Belgium’s Development Cooperation

The Belgian Directorate-Generale for Development Cooperation (DGDC) is official development assistance agency managing the official overseas aid of the country. It works under the Minister of Development Cooperation and is the Directorate-Generale of the Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation. Development cooperation is based upon the cooperative agreements signed with different governments. While funding is made by DGDC, there is a separate agency under the name of Belgian Technical Cooperation (BTC) that implements the projects along with other partners. DGDC recognizes the participation of other developmental actors such as NGOs in achieving the developmental objectives. The themes addressed by DGDC include the environment, gender, child rights, migration and fight against HIV/AIDS. It has also associated itself with the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. The DGDC aid is focused upon least developed countries, mostly located across Africa. These include: Algeria, Benin, Bolivia, Burundi, D.R. of Congo, Ecuador, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Palestinian territories, Peru, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Vietnam.

While bilateral grants are part of the government-to-government support, there are many other smaller grants for NGOs to apply. These include scholarships and travel grants that NGOs can apply for higher studies, research or travel. These grants are divided into three types, referred to as for the French-speaking community, the German-speaking community and the Flemish-speaking community. More information on the grants is available at this link.

There are also travel grants under DGDC. NGO practitioners and others from low-income countries can apply for it for the purpose of organizing an international conference or for participating in one located in another country. More information on this is available at this link.

The Belgian Survival Fund is an important programme of the DGDC, implemented in Africa. It was initiated by the Belgian Parliament with the support of the Belgian NGOs and other agencies and focuses upon ensuring the survival of the people suffering from hunger, poverty and isolation.

The Humanitarian Fund of DGDC provides emergency assistance to countries suffering from disasters and other kinds of emergencies. Support in this context is both short-term and long-term. The short-term reconstruction is followed by long-term food aid for the affected communities.

The contact information of DGDC is:

Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Belgium – DGDC
Rue des Petits Carmes, 15
B-1000 Brussels
URL: http://www.dgdc.be/en/index.html