to achieve a tangible change in the trend, when via strengthening the financing of the given policy agendas, the Czech Republic will specifically demonstrate its return to the value-based foreign policy. The project will include expert analyses, policy debates, involvement of allies from the non-profit and private sectors, and advocacy steps towards the political scene (Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Environment), Government, Parliament. The project will in fact benefit the Czech citizens as such, as the steps will strengthen the country''s position on the democratic international scene.
Summary of project results
In recent years, the Czech Republic has significantly reduced funding for development cooperation and humanitarian aid, with cuts also recorded in support for human rights agenda abroad. This was also reflected in international statistics, where the Czech Republic, with a contribution to official development assistance (ODA) of 0.13% of GNI, found itself at the bottom of the countries associated in the OECD Development Assistance Committee. At the same time, it became a free rider in the area of international climate finance, when it provided no contribution to the Green Climate Fund for the developing world for the period 2020-2023 (for the period 2016-2019, it contributed at least 100 million CZK). The main reason was the government''s and parliamentary majority''s departure from expressions of solidarity and interest in dignified contribution to solving the overlapping global agenda during the period 2017-2021. After the elections in October 2021, thanks in part to the efforts of FoRS and DEMAS, there was a declaration of a return to value-based foreign policy by the newly formed government, with support for development and human rights agenda; no commitments were declared for climate finance for the developing world. Necessary steps include reversing the trend in financing these agendas. Without strengthened advocacy, given the level of budget deficit, it will be difficult to achieve political will for such a change, although in terms of overall volumes, these are marginal amounts. There is thus a risk of deepening the Czech Republic''s lagging behind in these areas and reputational damage, where the Czech Republic will continue to be perceived as a member of the international community, especially within the EU and OECD, who leaves it to others to engage. For comparison: Sweden, comparable in population to the Czech Republic, provides twenty times more funds for ODA. Sources: OECD DAC statistics, MFA, FDC Plan for 2021 (with outlook for 2022-2023), FDC Plan for 2022 (with outlook for 2023-2024), voting of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic (12/2020), Green Climate Fund records
The project focuses on advocacy activities targeting decision-makers among politicians at the government level, especially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Environment, the Chamber of Deputies (particularly the Foreign Affairs Committee, Environment Committee, Budget Committee) and the Senate of the Czech Parliament. The area of Foreign Development Cooperation, humanitarian aid and human rights support falls under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs‘ jurisdiction Department of Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid, Department of Human Rights and Transformation Policy (TRANS), Department of Foreign Policy Analysis and Planning; plans are approved by the Minister''s Board, while climate finance for the developing world falls under the Ministry of Environment‘s jurisdiction. The Chamber of Deputies annually discusses, amends, and approves the state budget proposal submitted by the government, which includes items that the project focuses on. The advocacy element will include the creation of expert materials, expert debates/round tables with actors who influence priority setting, participation in consultation processes related to FDC, HA, TRANS and climate policy-making, bilateral meetings with politicians (government, parliament), relevant officials, involving partners from the non-profit and private sectors to strengthen advocacy potential, creating joint positions and communicating them through traditional and social media, including press releases, meetings with media (including working breakfasts for journalists), activities aimed at increasing public demand for the Czech Republic''s dignified contribution to these areas
The project did intensify the cooperation of all three project partners, supported work and communication at a standard level within of FoRS and DEMAS.
It significantly strengthened the cooperation of FoRS, DEMAS and AMO on activities focused at the need for more significant (financial) support of HP/ZRS/TRANS
as well as the specific focus of measures to support the stabilization and reconstruction of Ukraine. Since 24/2/2024 the aid to Ukraine have become a prominent part of
the humanitarian, development and human rights agenda from what was initially a rather accompanying topic. The project
also enabled FoRS and AMO to focus in more details on the issue of climate finance, which the Czech Republic should provide to a greater extent to the most vulnerable
developing countries.
The biggest benefits:
1. Strengthening the cooperation of project partners not only with decision-makers from the MZV and the MŽP, but also from other departments (MV, MOP, MF), as well as with members of parliament and partners from the private sector.try and Trade, Ministry of Finance), as well as with members of parliament and partners from the private sector.
2. Strengthening the cooperation of FoRS with the partner Climate Coalition, which made it possible to introduce the relatively marginal topic of climate finance for the developing world into the "mainstream" communication of organizations primarily focused on climate protection measures at the national level.
3. Active involvement in the preparation of the "pilot" National Development Day (it took place only after the end of the project on 4/25/2024), as an event aimed at raising the visibility of HP/ZRS and TRANS support needs both among key decision-makers and the wider public. The project thus helped to build a stronger foundation for a more significant success of the developed activities in the future.