With the support of the European Union
This website has been produced with thefinancial support of the European UnionOnly CONCORD and its members are responsible for the content of this website and does not necessarily reflect the position of the European Union.

Civil Society Contact Group

The EU Civil Society Contact Group brings together seven large rights and value based NGO sectors – environment, social, development, women, culture, human rights and public health.

EU Coherence for Development - CONCORD/Evert Vermeer Foundation Programme

EU Coherence for Development - CONCORD/Evert Vermeer Foundation Programme

EU Policies that contradict or oppose its development commitments and objectives must end. This programme identifies incoherent EU policies and brings them to the attention of the European policymakers and suggest remedies.

TRIALOG - Strengthening development NGOs in the enlarged EU

TRIALOG is in charge of raising awareness of development issues in the enlarged EU and to strengthen dialogue and partnerships between development NGOs in accession countries, EU countries and developing countries.

DEEEP - Development Education Exchange in Europe Project

DEEEP's aim is to increase the capacity of European NGOs to deliver grassroots Development Education via methodological exchange, training, improved networking, elaboration of common policies and common projects.

Euforic - Europe's Forum on International Cooperation

Euforic is dedicated to development cooperation and humanitarian aid from the civil society prospective, offering: thematic and geographic information, actors, resources, directories, projects, jobs, agendas, forum, etc.

Global Call Against Poverty (GCAP)

The Global Call to Action against Poverty is a worldwide alliance committed to making world leaders live up to their promises, and to making a breakthrough on poverty.

It is an alliance around the common cause of ending poverty: existing coalitions, community groups, trade unions, individuals, religious and faith groups, campaigners and more.

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: Discover the new website on the effectiveness of civil organisations working in Development and give your inputs! This internatinal processus is supported by CONCORD secretariat since 2008

Rich countries sideline the developing world in tackling the impact on development of the financial crisis - 2-12-2008

As the UN Financing for Development conference draws to a close, talks fail to deliver on results for the world’s poor. Rich countries have caused the current financial crisis but it is the poorest that feel the strongest impact. European Civil Society Organisations call on EU governments to make finance work for the poor. Read the full press release from CONCORD & Eurodad.

2009 elections at the European Parliament: What CONCORD expects from candidate MEPs

In June 2009 more than a half billion citizens of the 27 member States of the European Union (EU) will elect their representatives to the European Parliament for the 2009-2014 term. On this occasion, the CONCORD manifesto identifies and discusses three essential EU objectives, namely sustainable development, more and better development aid and democratic accountability and urges MEPs to act on them.

Trade, agriculture, environment, migration and many other policies have an impact on sustainable development. Yet, these policies have not sufficiently and directly contributed to poverty eradication and the promotion of human rights at the EU, as well as the global level. In addition, the fact that the implementation of these policies exacerbates the situation of people outside the EU is very often ignored.

To promote a responsible Europe, CONCORD calls for a partnership between civil society and the European Parliament in order to uphold the right to sustainable development and responsible citizenship. In this regard, we believe that particular attention needs to be paid to climate justice and gender issues. The Manifesto is available on this link.

CONCORD briefing on the International Conference on Financing for Development in Doha - 20 November 2008

Governments from across the world meet in Doha, Qatar between 29 November and 2 December under a UN process to discuss financing for development.

This short CONCORD briefing sets out the key issues, and provides critical analysis of political negotiations around the financing for development agenda. Click here to read the briefing and get all useful information on the Doha summit and the European position

Video testimonies on how the finance crisis and financing for Development impact developing countries:

• Jean-Pierre Elong Mbassi of United Cities and Local Governments in Africa expressed in English his concern about the future of aid disbursements in the light of the financial crisis: http://blip.tv/file/1484092

• George Ehusani from Nigeria talks in English about the realities of EU aid to developing countries: http://blip.tv/file/931993

• Robert Bodja from Alliance for the climate (Luxembourg) on ODA and aid effectiveness. In French: http://blip.tv/file/1484084

• José Brito, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Communication of the Republic of Cap Verde in French on the impact of financing development and financial crisis in Cap Verde http://blip.tv/file/1487902

A "blue card "to drain brains from developing countries to Europe

The European Union (EU) is developing a "Blue Card" in order to allow highly qualified migrants to have the right to work in the EU. By doing this, the EU is in danger of increasing the brain drain in developing countries, with negative consequences for key sectors in developing coutries such as medecine and education. Read more about this.

Société civile et autorités locales: la fin des clichés - 17 novembre 2008

On this last day of the European Development Days, the partnership between civil society and local authorities has been under the spothlights.

How do they interact? Do they have common actions to support local democracy? What are they difficulties? In this time of food and financial crisis, what do they fear? Click here to read the press release

Financial crisis: NGOs around the world call for the European Union to fight for a Global Governance that would finally be democratic - 4 November 2008

In a context of unprecedented crises regarding finances, climate and food and on the eve of the G20 summit on November 15 in Washington, representatives of 10 000 NGOs from 82 countries have for the first time organized an International Forum of national coalitions of NGOs, where participants called for the EU to defend a reform of global governance that is serving the most vulnerable populations. Read the press release.

More than 116 million people - nearly 2% of the world's population —stand up against poverty

On October 17-19 more than 116 million people – nearly two percent of the world population – mobilized at events in 131 countries as part of “Stand Up and Take Action.” The mobilization, which was ratified by Guinness as breaking the world record for the biggest mass mobilization on a single issue, sends a clear message to world leaders that citizens will not stay seated while promises to end poverty remain unfulfilled. At least 5 million additional people – many in Africa and Latin America— Stood Up at events not submitted before the Guinness deadline. Read more ...

Don’t forget world hunger urge development NGOs - 15 October 2008

On the eve of the World Food Day and the World Day Against Poverty, CONCORD, the European Confederation of Development and Relief NGOs, called for a swift and strategic response by the European Union to the global food crisis. “Whilst the attention of European decision-makers is concentrated on the turmoil in the financial markets, they would do well to remember that the “other” crisis - that of 1 billion people facing hunger - requires their urgent attention as well,” commented Olivier Consolo, CONCORD’s Director. Read the entire press release.

European NGOs challenge the EU on the financial crisis’ impact on the poor

Against the backdrop of rising food prices and a growing global economic crisis with detrimental impact on the world’s poor, European development Ministers convened at an informal meeting in Bordeaux on 29 and 30 September. European civil society representatives addressed the ministers, urging them to fulfil their responsibilities to increase financial flows to developing countries, as well as actions to clamp down on capital flight. Read the press release about it. For more information read CONCORD speech to the European Ministers in French) and Eurodad speech on capital flight.

1 billion € fund for farmers from developing countries!

The European Union (EU) has propose to redirect 1 billion euros of unspent Common Agricultural Policy funds to help millions of farmers across the developing world.

CONCORD welcomes this proposal and urges for strong, long term actions. In developing countries, small farmers are at the heart of the food chain as they provide most of the basic food. They know best how to meet the needs of their local community.

Read the press release about it.